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.
AN ALABAMA HOTELIER, Pravin Raojibhai Patel, was shot and killed last week after a confrontation with a man asking for a room, according to the Sheffield, Alabama, Police Department. William Jeremy Moore, 34, was arrested in connection with the incident, which comes three years after a series of similar killings of Indian American Hotel owners.
Patel, 76, was the owner of the Hillcrest Motel in Sheffield. On Feb. 8, Moore came to the motel and tried to get a room when an altercation started between the two men.
“That is when Mr. Moore pulled a handgun and shot Mr. Patel,” Sheffield Police Chief Ricky Terry said in the report. “Mr. Moore was quickly apprehended by Sheffield Police on 13th Avenue when he was trying to break into an abandoned house. When searching Mr. Moore, the murder weapon was found in his possession.”
Jemeriz Owens, who works as a barber across the street from Patel’s motel, told a local news station that he heard three gunshots go off back-to-back. He ran to the motel and found police attending to Patel, who was dead outside his office.
"That was the shocking part, man," said Owens. "I didn't think it was going to be Mr. Patel. There's always something going on over there, but that was the last thing I would've thought would happen."
Owens told WAAY 31 News Patel was just trying to do his job.
"He was outside," continued Owens. "He was just trying to get somebody to leave, and they didn't want to leave and they shot him."
William Moore, 34, is being held in the Sheffield City Jail in connection with Patel’s shooting death.
Moore is being held in the Sheffield City Jail until a warrant is issued, Terry said, and he will then be transported to the Colbert County Jail.
A funeral service was held for Patel at Morrison Funeral Home in Tuscumbia, Alabama, on Feb. 12, according to Patel’s obituary. He is survived by his wife, Renukaben Patel, and children, Nital Patel (Sandeep) and Nirmal Patel (Jeenal). He also has three brothers, Harshad, Indravaden and Harendra Patel, a sister, Manju Patel, and grandchildren Jaiden, Myya, Leeya and Ariyana Patel.
His parents, Raojibhai and Maniben Patel, and another brother, Hasmukh Patel, previously passed away.
“Mr. Patel was such a nice, warm gentleman. I knew him for many years as he owned one of the motels in our area,” said Susann Hamlin, president of the Colbert County Tourism Office in Tuscumbia, in a comment on Morrison Funeral Home’s website. “Such a pleasant and sweet man with a lovely wife and children. I am so sad for the family and also, glad that I had the privilege to know him.”
Bindoo Patel also left a comment.
“I knew Pravinbhai for the last 50 years. He was a very good person by heart,” Bindoo said. “I cannot believe this happened to him.”
In 2021, Cleveland, Mississippi, hotelier Yogesh Patel was beaten to death by a guest he had had evicted from his hotel earlier in the day. In March of that year, Usha and Dilip Patel were victims of a shooting in their Elkton, Maryland, hotel that left Usha dead and her husband wounded.
Other similar incidents also were reported that year. Cecil Staton, then AAHOA president and CEO, said at the time the attacks were part of a pattern.
“America’s hotel owners are shocked and outraged by this senseless act of violence against two small business owners doing their jobs,” Staton said. “Attacks against hoteliers continue to increase, and this is yet another horrendous episode of violence against Asian Americans that is plaguing our society. It must stop now.”
The House introduced the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2025 to reform tort law.
AAHOA said the bill would restore accountability in the legal system.
In 2023, the Supreme Court vacated a case on “tester lawsuits” under the ADA.
THE HOUSE OF Representatives recently introduced the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2025 to reform tort law and mandate sanctions for frivolous lawsuits. AAHOA supported the bill, saying it would restore accountability to the legal system, an issue for small-business owners such as hoteliers.
The bill — introduced in the U.S. House by Republican Reps. Mike Collins of Georgia, Brandon Gill of Texas, Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin and Harriet Hageman of Wyoming — would amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
“This legislation will help restore accountability in our courts, protect job creators from frivolous legal attacks and reform a civil justice system that too often favors abuse over fairness,” said Rep. Collins. “We’re sending a clear message: the courtroom should be a place for justice, not a playground for abuse.”
The act would:
Require sanctions for frivolous lawsuits instead of leaving them discretionary.
Remove the 21-day delay for filing sanctions if the challenged pleading is withdrawn or corrected.
