Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

AAHOA officers say Modi state visit will strengthen bilateral relations

The association working to increase trade with India, begin training program for hospitality workers in the country

AAHOA officers say Modi state visit will strengthen bilateral relations

INDIAN PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi’s steadfast dedication to economic reform, environmental concerns, technological advancements and foreign policy has cemented his position as a respected and esteemed leader, said Bharat Patel, AAHOA chairman. Patel and other AAHOA officers attended Modi’s recent visit to the White House and his address to Congress, and he said plans were laid to increase AAHOA’s connections to India with programs supporting more trade with Indian companies and a worker training program.

Modi's state visit June 21 to 23 significantly strengthened bilateral relations between India and the U.S., Patel said. The Indian prime minister received a warm welcome from the American diaspora community.


"Americans wholeheartedly recognize him as a crucial ally and genuine friend to the U.S.,” Patel said.

“While the nature of each visit may differ, Modi's visit to the U.S. is universally acknowledged as carrying immense significance for both democracies, representing a strong and evolving relationship between the U.S. and India.”

ENEWS 06 28 23 Modi visit AAHOA officers Bharat with Rahul Rakesh From left, AAHOA member Rakesh Patel, Secretary Rahul Patel and Bharat Patel, AAHOA chairman, during the state visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

AAHOA is the largest hotel owners’ association in the U.S., with 20,000 members who own 60 percent of the nation's hotels. The association’s leaders actively lobbied Congress for PM Modi’s address to the House and Senate during his state visit. It also cosponsored “We the People: Celebrating the U.S.-India Partnership,” a special appearance by Modi and other officials and business leaders at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Their delegation included Bharat; Miraj Patel, vice chairman; Kamalesh “KP” Patel, treasurer; Rahul Patel, secretary; and Nishant “Neal” Patel, immediate past chair. They participated in the White House welcome ceremony and Modi's address to Congress, underscoring AAHOA’s dedication to robust Indian-U.S. relations.

"As two of the world's leading democracies, the U.S. and India share a remarkable number of similarities," said Bharat. "Amidst the intense scrutiny that world leaders endure on the global stage, Prime Minister Modi has garnered substantial support in the U.S. Many Americans appreciate his focus on economic development, initiatives such as 'Made in India,' and efforts to enhance India's global standing.”

Meanwhile, the prime minister also praised Indian Americans for their significant contributions to the host nation and the India-U.S. relationship during the state dinner. He highlighted their pride in values, democratic traditions, vibrant culture, and notable achievements in sectors like hospitality, healthcare, education, research, and logistics.

“Be it hospitals or hotels, universities or research labs, gas stations or logistics management, they are making their mark everywhere,” Modi said.

Enhanced bilateral relations 

Modi’s visit acted as a catalyst for enhancing bilateral relations, offering a platform to discuss and advance cooperation in key areas such as trade, defense, security, technology, artificial intelligence, and cultural exchanges.

Bharat emphasized that Modi's visit signifies the strengthening ties between the two nations as they collaborate to address global challenges like climate change, AI advancements, defense and security, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.

ENEWS 06 28 23 Modi visit AAHOA officers garden Prime Minister Modi met with President Joe Biden during the visit and addressed a joint session of Congress.

He highlighted that the opportunity to attend a state dinner at the White House is universally recognized as an extraordinary honor.

“It serves as a prominent platform for diplomatic exchanges, bolstering bilateral relations, and celebrating international cooperation in a remarkable manner,” Bharat said.

AAHOA's properties make a substantial contribution to the U.S. economy, representing 1.7 percent of the U.S. GDP. Bharat said the association plans to step up its participation in the “Buy Indian” program.

“So many people of Indian origin do business in America, but they're not able to buy textiles for different reasons,” Bharat said. “We want to work with brands and hotel operators just to buy more textiles from India. I think that's a win-win for everybody.”

Past Chairman Neal Patel gave details on the need for cooperation with India.

“After COVID the cost of our expenses when it comes to FF&E and even soft goods, they've doubled and for some hotels, it's even tripled,” he said. “The idea was, how can you increase competition to drive the cost down or increase the quality of the products that we’re receiving in our hotels? And when you look at the hotel industry, mainly, their supplies are coming from either Pakistan or Bangladesh. Our goal is, how can we give India and the companies that are based there a platform to increase competition, lower the costs and hence increase our ROI on our assets.”

Neal said AAHOA previously sent a delegation to India to discuss plans for how the association can increase trade between its membership and Indian companies.

“The idea was very simple, to promote AAHOA and the hospitality industry by partnering with the Indian government,” Neal said. “The challenge that we saw that was happening is that the companies in India do not know the specs that are needed in our industry. So, what AAHOA’s role will be is to provide those specs, be the person in the middle, and provide the specs to the new companies and increase competition.”

Neal said the goal is to have 50 percent of AAHOA members buying products for their hotels from India in the next five years.

The AAHOA delegation to India also met with India’s minister of education to discuss a program that would help address U.S. hotels’ ongoing labor shortage.

“The idea would be for the Indian government to train hospitality students in AAHOA certification. Once they're trained, they'll provide us up to 50,000 students part time to work in our members’ hotels, and the cost will be very, very low compared to what we would pay here,” Neal said. “This helps us because right now, we can barely survive when it comes to labor and building a team. This will help us building a global team.”

