Ed Brock is an award-winning journalist who has worked for various U.S. newspapers and magazines, including with American City & County magazine, a national publication based in Atlanta focused on city and county government issues. He is currently senior editor at Asian Hospitality magazine, the top U.S. publication for Asian American hoteliers. Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Ed began his career in journalism in the early 1990s as a reporter for a chain of weekly newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama. After a stint teaching English in Japan, Ed returned to the U.S. and moved to the Atlanta area where he returned to journalism, coming to work at Asian Hospitality in 2016.
A pandemic winding down unevenly, a search for top executives following the resignation of the president and CEO, and a return to an in-person convention are some of the challenges awaiting incoming AAHOA Chairman Vinay Patel. By the end of his term, the association may look different from when he began, but Patel said its essential purpose, serving its membership, will remain the same.
“At the end of the day, I think that the direction we chose and the new strategic plan that we outlined over the last year is still in play,” Vinay said. “I think what will change is how do we get to that? I think the strategy and our long-term focus and what the association does for the membership, I don't think will change. But, it's just how do you get to that end goal as we probably will look at different options, especially with the new leadership coming in.”
The first challenge, in a temporal sense at least, has been the planning and execution of AAHOA’s 2021 Convention and Trade Show, during which Patel will officially take the reins from current Chairman Biran Patel. That decision was made possible by the gradual ending of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent cessation of restrictions in many states. Still, that optimism is threatened by a surge in the Delta variant in the U.S.
Perhaps the biggest challenge, however, comes from the resignation in June of Cecil Staton, AAHOA’s president and CEO since November 2019. It is to be followed by the resignation of Rachel Humphrey, executive vice president and COO, on Aug. 7, the day after the convention ends. Those departures set into motion a replacement process and opened the door for possible deeper changes in the way AAHOA is structured.
Moving in a new direction
The reasons for Staton and Humphrey’s resignations has not been fully explained. It was, at least partially, a decision by the board as well as by the two executives, Vinay said.
“It was probably a combination of it all,” he said. “It's just one of those things where we just want to move in a direction that made sense for all of us. We just felt like maybe this is an opportunity to give everybody what they needed to get done. So, it was probably a mutual thing for all parties.”
Like any time there is a change in leadership, Vinay said, there will likely be some changes in how AAHOA is managed.
“Even in my own hotels, when management changes, or people change, we look at the structural decisions,” he said. “Do we need this? Do we not need this? If we could, maybe we need to add more. So obviously, the new leadership team will look at and analyze what is needed and what is not needed and make decisions accordingly.”
Currently, Ken Greene, former Radisson Hotel Group president for the Americas and founder of Greenehouse Consulting, is the interim president and CEO. The board is putting together a search committee to find a permanent replacement, but Vinay said he could not say how long that process will take, nor could he specify what the new president will change.
“I think that the new leader that they will hire will be in a position to look at the different options, especially given the fact that we've had the top two people leaving,” Vinay said. “We've got a lot of new people, the vice president of franchising, vice president of education, we've got a vice president of government affairs, a lot of the new team members that came on board over the last four to six months. I think it's just a matter of, let's reanalyze what we have and see what options we have. And the key thing here is just to making sure that we serve the best interests of our membership.”
Some of AAHOA’s former chairmen have their own ideas about the direction the association should take now.
From the old guard
One change that should be made is to give more power to the board rather than the executives, said Mike Patel, AAHOA chairman from 1998 to 1999.
“The powers of the board have been taken over by the AAHOA office and they have turned it into a paper tiger,” Mike said. “Give the power to the AAHOA board to carry out the members’ needs and protect their livelihood.”
The new president should conduct a member poll to determine what those needs are, Mike said. Those needs, or at least the members’ perception of those needs, changes frequently, said Mukesh Mowji, chairman from 2006 to 2007.
For example, Mowji said some members have complained that recently AAHOA has focused too much on legislative advocacy and not enough on franchising issues.
“So the franchise issues people make noise, and previously it was the ‘politicos,’” he said. “Does not matter, there will always be a flavor of the month. But leadership should work on it with members interests in mind and continue moving forward.”
