ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Indian American hoteliers mull impact of war and AI on industry at annual meet
The theme of the annual AAHOA convention and trade show this year was Celebrating Liberty, Leadership, and Legacy in the birthplace of American independence during the 250th anniversary year.
-
1747754650.png)
Ishani Duttagupta - Sat, 11, Apr 2026
- 13:56 EDT
- 22
AAHOACON 2026 venue / LinkedIn
The Asian American Hotel Owners Association convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from April 8 to 10 drew over 5,000 Indian American hoteliers, spotlighting key discussions on owner-focused AI tools and the sector’s evolving business models.
Leaders outlined a forward-looking strategic vision for AAHOA, emphasizing stronger member engagement and a shift from founder-centric operations to empowered, professionalized leadership teams within family-run hotel enterprises.
Also Read: Folio named official technology platform of AAHOA Marketplace
“Economic issues including the impact of the war in West Asia and turbulence due to high gas prices took centre stage during discussions at the AAHOA meet,” Mike Patel, a prominent Indian American hotelier and financial services entrepreneur from Atlanta, Georgia, said.
He added that rising oil prices and flight cancellations by airlines were resulting in cancellation of room bookings, especially during the upcoming FIFA World Cup in June and July, of which US is one of the host nations.
“Occupancy is also down in tourist destinations such as Orlando, Florida, and high payroll costs are a concern. Cost control through the use of technology such as self-serve kiosks was also discussed,” Patel said. Other important issues that came up included active lenders and loans; mentorship for the next generation of hoteliers and rise of women leaders in the hospitality sector.
The theme of the annual AAHOA convention and trade show this year was Celebrating Liberty, Leadership, and Legacy in the birthplace of American independence during the 250th anniversary year. AAHOA, which is the world’s largest hotel owners association, highlighted that its members own 60 percent of hotels in the US, contribute 1.4 percent to the nation’s GDP, and employ over 1 million workers.
The advocacy role of the AAHOA Political Action Committee was also discussed with an announcement that it has raised over half a million dollars in 2025. The AAHOA PAC supports critical legislative and regulatory initiatives impacting hotel owners in the USA. AAHOA advocates for favorable business environments and key issues such as access to capital, fair labor practices, tax reform, and advancing the industry’s national, state and local priorities.
Prominent speakers at AAHOACON included Rohit Mathur, co-founder and CEO of Bridge, an AI-native lending platform transforming how hotel owners and developers access capital; Sanjay Patel, founder, president and CEO of MHG Hotels, a group that has developed more than 60 hotels in the US and earned numerous industry recognitions and Naresh Nash Patel, president, Nashbuilt Construction, a licensed general contractor in Florida that is spearheading the development of multiple new hotels.
AAHOACON26 ended with the appointment of Rahul Patel as chairman of the AAHOA board for the 2026–2027 term. He prioritizes protecting members' profitability, advocating for solutions to rising insurance costs, growing AAHOA’s education offerings to support better financial and operational decisions, and ensuring fairness in franchise relationships by pushing back against burdensome regulations and mandates that impact owners’ bottom lines.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login