U.S. tribute to PM

Bharat Patel described the atmosphere as Indian-Americans, influential figures, and dignitaries gathered for the momentous occasion.

“The White House paid a fitting tribute to Modi's visit by offering a delectable selection of vegetarian Indian cuisine, a splendid display that not only celebrated India's vibrant culture but also highlighted its global influences,” he said.

ENEWS 06 28 23 Modi visit AAHOA officers invite AAHOA officers were invited to participate in Indian Prime Minister Modi’s recent state visit.

According to Bharat, the relationship between the U.S. and India encompasses a wide array of dimensions, ranging from strategic and economic to diplomatic and cultural ties.

“With the U.S. recognizing India as a major global power, the acknowledgement extends beyond Asia, considering India's growing influence as the world's most populous country, even surpassing China.”

Patel emphasized that the U.S. and India share fundamental values, rooted in a steadfast commitment to democracy and individual freedoms.

"These shared values strengthen the enduring bond between our nations," he said.

Neal Patel said the AAHOA officers did have a brief meeting with Modi himself.

“It wasn't an official meeting, it was just in passing ‘Hello,’” Neal said. “Unfortunately, we weren't able to take our phones there, but it was a very good experience for us. AAHOA is now recognized on with the India-America partnership and we were invited to be part of the delegation.”

Prior to Modi's visit, Indian Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu attended a reception hosted by Marriott International in Washington. In April, leading American hotel brands such as Marriott, Hilton Worldwide, and Radisson Hotel Group further strengthened their presence in India.

More for you

Trump’s Proposed Visa Fee Threatens Seasonal Hospitality Workforce

Report: Trump visa fee sparks summer staffing fears

Summary:

  • Trump’s proposed $250 Visa Integrity Fee faces pushback from groups relying on seasonal J-1 workers from Latin America and Asia.
  • J-1 visa holders often work as housekeepers, amusement park staff, and lifeguards from pre-season through Labor Day; more than 300,000 use the visa annually.
  • DHS and the State Department have not clarified how the fee will be implemented or who qualifies for a refund.

A $250 VISA Integrity Fee in President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill is drawing criticism from groups that rely on seasonal workers from Latin America and Asia on J-1 and other visas, Newsweek reported. The organizations warn the cost, though sometimes refundable, could reduce the summer workforce that supports U.S. beach towns and resorts.

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S. Hotel Construction Hits 20-Quarter Low in June

CoStar: Hotel construction drops in June

Summary:

  • U.S. hotel rooms under construction fell year over year for the sixth straight month in June, hitting a 20-quarter low, CoStar reported.
  • About 138,922 rooms were under construction, down 11.9 percent from June 2024; the luxury segment had 6,443 rooms, up 4.1 percent year over year.
  • Lodging Econometrics recently said Dallas led all U.S. markets in hotel construction pipelines at the end of the first quarter, with 203 projects and 24,496 rooms.

THE NUMBER OF U.S. hotel rooms under construction declined year over year for the sixth straight month in June, reaching a 20-quarter low, according to CoStar. Additionally, more than half of all rooms under development are in the South, mostly outside the top 25 markets.

Keep ReadingShow less
G6 Hospitality Launches 24/7 Guest Support From August 1
Photo credit: G6 Hospitality

G6 launching 24x7 guest support on Aug. 1

Summary:

  • G6 Hospitality will launch 24x7 guest support on Aug. 1, expanding the current 18-hour window.
  • Escalations from phone, email and social media will be handled promptly by trained staff.
  • The service supports G6’s tech and service investments, including the AI-powered My6 app.

G6 HOSPITALITY, PARENT of Motel 6 and Studio 6, will launch a 24x7 customer support service for guests starting Aug. 1. The service extends the previous 18-hour window to full-day availability via phone, email and social media.

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S. travelers using mobile devices to book independent boutique hotel stays with personalized offers and smart tech in 2025

Study: Personalization boosts independent hotel bookings

Summary:

  • Around 95 percent of U.S. travelers are more likely to book independent hotels with personalized offers, according to TakeUp.
  • 59 percent plan more travel in 2025, with 78 percent favoring weekend getaways and 65 percent domestic trips.
  • Top booking deterrents are few reviews at 39 percent, unclear cleanliness or quality at 38 percent and inflexible cancellations at 29 percent.

PERSONALIZED OFFERS BASED on interests would make 95 percent of U.S. travelers more likely to book at an independent hotel, according to TakeUp, a revenue management platform for independent hotels. About 85 percent are open to technologies such as smart check-in, recommendations and AI-based pricing.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chart showing decline in U.S. extended-stay hotel occupancy and RevPAR in May 2025

Report: May fifth month for drop in extended-stay occupancy

Summary:

  • Extended-stay occupancy fell 2.2 percent in May, the fifth straight monthly decline; ADR and RevPAR also dropped for a second consecutive month.
  • May marked 44 straight months of supply growth for the segment at 4 percent or less, with annual growth below the 4.9 percent long-term average.
  • Extended-stay room revenues rose 0.5 percent, while total industry revenue grew 0.9 percent, led by segments with little extended-stay supply.

EXTENDED-STAY HOTEL occupancy fell 2.2 percent in May, the fifth consecutive monthly decline, exceeding the 0.7 percent drop reported for all hotels by STR/CoStar, according to The Highland Group. Extended-stay occupancy was 10.5 percentage points above the total hotel industry, at the lower end of the long-term average premium range.

Keep ReadingShow less