Press Releases

AUSTIN, TX., Nov. 14 – On Tuesday, Texas voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 4, a Texas constitutional amendment that is the capstone of this year’s efforts to reduce property taxes. Proposition 4 passed by receiving more than 83% of the vote, sending a clear message to legislators regarding the importance of reducing property taxes.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 10 – AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) Chairman Bharat Patel had the distinct honor to attend a Diwali celebration at the U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ Residence in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, November 8, on behalf of AAHOA and its nearly 20,000 Members.

ATLANTA, Ga., Nov. 9 – AAHOA, the nation’s largest hotel owners association, held its second annual HerOwnership Conference & Retreat last week at The Beeman Hotel in Dallas, TX. Designed by women hoteliers for women hoteliers, the HerOwnership Conference & Retreat aims to foster a more robust and inclusive industry where women can thrive.

ATLANTA, Ga., Nov. 2 – AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association), the nation’s largest hotel owners association, commends the Los Angeles City Council’s decision to remove the controversial ordinance, “Hotel Land Use and Replacement Housing Requirements,” off voters’ ballots.

WASHINGTON D.C., Oct. 31 – Last week, hundreds of AAHOA Members and leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., for AAHOA’S 2023 Fall National Advocacy Conference (FNAC) to raise awareness of the most pressing matters facing hotel owners across the country. Hoteliers had the opportunity to advance their policy priorities by meeting with more than 200 offices and 70 Members of Congress.

Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 17 – AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association), which represents the majority of U.S. hotel owners with nearly 20,000 members owning more than 60% of all hotels in this country, expresses high concern over reports that Choice Hotels International (Choice Hotels) is seeking to purchase Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (Wyndham).

Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 12 – Rising U.S. Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy spoke yesterday to AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) Board Chairman Bharat Patel about key industry issues during the first AAHOA 2024 Presidential Candidate Forum.

ATLANTA, Ga., Oct. 9 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the largest hotel owners association in the world, supports Governor Newsom’s decision to veto California Senate Bill 403 (SB403), a bill that would have lead to improper and unlawful racial profiling, targeting, and attacks on individuals of Asian American descent and/or identify as Hindu.

Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 26 – AAHOA, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, the largest hotel owners association in the nation representing 20,000 hoteliers, called for stronger enforcement of short-term rentals in Los Angeles, Calif., in response to a report that Airbnb profits are soaring despite regulations meant to curb illegal listings.

Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 22 – The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) will honor five members of Oregon's food service and lodging industry with the prestigious statewide Oregon Hospitality Awards later this month. Taran Patel, Managing Principal for A-1 Hospitality Group and AAHOA Northwest Regional Director, was named the 2023 Lodging Operator of the Year for his outstanding contributions and dedications to serving the hospitality industry and his communities.

Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 21 – As the largest hotel owners' association in the country, AAHOA, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, called for ensuring cybersecurity measures are in place at hotels to prevent malicious activities like the cyberattacks recently experienced by casino giants MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment.

Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 8 – AAHOA, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, the largest hotel owners association in the nation representing 20,000 hoteliers, commended the New York City government for launching new regulations this week that enable oversight of short-term rentals.

Arlington, Va, Aug. 23 – Hoteliers from across the nation's capital region gathered Tuesday in Arlington, Va. for the Washington DC Area Regional Conference & Trade Show as part of the regional conference series by AAHOA, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association.

Atlanta, GA, Aug. 9 – An arbitrator ruled that Choice Hotels International Inc. is liable to a Franchise hotel owner for three breach-of-contract claims by finding that Choice Hotels violated terms of its own franchise agreements, including promising volume discounts for products and services for the benefit of Franchisees that Choice Hotels never negotiated or delivered.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Aug. 2 – Hotels Dozens of hoteliers from across Arkansas gathered in Little Rock for the 2023 Arkansas Regional Conference & Trade Show, part of the regional conference series hosted by AAHOA, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association.

ATLANTA, Ga., July 31 – Hotels and motels are on the front lines of preventing and intercepting human sex and labor trafficking. AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association), the largest hotel owners association in the world, has been working with its 20,000 members to promote awareness and prevention strategies for trafficking.

ATLANTA, Ga., July 21 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) offered input about how transportation infrastructure can create social foundation for promoting and sustaining long-distance travel and tourism, in response to the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Request for Comment on the National Travel and Tourism Infrastructure Strategic Plan (NTTISP).