Mandate payment of reasonable expenses, including attorney fees, to parties harmed by frivolous filings.
Allow additional sanctions, such as striking pleadings, dismissing cases, or imposing financial penalties to deter future violations.
Kamalesh “KP” Patel, AAHOA chairman, said that for small-business owners, a single frivolous lawsuit can threaten their livelihoods and undo years of work.
"This legislation gives hoteliers a fighting chance by ensuring those who weaponize the courts face real consequences,” he said. “It's about restoring fairness so our members can focus on what they do best: running their businesses and supporting their teams."
In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated as moot a case that could have set a precedent limiting “tester lawsuits” against hotels under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The court noted it may still address whether someone can sue a hotel without intending to stay there. The case, Acheson Hotels, LLC v. Laufer, was filed by Deborah Laufer, who claimed the hotels’ websites failed to disclose whether accessible rooms were available.
“Frivolous lawsuits don't just waste time — they siphon resources away from job creation, community investment and growth,” said Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA president and CEO. “This legislation provides protection for small-business owners who cannot afford to fend off meritless claims. Protecting them means protecting the vitality of Main Street economies across the country.”
AAHOA urges Congress to pass the legislation and protect small-business owners from abusive lawsuits.
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The H-2B visa program protects U.S. jobs and wages, according to AHLA citing a study.
It allows hotels and resorts to meet travelers’ needs while supporting the economy.
It provides foreign workers for seasonal jobs when domestic workers are unavailable.
THE H-2B VISA program does not harm U.S. jobs or wages but increases pay and supports the labor force, according to an Edgeworth Economics study. Citing that study, the American Hotel & Lodging Association said the program enables hotels and resorts to meet travelers’ needs while supporting the workforce and economy.
The Edgeworth study for the H-2B Workforce Coalition found the program allows businesses to hire foreign workers for seasonal jobs when domestic workers are unavailable. It showed no evidence that increases in H-2B visas reduce U.S. employment or wages. Instead, each H-2B worker supports three to five local jobs and areas with more H-2B workers saw wages grow 1.6 percent faster.
“Areas that hired more H-2B workers under the higher visa cap saw greater job and wage growth among U.S. workers,” said Steve Bronars, partner at Edgeworth Economics, citing findings consistent with an earlier analysis by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Ashley McNeil, AHLA’s vice president of federal government affairs and chair of the H-2B Workforce Coalition, said the new analysis underscores the H-2B program’s clear value to local communities.
“The hotel industry, which is still 200,000 workers short compared to pre-pandemic levels, relies on legal guest worker programs to augment our workforce, particularly to address seasonal demands,” McNeil said. “Access to the H-2B visa program has been critical in allowing hotels and resorts of all sizes to meet travelers’ needs, while supporting the local workforce and economy.”
The program has also helped businesses manage peak-season labor shortages, easing the workload for full-time employees. Landscaping accounts for nearly 40 percent of certified H-2B workers. Hotels and motels account for 8.67 percent, support activities for forestry 6.3 percent and seafood processing and packaging 5.65 percent.
“This study reaffirms what our members have long recognized: despite extensive recruitment efforts, there remains a critical shortage of U.S. workers willing or available to fill temporary positions that are currently being filled by H-2B workers,” said Arnulfo Hinojosa, COO of the Federation of Workers and Employers of America and vice chair of the H-2B Workforce Coalition. “H-2B workers allow seasonal businesses to operate at a higher capacity and create more U.S. jobs.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump recently signed a proclamation raising the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 annually, a move that could affect Indian professionals in the U.S.
AHLA’s survey finds reduced hotel development and renovation plans.
Only 8 percent of property owners are moving forward with new investments.
Survey participants included 387 property owners and operators.
ABOUT 32 PERCENT of U.S. hotel owners and operators are delaying development projects and 24 percent are scaling back plans, according to a recent survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. About 8 percent have canceled projects entirely.
“Hotels are eager to invest in their properties and communities but rising costs and uncertain demand are forcing many to put projects on hold,” said AHLA President and CEO Rosanna Maietta. “It’s been a tough year for hotel operators, especially our small business owners. As Congress gets back to work, we’ll focus on advancing policies to spur travel, ease operational pressures and provide our industry the certainty it needs to grow, create jobs and strengthen local economies nationwide.”