Regarding Staton and Humphrey’s resignations, Mowji said his corporate background gives hm perspective.
In June, Cecil Staton, foreground, AAHOA’s president and CEO since November 2019, stepped down. AAHOA also announced the resignation of Rachel Humphrey, executive vice president and COO, to be effective on Aug. 7, the day after AAHOACON 21 ends.
“If something is not a fit, you change it. Looks like the officers and the board of directors saw the lack of a fit, so they changed it,” he said. “No organization is static nor should it ever be, so the dynamics of change are warranted to refresh with new strategies and tactics. I am also a believer that controversy causes change, so let there be controversy.”
The new president’s top priority should be to reinvent AAHOA to bring back member enthusiasm and confidence, Mowji said. They also should institute more transparency, control expenses, bring back the enthusiasm of staff members and learn the complex cultural nuances involved in running the organization.
Mowji also said both the board and the staff have roles to play in running the organization.
“The board’s levels of authority and responsibility are absolute as the board must answer to the membership. It is an elected volunteer entity and while unpaid it is fully reimbursed, so they must be held responsible and accountable for their actions,” he said. “They establish the 'plan', then the staff executes that plan. The fundamentals of the governance is very good, but what was applicable then may not be now, and this organization is not static in time, it is and should be dynamic.”
The passing pandemic
One challenge AAHOA’s new president, whomever it may be, and Vinay may not have to face much longer is the COVID-19 pandemic. While vaccination rates are falling a little below goals set by President Joe Biden and variants of the virus are causing concerns of a new surge among the unvaccinated, most states have begun lifting travel restrictions, finally bringing relief to hotel owners nationwide.
Vinay said that AAHOA will have to change with the times while not forgetting the lessons learned during the outbreak.
“What we've learned over the last 18 months has been a lot of unknowns. And I myself, within my own business, looking ahead is a lot of unknown,” he said. “So, when you look at the association, looking at our members interest in what priorities, we have a lot of unknowns. But at the e
Last year, AAHOA held a virtual convention in August after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the in-person conference. Biran Patel had moved into the chairmanship prior to the conference, but made his inaugural address during the virtual conference.
nd of the day, we have to pivot and make changes as issues and problems arise.”
The association’s priorities, serving the members, will remain the same, he said.
“But, obviously, if there's something that comes up urgently or something that's important, that's more important than something that was before, we will always shift our priorities to what's in the best interest of our membership,” Vinay said.
At the same time, he said, the association will be keeping its eyes on the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19, which has been found to me more contagious than the original. However, Delta still does not pose a threat to fully vaccinated individuals, health officials have said.
The pandemic was an ongoing issue for all of the outgoing chairman’s term, but Biran said it led to several proud moments as the association rose to the occasion.
Leading from a computer screen
The challenges of his year were unique, Biran said, particularly since so much of his leadership was done behind a computer screen.
“AAHOA typically hosts more than 150 events per year, and not being able to go out and meet our members, vendors, brands, and industry partners face to face certainly made for a different kind of leadership experience,” he said. “My priority as chairman was to ensure that we remained connected with those we serve and those with whom we work, and I feel that we achieved that as best we could. This pandemic was yet another reminder that you can do everything right, but that events outside of your control will ultimately dictate how things turn out.”
Biran said he is most proud of how the organization and members pivoted to meet the pandemic conundrums.
“There was so much that we did not know about this virus and how it would impact our businesses and our country. AAHOA found new ways to engage with members to help them navigate theuncertainty our industry faced,” he said.
That included creating more than 200 webinars with the majority addressing COVID-specific issues, Biran said. In lieu of the in-person events, they held a virtual convention and trade show, regional conferences, and town halls to maintain connections. It also facilitated an exchange of information and ideas on addressing the pandemic's challenges together.
“On the advocacy front, AAHOA was instrumental in urging the administration to grant affiliation waivers. This meant that owners with multiple properties could secure PPP loans for each hotel. AAHOA helped hoteliers navigate new government stimulus programs and work with lenders on forbearance,” Biran said. “Our advocacy team also focused on helping owners address liability issues with regard to reopening or staying open. We brought hoteliers and lawmakers together so our elected officials could make more informed decisions about how to best help small businesses during this crisis.”
