On Tuesday, May 31, more than 310 AAHOA Members showed up for the Florida Regional Conference & Trade Show in Tampa, FL. The attendees had a chance to connect with nearly 80 exhibitors on the trade show floor and receive human trafficking training onsite. 

The event was capped off with special guest speakers Samantha Padgett, Government Relations General Counsel VP at Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, and Santiago Corrada, President & CEO at Visit Tampa Bay. The hotel business is a significant driver of Florida’s economy, with AAHOA Members owning 65.2% of the hotels in the Sunshine State. That’s why it was important to have Padgett and Corrada take center stage to share the game-changing work their respective organizations are achieving to protect the hospitality industry. 

Additionally, Florida members raised over $50K in AAHOA PAC. Over the years, AAHOA has cultivated relationships with elected officials in the Florida State Capitol and Washington, D.C. The PAC funds raised on Tuesday will guarantee the AAHOA team’s ongoing efforts to support a diverse group of elected officials and leaders who understand how government impacts the hospitality industry.

Thanks to the AAHOA Chairman Bharat Patel, Treasurer Kamalesh (KP) Patel, Secretary Rahul Patel, Florida Regional Director Chetan (Chris) Patel, local ambassadors, exhibitors, sponsors, and everyone who lent their support and made this event possible. 

Check out some of the photo moments from the Florida Regional: