Summary:
- AAHOA’s Fourth Annual HerOwnership Conference, held Sept. 11–12.
- The event featured sessions on operations, marketing and AI for women entrepreneurs.
- Keynote speaker Amy Diehl spoke on closing the hotel ownership gender gap.
WOMEN HOTELIERS ATTENDED AAHOA’s Fourth Annual HerOwnership Conference, held Sept. 11 to 12 at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. The host city’s Mayor Alan Perry issued a proclamation declaring the days as “AAHOA HerOwnership Days.”
The two-day event, themed "Guiding Light: Leading with Strength, Shining with Purpose," included sessions on hotel operations, marketing and storytelling and using artificial intelligence for women entrepreneurs. Perry said the conference's theme “reflects the mission of inspiring women to take on leadership roles in their businesses and communities,” AAHOA said in a statement.
"Women hoteliers are essential forces in today's hospitality industry," said Kamalesh “KP” Patel, AAHOA chairman. "They are leading multimillion-dollar businesses, building strong teams and contributing meaningfully to their communities. Conferences like HerOwnership aren't just about inspiration — they're about equipping women with the tools, connections and confidence to take ownership of their future in this industry."
Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA president and CEO, said women make up more than 50 percent of the hospitality workforce but hold less than 10 percent of hotel ownership roles.
"That gap is exactly why we created HerOwnership—to provide the knowledge, access and network needed to close it,” she said. “This conference is where ambition meets opportunity and every year, we see more women stepping into ownership and leadership with clarity and confidence."
Keynote speaker Amy Diehl, author of “Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work,” spoke on closing the hotel ownership gender gap.
"The best part of HerOwnership is how it blends practical learning with genuine connection," said Purnima Patel, AAHOA Women Hoteliers Director, Eastern Division. "You could feel the encouragement in every room—from panels and breakouts to casual hallway chats. We're creating a culture where women lift as they lead and that's how real change happens."
The event also featured sponsored sessions on financing strategies by Red Roof and on using vision to value by M3. Two pre-conference masterclasses covered capital strategies with Davonne Reeves of The Vonne Group and property claim disputes with Gauthier, Murphy & Houghtaling. DISH Business sponsored the Seaside Soiree Reception.
Arti Patel, AAHOA Women Hoteliers Director, Western Division, said HerOwnership remains a space for women to explore ownership with guidance and community support.
"So many attendees left the event not just inspired, but ready,” she said. “Ready to take the next step, make their first investment, or grow their existing business. That's the power of a room full of women who believe in each other."
In 2024, AAHOA's Third Annual HerOwnership Conference in Redondo Beach, California, brought together 300 women hoteliers to discuss executive presence, hotel ownership and mental health.