The weakening of COVID’S grip on the country has allowed AAHOA to hold its convention in person this year. However, that doesn’t mean it’s been easy.
Putting on a show
Organizing the show has been a challenge, Vinay said.
“We've planned this over the last probably eight to 12 months and, back in September, October and November, we knew that we were planning for six-foot social distancing,” Vinay said. “And then, as you go through the process, as things are loosening up, we're pivoting as things come along.”
The planners added a welcome reception recently, he said, as well as some smaller entertainment.
“It's been challenging, because you just don't know. And it's hard to prepare. So here you are literally 60 to 90 days, and you're trying to do something that you should have been doing probably six months ago, but just the fact that we just we just don't know what we could do,” Vinay said. “But I think that our team has done a great job in putting things together.”
They are budgeting for 4,500 to 6,000 people, and they expect the trade show will be the largest ever.
“I think it's an incredible accomplishment if you think about it, to have a convention right after COVID. And then to come back with a convention with that size and that magnitude,” Vinay said. “And well executed really well from a safety perspective.”
Vinay attended the Hunter Hotel Conference in Atlanta in May and studied how that show was conducted.
“I was surprised at how well they executed, I thought that they did a great job,” he said. “I think we're all prepared and ready to go. But, obviously, when you go to these different conferences, you see what works and what doesn't work.”
Vinay also saw how important it is to get back to in person meetings.
“When you have virtual meetings, and they're great, there's nothing wrong with virtual meetings, nothing wrong with it,” he said. “But I think when you do face to face, it's just a big difference.”
Hersha Hotels & Resorts sold The Boxer Boston to Eurostars Hotels.
The company acquired the property in 2012 for $12.6 million.
The property now sold for $23.6 million.
HERSHA HOTELS & RESORTS sold The Boxer Boston, an 80-room hotel in Boston’s West End, to Eurostars Hotels, part of Spain’s Grupo Hotusa. The company, which reportedly acquired the property in 2012 for $12.6 million, received $23.6 million for it.
The seven-story hotel, built in 1904, is near TD Garden, the Charles River Esplanade, One Congress, North Station and Massachusetts General Hospital, said JLL Hotels & Hospitality, which brokered the sale. It also has a fitness center.
Hersha Hotels & Resorts is part of the Hersha Group, founded in 1984 by Hasu Shah. Jay Shah serves as senior advisor and his brother Neil Shah is president and CEO.
JLL Managing Director Alan Suzuki, Senior Director Matthew Enright and Associate Emily Zhang represented the seller.
"The Boxer’s prime location at the crossroads of Boston's West End, North End and Downtown districts, combined with its strong cash flow and its unencumbered status regarding brand and management, made this an exceptionally attractive investment," said Suzuki. "Boston continues to demonstrate resilient lodging fundamentals driven by its diverse demand generators, including world-class educational institutions, medical facilities, corporate presence and convention and leisure attractions."
The property will become the Spanish hotel chain Eurostars’ fifth U.S. hotel, supporting the group’s North American expansion, the statement said.
Amancio López Seijas, president of Grupo Hotusa and Eurostars Hotels Co., said the addition of Eurostars’ The Boxer strengthens the company’s presence in key locations and promotes urban tourism.
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AHLA Foundation is partnering with ICHRIE and ACPHA to support hospitality education.
The collaborations align academic programs with industry workforce needs.
It will provide data, faculty development, and student engagement opportunities.
THE AHLA FOUNDATION, International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education and the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration work to expand education opportunities for students pursuing hospitality careers. The alliances aim to provide data, faculty development and student engagement opportunities.
Their efforts build on the foundation’s scholarships and link academics to workforce needs, AHLA said in a statement.
"We're not just funding education—we're investing in the alignment between academic learning and professional readiness," said Kevin Carey, AHLA Foundation president and CEO. "These partnerships give us the insights needed to support students and programs that effectively prepare graduates to enter the evolving hospitality industry."
