Reflecting on a Remarkable Year - 2023 Highlights

As we enter a new year, it's with great pride and gratitude that I reflect on the remarkable journey we've undertaken together throughout 2023. The collective efforts of our association have not only shaped the experiences of our members but have also made a lasting impact on the broader landscape of the industry.

AAHOA is more than an association; it's a dynamic community. Serving as a national association, we've successfully harnessed the collective power of our members' voices, ensuring their representation and influence resonate in influential spheres such as Washington, D.C., and among esteemed world leaders. 

As your AAHOA Chairman, I am immensely proud of the collaborative strides we've made to advance the industry. I spent more than 200 days on the road, traveling from city to city, learning from our members and hearing their stories, gaining insights on how AAHOA could better support them. The dedication and passion exhibited by each member have been the driving forces behind our shared success. 

Before we turn the page on this extraordinary year, join me in spotlighting some of our collective achievements in 2023:

1. Historic State Visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: This past summer, I, along with AAHOA Vice Chairman Miraj S. Patel, Treasurer Kamalesh (KP) Patel, Secretary Rahul Patel, and Immediate Past Chair Nishant (Neal) Patel, represented AAHOA’s 20,000 hotelier members as guests at the White House South Lawn welcome ceremony and Prime Minister Modi’s joint address to Congress. AAHOA leaders were honored to represent one of the most important industries to the Indian American community and our nation’s economy.

2. AAHOA Hosts U.S. Presidential Contender Vivek Ramaswamy for Industry Forum: Rising U.S. Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy participated in the first AAHOA 2024 Presidential Candidate Forum. The exclusive interview with Ramaswamy was an opportunity for AAHOA to speak on behalf of the industry with a leading Presidential candidate. The virtual forum afforded AAHOA Members and other viewers an opportunity to hear directly from Ramaswamy regarding his policy priorities, his vision for the future of America, and the impact of Asian Americans in the hospitality industry.

3. Influential Letters to Top Federal Agencies: AAHOA submitted several impactful letters to federal agencies that represented our members’ interests and resulted in important provisions in the corresponding rules. These included a letter to the FTC concerning the franchise rule, another letter to the FTC concerning the proposed merger guidelines, a letter to the DOL regarding the proposed rule to extend overtime, and a letter to the DOT regarding the importance of the hotel industry for the national travel and tourism infrastructure strategic plan.

4. Raising Opposition to and Obtaining National Media Coverage Regarding the Proposed Choice Hotels/Wyndham Merger: AAHOA conducted a significant survey of its members, with more than 1,000 responses, concerning the perceived impact of the Choice Hotels/Wyndham merger, and learned nearly 80% of all franchisees for both Choice Hotels and Wyndham believed it would have a negative impact on their business if the merger occurred. AAHOA shared these results with the media and received widespread coverage, including with the New York Times, Forbes, Reuters, and numerous industry publications. AAHOA will continue to raise high concerns and awareness on behalf of its members.

5. Stopping the City of Los Angeles from Implementing a Mandatory Homeless Voucher Program: With the significant efforts of our leaders in Los Angeles, AAHOA was able to effectively stop the city of Los Angeles from implementing a mandatory homeless voucher program. Instead, because of AAHOA’s pressure, the unions relented and agreed to a compromise with a voluntary program.

6. Diwali Celebration at VP’s Residence in Washington: In November, I had the distinct honor of attending a Diwali celebration at the U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence in Washington, D.C., on behalf of AAHOA. This extraordinary event was co-hosted by Vice President Harris and Douglas Emhoff in collaboration with Indian American Impact. It provided a unique platform to shine a light on Diwali's cultural and spiritual significance, drawing attention to the rich tapestry of traditions that make it such a cherished holiday for countless Americans and individuals around the world.

7. Local Victories That Serve Our Members: Throughout 2023, AAHOA received calls from members and responded in kind to assist with their most pressing local issues. These ranged from proposed increases in occupancy taxes, to significant minimum wage hikes, to new STR legislation. But one important victory occurred in Augusta, Georgia, with influencing changes in law enforcement assistance policies to remove stay-over guests who are refusing to pay.

8. AAHOACON23 – Historic and Epic: The event welcomed nearly 8,000 attendees to the Los Angeles Convention Center for what is dubbed the 'Super Bowl’ of hospitality events. There were top-level keynote speakers, 30+ innovative education sessions, and four leading networking events, including the Welcome Reception at the world-famous LA Coliseum. With more than 89,000 net square feet of exhibit space, 520+ exhibiting companies, and an immersive do-it-yourself product demo experience, it was the largest and most interactive trade show in AAHOA's 34-year history.

9. New MyAAHOA Helps Members Reap Full Benefits of AAHOA Membership: This summer, we proudly unveiled the all-new MyAAHOA.com.This new membership platform gives members more access to AAHOA and the tools and resources they need to manage and make the most of their membership. I thank Secretary Rahul Patel, our Technology & Innovation Ad Hoc Committee, and the entire AAHOA Team for spearheading this upgraded member experience. 

