THE LOS ANGELES City Council declared Wednesday, Sept. 4, as "AAHOA Day," recognizing association members’ role as entrepreneurs, job creators and contributors in the Greater Los Angeles Area. More than 100 AAHOA members attended the council meeting, where Councilmembers John Lee and Traci Park paid tribute to the contributions of local hoteliers to the city's development.
"It is an honor to see our work recognized by the L.A. City Council," said Miraj Patel, AAHOA’s chairman. "AAHOA Members have consistently engaged in advocacy that supports the hotel industry, and we are grateful for this acknowledgment of our efforts. I commend Greater Los Angeles area regional director Naresh Bhakta and Northeast Los Angeles Hotel Owners Association president Ray Patel for their hard work and dedication in leading these efforts, and all the AAHOA Members who joined for this special event."
The recognition highlights the association’s recent efforts to address challenges in the hotel industry, including revising the proposed "Hotel Land Use and Replacement Housing Requirements" and transforming a mandatory homeless voucher program into a voluntary one, AAHOA said in a statement said. The association also advocated for a carve-out for limited-service hotels in the proposed minimum wage hike.
AAHOA members own 1,165 hotels in the Greater Los Angeles Area, including around 650 in Los Angeles, with a total of 93,776 guestrooms. These properties, according to the association, generate $6.3 billion in annual hotel sales and contribute an estimated $17 billion to the local economy.
‘You love L.A.’
Lee and Park presented AAHOA with a resolution recognizing the contributions of local hoteliers. Following the presentation, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass made a special appearance to meet with AAHOA members and congratulate them on their efforts, which led to the establishment of AAHOA Day.
Councilmember Paul Krekorian noted that the recognition appropriately coincided with the city's 243rd birthday.
"It's easy to say 'I love L.A. and be an L.A. booster,'" he said. "You came here, worked 12- to 14-hour days to build a business, create savings, and then invested your life savings in the soil we are on… that is how you show you love L.A."
Before and after the council meeting, AAHOA members met with Councilmembers John Lee, Tim McOsker, Heather Hutt, Kevin de Leon, and the policy director for Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez to discuss concerns for local hoteliers, including labor shortages, rising insurance and operating costs, economic impacts on limited-service hotels, and support for Asian American minority hoteliers.
‘A day worth celebrating’
Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA’s president and CEO, who spoke at the city council event, appreciated the recognition of members' efforts by the council.
"It was special that they acknowledged the invaluable contributions of AAHOA and its members to the hospitality industry, the local economy, and the limited-service sector,” Blake said. “I also appreciated that the resolution encouraged all residents, businesses, and organizations to celebrate AAHOA Day and recognize the role AAHOA Members play in Los Angeles. This acknowledgment reflects our members' commitment to advocating for the hotel industry and our communities. Congratulations to our local leaders for achieving this historic event through their diligence and relationships with elected officials. It was a day worth celebrating.”
AAHOA recently partnered with the California Hotel & Lodging Association and the Hospitality Association of Los Angeles to provide input on the city's police permitting process and encourages members to engage with legislators on Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act reforms. The association remains committed to ensuring hotel owners' voices are heard on issues affecting their operations.
AAHOA is hosting its third annual HerOwnership Conference on Sept. 12-13 in Redondo Beach, California, with sessions on hotel ownership, mental health, wellness, and executive leadership.