ACPHA will provide annual reports on participating schools’ performance, enabling the Foundation to direct resources to programs with curricula aligned to industry needs, the Foundation said.
Thomas Kube, incoming ACPHA executive director, said the partnership shows academia and industry working together for hospitality students. The collaboration with ICHRIE includes program analysis, engagement through more than 40 Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society chapters and faculty development.
“Together, we are strengthening pathways to academic excellence, professional development and industry engagement,” said Donna Albano, chair of the ICHRIE Eta Sigma Delta Board of Governors.
U.S. holiday travel is down to 44 percent, led by Millennials and Gen Z.
Younger consumers are cost-conscious while older generations show steadier travel intent.
76 percent of Millennials are likely to use AI for travel recommendations.
NEARLY 44 PERCENT of U.S. consumers plan to travel during the 2025 holiday season, down from 46 percent last year, according to PwC. Millennials and Gen Z lead travel intent at 55 percent each, while Gen X sits at 39 percent and Baby Boomers at 26 percent.
PwC’s “Holiday Outlook 2025” survey found that among those not traveling, about half prefer to celebrate at home and cost concerns affect 43 percent, rising to 50 percent for Gen Z non-travelers. Visiting friends and relatives remains the main reason for holiday travel, cited by roughly 48 percent of those planning trips.
Younger consumers are more cost-conscious, while older generations show steadier travel intent. This split influences travel operators’ planning: younger travelers may require clear value, bundled perks and flexible options, whereas older travelers respond to reliability and convenience. Despite overall spending pressure, travel remains a key priority, reflecting its social and emotional importance during the holidays.
PwC surveyed 4,000 U.S. consumers from June 26 to July 9, with 1,000 each from Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Boomers, balanced by gender and region.
Generational spending patterns
Gen Z plans a 23 percent reduction in spending after last year’s 37 percent surge, while Boomers expect a 5 percent increase. Millennials are largely flat, down 1 percent and Gen X edges up 2 percent. Overall holiday spending is down 5 percent, with gift spending falling 11 percent, while travel and entertainment budgets remain stable, increasing 1 percent.
Households with children under 18 plan to spend more than twice as much as households without, averaging $2,349 compared to $1,089, highlighting the focus on family-centered experiences.
For travel and hospitality operators, these patterns suggest stronger conversion potential among older cohorts with steadier budgets and the need for clear value and cost transparency for younger travelers. Consumers are prioritizing experiences and togetherness over material gifts. Flexible fares, transparent pricing and bundled benefits such as Wi-Fi, breakfast, or late checkout can reinforce value and encourage bookings, especially among younger demographics. Gen Z’s pullback makes price-to-experience ratios decisive.
AI, timing and travel strategy
About 76 percent of Millennials say they are likely to use AI agents for recommendations, signaling a shift to “assistant-first” travel discovery. Operators must provide structured, AI-readable content, including route maps, fees, loyalty policies and inventory availability. Brands that do not may be invisible in AI-driven search and recommendation systems.
This year’s late Thanksgiving on Nov. 27 compresses the holiday booking window. Short-haul visiting-friends-and-relatives trips may see bunched reservations, increasing demand for early inventory visibility, simple cancellation policies and accurate last-minute availability. Operators should hold a portion of inventory for late bookings, streamline mobile checkouts and maintain flexible policies to capture last-minute travelers.
Strategies should be generationally targeted. Boomers and Gen X respond to comfort, reliability and multi-generational options, while Millennials and Gen Z require clear value and AI-optimized offers. Focusing on VFR travel through “home for the holidays” packages, flexible dates, partner transport and easy add-on nights can capture demand in key residential hubs.
Despite overall spending declines, travel remains a priority. Operators that deliver transparent value, AI-ready content and offers tailored to each generation can maintain bookings, convert last-minute demand and meet consumers’ evolving holiday expectations.
A TravelBoom Hotel Marketing report found that Americans continue to prioritize travel despite inflation and economic uncertainty, but with greater financial caution. About 74.5 percent plan a summer vacation and 17.5 percent are considering one, showing strong demand linked to careful budgeting.
