ATLANTA, GA, September 10, 2024—AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) will join other industry associations and companies in opposing the proposed Safe Hotels Act at a rally at 9 a.m. EDT on Thursday, September 12, at New York City Hall. If passed, this act would prohibit hotels from operating without an additional license and prohibit using subcontractors for core functions such as housekeeping, front desk, and security.

Among the AAHOA Leaders who are attending:

• AAHOA Treasurer Rahul Patel

• AAHOA Mid Atlantic Regional Director Mahendra (MZ) Patel

AAHOA recognizes this as a positive step toward ensuring the voices of hotel owners and industry stakeholders are heard in the legislative process. AAHOA Members have been writing to New York City Council members to voice their concerns about the proposed legislation. 

"I appreciate the collaborative efforts of the NYC Minority Hotel Association, Hotel Association of NYC, Inc. (HANYCINC), the Real Estate Board of NY (REBNY), the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), AAHOA Treasurer Rahul Patel, AAHOA Northeast Regional Director Preyas Patel, AAHOA Mid Atlantic Regional Director Mahendra (MZ) Patel, and all our dedicated local New York AAHOA Members for coming together to voice concerns about the potentially devastating impact of this act on the hotel industry," said AAHOA Chairman Miraj S. Patel. "This event will hopefully inspire New York City Council to allow for meaningful discussions to shape fair regulations that protect guests, employees, and the community."

"New York City's hospitality industry is a cornerstone of its economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and generating billions in revenue," said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake. "The Safe Hotels Act, if passed in its current form, would do more harm than good, threatening the livelihood of countless hotel owners and workers. We encourage the Council to listen to the feedback presented at the rally and work toward solutions that protect everyone: guests, workers, and the industry that serves them."

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About AAHOA | AAHOA is the largest hotel owners association in the world, with Member-owned properties representing a significant part of the U.S. economy. AAHOA's 20,000 members own 60% of the hotels in the United States and are responsible for 1.7% of the nation's GDP. More than 1 million employees work at AAHOA Member-owned hotels, earning $47 billion annually, and member-owned hotels support 4.2 million U.S. jobs across all sectors of the hospitality industry. AAHOA's mission is to advance and protect the business interests of hotel owners through advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, member benefits, and community engagement.