On Friday, October 13, AAHOA Chairman Bharat Patel addressed a group of students enrolled in the Hotel Management class at the University of South Carolina (USC). This presentation marked a unique and significant opportunity for aspiring young professionals to gain insights from a seasoned industry expert. 

During his presentation, Patel delved into the significance of AAHOA, shedding light on the remarkable work the association has accomplished on a national, state, and local level. This opened students' eyes to the game-changing initiatives shaping the hospitality industry while emphasizing AAHOA's pivotal role in driving progress forward.

One of the highlights of Patel's presentation was his guidance on how students could enhance their marketability in the hospitality job market. His invaluable insight provided students with a roadmap for pursuing a successful career in the field.

“You can start your journey in a number of ways. One is learning the metrics and figuring out the capital statistics,” Patel shared. “This is one of the industries where you can move up and eventually become the owner or CEO. The key thing here is hospitality.”

In addition to sharing his insights, Patel emphasized the importance of understanding the STAR report, a tool widely used in the industry to benchmark hotel performance and identify areas for improvement.

Patel’s visit to the Gamecocks campus extended beyond the Hotel Management class. He also met with faculty members from the University's College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management, including Michael Sagas, Dean of the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management; Matthew Brown, Interim Director for the School of Hospitality & Tourism; Ashley Richardson, Internship Director and Clinical Instructor for the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management; and Dr. Marketa Kubickova, Associate Professor.

Additionally, Fenil Desai, South Carolina Regional Director; Ricky Patel, AAHOA Ambassador; and Dilip Patel, an AAHOA Member who serves on USC's Hospitality and Tourism Management Advisory Board, joined the Chairman on this university visit. Their presence added expertise to the conversation as hoteliers who do business in South Carolina.

Last, this visit paved the way for future collaborations between the university and AAHOA, creating future opportunities to support the next generation of hospitality professionals.