10. Half-a-Million Dollar PAC Impact: AAHOA Members made more than $500,000 in Political Action Committee contributions in 2023, which represents a strong comeback of the AAHOA PAC post-COVID-19. These substantial PAC contributions serve as a testament to the unity and impact members can achieve when working together toward shared goals. I’m immensely grateful to each of our PAC donors for their support and for making advocacy a part of their business plan. 

11. Franchisee Conversations with FTC Chair Lina Khan: At the start of summer, AAHOA, jointly with the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD), and the Coalition of Franchise Associations (CFA), hosted a webinar, affording attendees to listen in on a discussion with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). AAHOA had the privilege of being joined by the Honorable Lina Khan, Chair at the FTC, and the Honorable Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, Commissioner at the FTC. A post webinar survey of attendees underscored the need for fair franchising in hospitality.

12. Making the Voice of America’s Hotel Owners Heard: This year, we held state advocacy events at capitals nationwide, conducted hundreds of meetings with public officials, and witnessed AAHOA Members travel to Washington, D.C., for the 2023 AAHOA Spring National Advocacy Conference and 2023 Fall National Advocacy Conference. Additionally, AAHOA worked tirelessly to advocate for fair franchising, ensure a level playing field where competition can thrive, secure GSA per diem funding, promote access to capital, champion a competitive market for credit card “swipe” fees, cosponsor the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act, address the hospitality workforce shortage with H-2B visas, and more. 

13. AAHOA’s Advocacy Work for New Jersey Assembly Bill 1958: We have been strongly advocating in favor of New Jersey Assembly Bill 1958 ever since Mid Atlantic Regional Director Mahendra (MZ) Patel, AAHOA Past Chair Bhavesh Patel (2017-2018), President & CEO Laura Lee Blake, and I, along with more than 25 other AAHOA Ambassadors and Members, testified before the New Jersey Assembly Judiciary Committee in May of 2022. I sat down with Laura Lee for an in-depth discussion on all the advocacy work we’ve done since then to ensure NJ AB 1958 is fair to everyone and doable, emphasizing AAHOA’s 4 Pillars of Franchise Advocacy, which focus on (1) Mandated Vendors; (2) Rebates; (3) Loyalty Programs; and (4) New Fees.

14. Bringing the Industry Together: AAHOA welcomed nearly 5,000 hoteliers to 25 Regional Conferences & Trade Shows in 2023. AAHOA Regionals brought hoteliers together with more than 30 esteemed guest speakers, elected officials, Members of Congress, and state association partner leaders. By bringing together hoteliers, vendors, and influential leaders from across the U.S., AAHOA reinforces its position as a cornerstone for collaboration, education, and empowerment.

15. Collaboration With Influential State Associations: AAHOA attended and spoke at many state events, including the Washington State Hospitality Conference, Tennessee Governor's Conference on Hospitality and Tourism, Southern Lodging Summit in Memphis, Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association's Hotel Forecast events in Atlanta and Savannah. We also testified in Los Angeles on the Responsible Hotel Ordinance, protected AAHOA hoteliers from guests who are staying over and refusing to pay, supported new regulations that enable oversight of short-term rentals, and joined the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association in applauding the overwhelming passage of Proposition 4.

16. Presence at Top Industry Conferences: Throughout the year, AAHOA leaders attended the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, HITEC Toronto 2023, the 27th Annual International African American Hotel Ownership and Investment Summit, ALIS, Hunter Conference, and The Lodging Conference, among many others. These industry events served as platforms for us to share our expertise, gain new perspectives, and reaffirm our commitment to elevating the standards of hospitality. 

17. Strategic Partnerships and Reinvented AAHOA Education: AAHOA partnered with Kalibri Labs and other esteemed industry associations to help launch the Commercial Strategy Certification Program. We’re honored to stand by this curriculum and give hotel operators practical tools and techniques to navigate the evolving world of digital customer acquisition. Also in 2023, AAHOA relaunched its weekly webinar series. Every Wednesday, these webinars bring together industry experts and insiders to provide valuable insights, strategies, and trends to boost members’ success.

18. Holds Second Annual HerOwnership Conference & Retreat: AAHOA held its second annual HerOwnership Conference & Retreat in November at The Beeman Hotel in Dallas, TX. Designed by women hoteliers for women hoteliers, the HerOwnership Conference & Retreat fosters a more robust and inclusive industry where women can thrive. Attendees of the two-day conference participated in a variety of activities aimed at enhancing their professional growth, such as innovative panel discussions, restorative wellness events, two pre-conference masterclasses, and networking opportunities, including the AAHOA Pink Party. 

19. AAHOA Launches New Initiative HYPE Ownership - Helping Young Professionals Evolve: AAHOA recently announced the launch of HYPE Ownership: Helping Young Professionals Evolve, an initiative dedicated to fostering the growth and success of emerging hoteliers within AAHOA and across the broader industry. Young Professionals bring a youthful dynamism that provides a fresh perspective to the workplace and hospitality businesses. As the hospitality landscape becomes increasingly competitive, these professionals possess the skills and innovation to elevate AAHOA and help our industry evolve with the times. As part of our inaugural launch, AAHOA is hosting the inaugural Young Professionals HYPE Ownership Conference on February 6-7, 2024, in New Orleans, LA.