Indian visitors to the U.S. fell 8 percent to 210,000 in June 2025, according to NTTO.
President Trump’s 50 percent tariff on Indian goods took effect on August 27.
The U.S. has seen a decline in international visitors in recent months.
INDIAN VISITORS TO the U.S. fell in June 2025 for the first time this millennium, excluding the Covid period, according to the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office. About 210,00 Indians visited the U.S. in June, down 8 percent from 230,000 in the same month last year.
The provisional figure for July shows a 5.5 percent drop from the same month last year, Economic Times reported, citing NTTO data. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s 50 percent tariff on Indian goods took effect on August 27, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to follow the “Vocal for Local” policy in his Aug. 15 Independence Day address. Beyond exports like textiles, the measure is likely to affect travel, tourism and hospitality in both countries.
The U.S. has seen a decline in international visitors in recent months, the Times said.
NTTO reported that total non-U.S. resident arrivals fell 6.2 percent in June 2025 from June 2024; 7 percent in May; 8 percent in March and 1.9 percent in February. January rose 4.7 percent and April 1.3 percent over the same months last year.
India is the fourth-largest source of international visitors to the U.S. Excluding Mexico and Canada, which share a land border, India is the second-largest overseas source after the UK.
“Combined, these top five markets, with Brazil fifth, accounted for 59.4 percent of total international arrivals in June,” NTTO said.
Travel industry leaders say it is too early to blame the drop in Indian visitors on stricter visa rules under Trump’s second term, which coincided with strained India-U.S. ties; the impact could rise if the policy continues. The U.S. mostly issues 10-year multiple-entry visitor and B1 and B2 visas, allowing holders to continue traveling, but new delays or stricter issuance norms could affect arrivals after a time lag.
“We are seeing a visible impact on the student segment this year due to delays in visa issuance, even after people have secured college admission,” a travel agent was quoted as saying in the report. “Historically, the biggest categories of visitors from India to the U.S. have been those visiting friends and relatives, business and students. The U.S. has never been a top leisure destination for Indians; that space is led by Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe, with North America following. Right now, apart from students, we are not seeing a significant impact on other segments, but if new visa issuances are affected, they will also be hit after a time lag.”
With an Indian diaspora of more than 5 million, the U.S. sees strong travel demand from India. NTTO data shows that every June since 2000 had recorded a year-on-year increase until 2025 broke the trend.
April saw high outbound travel from India. According to the tourism ministry, 2.9 million Indians traveled abroad, with the most going to the UAE, followed by Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Singapore and the U.S.
“But after May and June, travel was hit by the Pehelgam terror attack, closure of Pakistan airspace (which continues for Indian carriers and vice versa) and the Air India Ahmedabad crash,” a travel industry leader told the Times. “Every destination, especially in the west, was affected. The drop to the U.S. may not be in isolation, given how quickly western destinations were impacted.”
Global hotel RevPAR is projected to grow 3 to 5 percent in 2025, JLL reports.
Hotel RevPAR rose 4 percent in 2024, with demand at 4.8 billion room nights.
London, New York and Tokyo are expected to lead investor interest in 2025.
GLOBAL HOTEL REVPAR is projected to grow 3 to 5 percent in 2025, with investment volume up 15 to 25 percent, driven by loan maturities, deferred capital spending and private equity fund expirations, according to JLL. Leisure travel is expected to decline as consumer savings tighten, while group, corporate and international travel increase, supporting RevPAR growth.
Major cities continue to attract strong demand and investor interest, particularly London, New York and Tokyo. APAC is likely to post the strongest growth, fueled by recovering Chinese travel, while urban markets remain poised for continued momentum.
Lifestyle hotels are emerging as the new “third place,” blending living, working and leisure. The trend is fueling expansion into branded residences and alternative accommodations. JLL said investors must weigh regional performance differences, asset types and lifestyle trends when evaluating opportunities.
Separately, a Hapi and Revinate survey found fragmented systems, inaccurate data and limited integration remain barriers for hotels seeking better data access to improve guest experience and revenue.