The workforce challenges further compound pressures, with nearly half of the respondents, 49 percent, reporting understaffed properties. On the demand side, leisure travel continues to decline. Thirty percent of hotels reported declines in completed leisure stays, while 26 percent saw drops in upcoming bookings compared with the same period last year.
Business, group and government travel also showed weakness, with 15 to 17 percent of properties experiencing decreases in bookings.
The AHLA survey, conducted between Aug. 21 and 29, included responses from 387 property owners and operators across the U.S., representing all hotel segments.
In another recent survey by the Hospitality Asset Managers Association, more than 70 percent of respondents expect a 1 to 3 percent RevPAR increase in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Howard Johnson is marking its 100th anniversary with fried clam–shaped soaps.
The soaps pay homage to an iconic HoJo menu item.
Available at select hotels and for online purchase starting Oct. 3.
HOWARD JOHNSON BY Wyndham marks a century with one of its most famous menu items, the fried clam strip. The brand is introducing limited-edition HoJo’s Original Fried Clam Soap, available at select Howard Johnson hotels across the U.S. and for online purchase beginning Oct. 3.
Designed to resemble the original food item, the soaps are infused with lemon, sea salt and butter in a nod to the butter-soaked rolls that once accompanied the fried clams, according to a statement by Wyndham.
“Howard Johnson is a brand woven into America’s cultural fabric and beloved by millions for generations,” said Marissa Yoss, HoJo’s head of marketing. “As we celebrate 100 years, our limited-edition fried clam soap is a fun, nostalgic tribute to the brand’s storied past and a playful nod to the retro-modern, family-friendly spirit that continues defining our hotels today.”
For World Waffle Day celebrations, Comfort Hotels hosted a one-day Waffle Lounge in New York City on Aug. 21.
The use of AI agents hotels must rethink customer loyalty, a FAU study finds.
The paper proposes strategies as AI becomes the main booking channel.
Researchers warn of ethical and privacy issues.
HOTELS MUST RETHINK how they build and maintain loyalty as artificial intelligence systems make travel decisions and bookings for consumers, according to a study by Florida Atlantic University. The rise of artificial intelligence agents will complicate hotel customer loyalty management.
“AI agents will be the new gatekeepers of loyalty,” said Anil Bilgihan, FAU College of Business professor of hospitality management. “The question is no longer just ‘How do we win a customer’s heart?’ but ‘How do we win the trust of the algorithms advising them?’ Hotels need to prepare for a future where a guest’s preferred brand may be decided before they even open their phone.”
As consumers use AI agents to search for hotels, check availability, compare prices, analyze reviews and make bookings, decision-making will shift to the algorithm, creating loyalty to the agent or its ecosystem rather than to the brand, the report said.
Bilgihan said AI is not influenced by traditional advertising and sorts options based on algorithmic criteria.
“Imagine a traveler asking their AI agent to book a hotel in Miami within a certain budget, with a pool and strong reviews,” he said. “If your hotel doesn’t appear in that recommendation set, you may never be considered. Hotels must design loyalty programs, digital visibility and service experiences that appeal to both human guests and the AI systems filtering choices on their behalf.”
The paper proposes a framework for hotels to rethink loyalty strategies as AI agents become the main channel for travel bookings. While emotional branding still matters for humans, marketers should focus on loyalty programs that engage both humans and AI systems, using customer data to tailor experiences, improve algorithmic visibility and design programs appealing to both, the study said.
Researchers also warned of ethical and privacy concerns, including algorithmic bias, limited consumer understanding of how AI agents work and challenges in brand visibility.
“At the end of the day, technology doesn’t replace the fundamentals,” Bilgihan said. “AI may shape how guests discover and book, but the foundation of loyalty will always be the experience once they arrive.”
The paper in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management was authored by Max Ostinelli, assistant professor of marketing; Ye Zhang, associate professor of hospitality management; Melanie Lorenz, associate professor of marketing and Bilgihan.
New York University’s State of Distribution 2025 found a gap between AI potential and hotel operational readiness, as teams are still developing training, systems and workflows. In May, India’s International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) Kolkata launched ‘NamAIste – IIHM HospitalityGPT,’ the first generative AI platform for the global hospitality industry.