20. May 31, 2023, Declared Louisiana AAHOA Members Appreciation Day at the State Capitol: Earlier this summer, Rep. Gerald (Beau) Beaullieu and the Louisiana House of Representatives adopted HR 184 declaring May 31, 2023, as Louisiana Asian American Hotel Owners Association Members Appreciation Day at the state capitol. In addition, we celebrated May 31 as Tourism Day at the Capitol with our partners at the Louisiana Travel Association, which had Convention and Visitor Bureaus from around the state showcasing their specific areas and discussing the importance of tourism to state officials.

21. AAHOA Back-of-the-House Tours - Developing Relationships to Improve the Industry: AAHOA Back-of-the-House Tours can be instrumental in educating Members of Congress on the hotel industry and the inner workings of a hotel property in their district. Back-of-House Tours help Members of Congress witness, first-hand, the positive and irreplaceable impact small business owners have on their communities. A few leaders who we hosted for Back-of-the-House Tours in 2023 included California Congressman Jimmy Panetta, Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, Texas Congressman Jake Ellzey, Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, Georgia Congressman Dr. Rich McCormick, Texas Congressman Brian Babin, Georgia Congressman Buddy Carter, and Oklahoma Senator James Lankford.

22. AAHOA Holds Five Charity Golf Tournaments: Since its inception, AAHOA has engaged with local communities by supporting charitable organizations that provide services ranging from education and disease research funding to humanitarian efforts. Thanks to the generosity of our vendor partners, members, and sponsors, AAHOA has been able to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities that touch lives and make the world a better place. AAHOA’s Charity Golf Tournaments serve as an important component of advancing our mission through community engagement. This year, AAHOA raised nearly $350,000 for charity, a 26% increase from 2022.

23. AAHOA in the News: AAHOA was featured dozens of times in the media, including top-tier outlets such as Forbes, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Fox News. This year, AAHOA reached nearly 20,000 followers on LinkedIn, issued 52+ press releases, published nearly 10 op-eds, and reached more than 850 reporters to shed light on pressing industry issues and elevate AAHOA as the foremost resource and advocate for America’s hotel owners.

24. Industry Partnerships and Amplifying Vendor Relationships: In 2023, AAHOA launched a new member vendor partner category with the Bronze Industry Partnership level and reached new heights in connecting America’s hotel owners with the product and service vendors that can help them make money, save money, and protect their investments. In 2023, AAHOA closed with more than 165 Allied Members, more than 125 Vendor Partners, and 40+ new Bronze Industry Partners.

25. Value of Hotelier Membership - 750+ New Lifetime Members in 2023: Since 1989, AAHOA has been advocating for and providing resources to America’s hotel owners – to help them be more successful, profitable, informed, and feel supported every step of the way. AAHOA diligently champions our members' business interests every day, serving as the leading resource and advocate for hotel owners across America. When you become a part of AAHOA, you gain the collective strength and support of nearly 20,000 fellow hotel owners. In 2023, AAHOA gained 750+ new Lifetime Members!

26. In the Know - 350+ Blog Posts Created and Shared on the AAHOA Broadcast: AAHOA holds the distinction of being the largest hotel owners association in the world. Its nearly 20,000 members collectively own 60% of the hotels in the United States, boasting billions of dollars in property assets and employing more than one million individuals. AAHOA Members are essential economic pillars in virtually every community, embodying the spirit of free enterprise and serving as a prominent modern-day embodiment of achieving the American Dream. To cover all the accomplishments of our members and ensure they are up to date on the latest industry news, AAHOA published 350+ blog posts in 2023.

27. AAHOA Launches New Charitable Foundation to Support Disaster Relief, Charitable Initiatives Across the Country at AAHOACON23: On the opening day of the 2023 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show, the association announced the launch of the AAHOA Charitable Foundation (ACF). The soon-to-be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit will aim to support humanity, providing disaster relief, educational scholarships and grants, charitable initiatives for worthy causes, and humanitarian aid. To celebrate the launch of the new foundation, attendees made pledges to donate to the foundation, with more than $25,000 pledged to date.

28. #TeamAAHOA – The Best of the Best: And, finally, the #TeamAAHOA Holiday Party was held in downtown Atlanta on December 13. It was a spectacular celebration, honoring the remarkable efforts of the staff who work hard to ensure this great association continues to be the foremost resource and advocate for America’s hotel owners.

As we celebrate these milestones, we look forward to the continued growth, impact, and collaboration that will define AAHOA's role in shaping the future of hospitality in the year ahead.

I wish you all a prosperous New Year. Thank you for your commitment and trust in AAHOA. 

Click the link to view the full year-in-review infographic to see accompanying photos that further highlight our accomplishments.

Additionally, check out AAHOA's new YouTube video on the 2023 Highlights!

Bharat Patel