ATLANTA, Ga., July 19 – As hotels continue to struggle with workforce shortages, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) endorsed the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act, which would establish a market-driven visa system to help employers find workers for hard-to-fill positions while still prioritizing U.S. workers.

Washington, D.C., July 18 – The Merchants Payments Coalition announced today that the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) has joined the coalition, adding to the ranks of merchant groups fighting for a competitive market for credit card "swipe" fees.

ATLANTA, Ga., Jun. 26 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), which represents the majority of U.S. hotel owners, communicated its concerns about one-sided franchising practices in response to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)'s Solicitation for Public Comments on Provisions of Franchise Agreements and Franchisor Business Practices.

ATLANTA, Ga., Jun. 26 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the largest hotel owners association in the nation, applauded the strengthening of the U.S.-India bilateral relationship after the state visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington.

ATLANTA, Ga., Jun. 21 – Leaders of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), which represents 20,000 hoteliers of primarily Indian descent, will be in Washington this week to attend events in support of strengthening the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and India as Prime Minister Narendra Modi marks his first official state visit.

ATLANTA, Ga., Jun. 9 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), which represents 20,000 hoteliers in all 50 states, commended the bipartisan Senate vote today to confirm Dilawar Syed as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

ATLANTA, Ga., Jun. 7 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), which represents 20,000 hoteliers of primarily Indian descent, applauded U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other congressional leaders over their invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Congress during his visit to the nation’s capital later this month.

ATLANTA, Ga., Jun. 5 – Employment in the hospitality industry is continuing its slow rebound from the pandemic, according to the latest federal jobs report. Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 339,000 in May, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, with about 1,300 of those new jobs in hotels and motels. Overall, the leisure and hospitality segment added about 48,000 jobs, according to the jobs report. Despite the gains, the U.S. unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points to 3.7 percent.

ATLANTA, Ga., Jun. 2 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the largest hotel owners association in the world, strongly opposes any form of discrimination, including caste. AAHOA, however, opposes California Senate Bill 403 (“SB 403”) due to a concern that it could lead to improper and unlawful racial profiling, targeting, and attacks on individuals of Asian American descent and/or who practice the tenets of Hinduism. Adding “caste” to the anti-discrimination categories outlined in Section 51 of the California Civil Code and other Education Code and Government Code sections is unnecessary, and will cause more harm than good.

ATLANTA, Ga., May 25 – New Jersey lawmakers today voted in favor of legislation to help restore balance to the relationship between hotel Franchisors and Franchisees, advancing a bill backed by the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) that would ensure greater fairness in the system and strengthen protections for franchise businesses.

ATLANTA, Ga., May 24 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the largest hotel owners association in the world, released a new informational video about its 4 Pillars for Franchise Advocacy to advance AAHOA’s mission as the foremost resource and advocate for America’s hotel owners. These 4 Pillars for Franchise Advocacy represent the primary issues for which AAHOA advocates on behalf of member-hoteliers.

ATLANTA, Ga., May 16 – A recent poll of franchisees – owners of hotels, restaurants, retail stores, and other small businesses – revealed highly concerning data about the status of current franchise relationships and the need for increased fairness across all industries.

ATLANTA, Ga., May 11 – Later this month, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is featuring Laura Lee Blake, president and CEO of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), for an HFTP Virtual Education webinar: “U.S. Legislative Updates from AAHOA.” The webinar is scheduled for May 23 at 1:00 p.m. CDT and is complimentary to all industry stakeholders. This exchange is part of a deepening partnership between the associations with a shared pursuit to advance the hospitality environment to the benefit of their members and the overall industry.

ATLANTA, Ga., May 5 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), which represents the majority of U.S. hotel owners, welcomed Neera Tanden, current Staff Secretary and Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden, as Domestic Policy Advisor, effective May 26.

ATLANTA, Ga., May 3 – Leaders of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the largest hotel owners association in the world, were joined by two peer associations, the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD), and the Coalition of Franchisee Associations (CFA), to discuss the state of Fair Franchising with the honorable Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair, Lina Khan. With representation from nearly 100,000 franchisees and business owners, the virtual meeting provided an important forum to discuss the state of franchising and how fairness and oversight can be improved through education and advocacy.

ATLANTA, Ga., Apr. 27 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the largest hotel owners association in the world, commended the bicameral introduction in Congress of the Save Local Business Act by Sen. Roger Marshall (Kansas) and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (Ky.).

