- AAHOA met with lawmakers in DC.
- They discussed SBA loan limits, franchise.
- It included advocacy education,Leadership Exchange.
AAHOA LEADERS HELD meetings with lawmakers and congressional staff during its Sept. 15 to 16 National Leadership & Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. They pressed for higher Small Business Administration loan limits, mandatory sanctions for frivolous lawsuits, a joint-employer standard for franchisees and competition in credit card network routing.
AAHOA supports the Supporting Trade and Rebuilding Opportunity for National Growth Act and the Loans In Our Neighborhoods Act of 2025, the association said in a statement. Both would raise maximum SBA 7(a) and 504 loan amounts from $5 million to $10 million.
It also backed the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2025; the American Franchise Act; and the Credit Card Competition Act of 2026.
The SBA announced a rule letting borrowers combine 7(a) and 504 loans for up to $10 million, up from a $5 million cumulative limit, effective July 4, but the maximum for a single 7(a) loan remains $5 million.
AAHOA said the change does not fully address its call for broader, permanent increases.
“Our hotel owners are small business owners, employers, and community leaders, and the decisions being made in Washington have a direct impact on our ability to operate and grow,” said Rahul Patel, AAHOA chairman. “We came to Washington to make sure our members’ experiences are part of those conversations. Our members are asking for practical solutions that will help them invest in their properties, create jobs, and continue serving their communities.”
AAHOA President and CEO Laura Lee Blake said members own 60 percent of U.S. hotels and support 4.2 million hospitality jobs.
“That gives our members a powerful voice in Washington and this conference allows them to use it,” Blake said. “Our members came to share what they are seeing in their businesses, explain how federal policies affect their day-to-day operations, and make sure policymakers hear directly from the people running hotels on main streets across America.”
Rep. Mark Alford of Missouri who introduced the STRONG Act, spoke to members Sept. 15 about small businesses and job creation. He urged them to share business experiences with lawmakers and called for clear SBA guidance on quality-of-earnings requirements.
The first day also included advocacy education and a Leadership Exchange panel with Mitch Patel, president and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group, and Teague Hunter, president and CEO of Hunter Advisors, who moderated.
Mitch Patel described building his company from a $3,000 start in 1997 to 44 hotels in eight states.
Chiling Tong, president and CEO of the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, and Tina Wei Smith, former executive director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, also took part. Both serve on the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture.
The congressional reception included discussions with Reps. Ami Bera of California, Judy Chu of California, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia, and Derek Tran of California.
AAHOA holds advocacy conferences each spring and fall. Last year's fall conference, on Sept. 16-17, centered on SBA loan access, the Visa Integrity Fee and Brand USA funding.