ATLANTA, Ga., Apr. 19 – The 2023 Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) Convention & Trade Show in Los Angeles last week broke various records in the association’s history.

LOS ANGELES, Ca., Apr. 18 – On the final day of the 2023 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show, the association recognized achievement and excellence in the hospitality industry with its annual awards.

LOS ANGELES, Ca., Apr. 14 – Florida hotelier Bharat Patel, CHO, CHIA, is the new Chairman of AAHOA’s Board of Directors. Patel became chairman at the conclusion of the 2023 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show in Los Angeles, Ca., which set a record level of booth sales for the Trade Show, making it the largest in AAHOA history.

LOS ANGELES, Ca., Apr. 14 – – Rahul Patel of Bradenton, Florida, is the new AAHOA Secretary. Patel is the Proprietor of Wisdom Group, LLC. AAHOA Members also elected the following ten members to the Board of Directors:

LOS ANGELES, Ca., Apr. 14 – Virdee is taking home the top prize in the AAHOA Tech Pitch Competition, Co-Powered by HFTP. A panel of five judges with expertise in technology and hospitality chose Virdee’s guest experience technology platform from a field of eight finalists. Virdee Virtual Reception Software is aimed at helping properties become more efficient. Whether it’s to help front-of-house staffing, provide guests with their keys, or help them pay for their stay, their goal is to free up staff in a way that allows them to deliver a true guest experience.

LOS ANGELES, Ca., Apr. 13 – On the first day of the 2023 Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) Convention & Trade Show, the association hosted a meeting for California Hoteliers in which they heard from a Los Angeles Deputy Mayor and several law enforcement leaders.

SACRAMENTO, Ca., Apr. 12 – The $25 an hour minimum wage proposed today by Los Angeles City Council Member Curren Price is a short-sighted, industry-specific mandate for political gain, that ignores accepted living wage policies and far less pay for teachers and city workers.

LOS ANGELES, Ca., Apr. 12 – On the opening day of the 2023 Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) Convention & Trade Show, the association announced the launch of the AAHOA Charitable Foundation.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Mar. 30 – Members of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the largest hotel owners association in the world, applauded a vote by the Arkansas House Committee on City, County, and Local Affairs not to advance legislation that would have weakened oversight of short-term rentals in the state.

TRENTON, NJ., Mar. 21 – Members of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association testified in support of New Jersey Assembly Bill 1958, which advances several key components of AAHOA’s 12 Points of Fair Franchising to sustain a mutually beneficial relationship between Franchisors and Franchisees.

RALEIGH, NC., Mar. 20 – After years of advocacy, SB 53 – the Hotel Safety Act became law last week. On behalf of hotel owners across the state, the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA), alongside the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) led efforts to clarify when a hotel guest has rights under the landlord-tenant act.

ATLANTA, Ga., Mar. 17 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), which represents the majority of U.S. hotel owners, welcomed former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as Ambassador to India, where many AAHOA members have cultural and economic relationships.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Mar. 10 – Hundreds of Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) Members and leaders from across the United States flew into Washington D.C. for AAHOA’s Spring National Advocacy Conference (SNAC) earlier this week to discuss critical issues impacting America’s hotel owners.

ATLANTA, Ga., Mar. 8 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), which represents the majority of U.S. hotel owners, is urging the U.S. Senate to confirm Dilawar Syed as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

ATLANTA, Ga., Feb. 10 – Laura Lee Blake, President & CEO of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), released the following statement in response to ongoing reports that economic headwinds could force more hotel owners into serious financial challenges, including bankruptcies and out-of-court restructurings this year:

ATLANTA, Ga., Feb. 8 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the largest hotel owners association in the world with nearly 20,000 members, announced today that it has already secured a record level of booth sales for the Trade Show at AAHOACON23, April 11-14, 2023, making it the largest in AAHOA history.

ATLANTA, Ga., Feb. 2 – Laura Lee Blake, President and CEO of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), released the following statement in response to a New York Times story about the ongoing challenges in the franchise industry and the effect on small businesses, their owners and customers, including the growth of private equity firms acquiring more of the country’s iconic franchise brands.

ATLANTA, Ga., Jan. 10 – AAHOA leadership, which represents the largest hotel owners association in the world with nearly 20,000 members, recently met with leaders of Red Roof®, a global brand leader with more than 680 properties in the U.S., Brazil and Japan, including President George Limbert; Matthew Hostetler, Chief Development Officer; and Fouad Malouf, SVP Franchise Operations.