Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

Pinal Patel elected as AAHOA secretary

New board members also elected, industry partners named

Pinal Patel elected as AAHOA secretary

PINAL PATEL WAS elected secretary of AAHOA in the culmination of 2024 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show held this week in Orlando. New members of the association’s board of directors also were elected and new industry partners were announced.

Pinal, of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, defeated H.K. “Hare Krishna” Patel for the secretary position. He was born in Bardoli, India, and his family moved to the U.S. in 1984 when he was 2, according to AAHOA. They lived in Nashville, Tennessee, Pinal said his parents did not speak any English when they brought him and his 1-year-old brother to America.


Pinal’s parents bought their first independent hotel in 1991, and he is a second-generation hotelier even after graduating flight school at Embry Riddle in Daytona Beach, Florida, before buying his first franchise property. Previously, he has served as an AAHOA ambassador and as AAHOA’s director at large Eastern Division.

“Hard work definitely pays off,” Patel said. “I'm going to make sure we do what's right for the association and for the members. I promise to all my supporters, my family, and my fellow members that I will not let you down. I will do what's best for the association's interests."

Taking to the debate stage

During AAHOACON24, Pinal and H.K. took to the debate stage where they each answered questions from the moderator, John Crow, president and founder of Crow Hospitality Investment Group and founding member of AAHOA. Some of Pinal’s answers included:

Question: Do you believe that AAHOA should continue its current plan for fair franchising legislation, or is there anything we should change in AAHOA’s position in any way to bring back the big brands?

“We have been supporting fair franchising for the past 30 years and will continue to support fair franchising. But what's more important is the] four pillars that we have right now. Right now, we have to make sure that the brands do not have mandated vendors, they are fully disclosing brand rebates, do not sell our loyalty points and also no new fees without the approval of the [Franchise Advisory Council].”

Question: What should be AAHOA’s advocacy priorities?

“We need to get advocacy at the grassroots level. We need to educate our ambassadors, our regional directors where they are connected to their local officials, we need to be more proactive than reactive. We need to get in front of the issues before they're happening.”

Question: Should AAHOA raise its $3,000 fee for its lifetime memberships or changing benefits to help protect AAHOA’s future finances?

“AAHOA’s membership fee has been the same for the last 20 years now? Have your hotel rates been the same for the last 20 years. We must raise rates on everything. I understand that AAHOA’s membership has been $3,000, however, now it's time that we need to raise the rates on everything in order to be able to sustain. To be able to help you we have to be able to get profits now.”

Question: Should AAHOA be adding education, conference, and other support to encourage young hoteliers in pursuit of new and different opportunities?

“Absolutely, we just launched our very first HYPE conference in New Orleans just a few months ago and it was an absolute success. You know what, we're going to continue to do this.”

Question: In light of cost overruns for last year’s AAHOACON, do you believe that it's sometimes acceptable to exceed the budget for AAHOACON as an investment in members to provide greater venues and amenities or of it's important to stay within budget, even if it means less expensive venues let's beverage speakers and entertainment?

“Yes, in Los Angeles, we did lose money for the very first time and avoid history, but that is the planning. I have that experience to be able to plan future conventions. I was a big advocate on reducing this convention now by one day, if we reduce this convention now, it saves the association $1 million.”

New board members and industry partners

Newly elected board members include:

  • Gulf Regional Director: Vimal Patel
  • North Florida Regional Director: Jayesh “Jay” Patel
  • Mid Atlantic Regional Director: Mahendra “MZ” Patel
  • Mid-South Regional Director: Ajay Patel
  • South Carolina Regional Director: Fenil Desai
  • South Pacific Regional Director: Nilesh “Neil” Bhakta
  • South Central Texas Regional Director: Vikash Patel
  • Southeast Texas Regional Director: Bhavik Patel
  • Southwest Regional Director: Dharmesh Ahir
  • Women Hoteliers Director Western Division: Shetal Zina Patel

Three new industry partners for the 2024-25 term are Amir Ahmed, executive vice president, DISH Business; Kevin Sloan, managing partner, Gauthier Murphy & Houghtaling, LLC; and Abraham Tieh, director of National Commercial Property Tax, O’Connor & Associates.

More for you

Marriott Outdoor Collection

Marriott unveils 'Outdoor Collection'

Summary:

  • Marriott launches Outdoor Collection and Bonvoy Outdoors platform.
  • First two brands are Postcard Cabins and Trailborn Hotels.
  • Platform features 450+ hotels, 50,000 homes and activities.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL RECENTLY launched the brand “Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy” and introduced “Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors,” a digital platform that lets travelers plan trips by destination or activity. The first two brands in the Outdoor Collection are Postcard Cabins and Trailborn Hotels.

Keep ReadingShow less
Peachtree adds six hotels to its third-party management platform
Photo credit: Peachtree Group

Peachtree picked to manage six hotels

Summary:

  • Peachtree adds six hotels to third-party platform.
  • Five are owned by La Posada Group, one by Decatur Properties.
  • Third-party portfolio totals 42 hotels.

PEACHTREE GROUP’S HOSPITALITY management division added six hotels to its third-party management platform. Five are owned by La Posada Group LLC and one by Decatur Properties Holdings.

Keep ReadingShow less
AHLA Foundation scholarships

AHLA Foundation awards $710K in scholarships

Summary:

  • AHLA Foundation distributed $710,000 in scholarships to 246 students.
  • Nearly 90 percent of recipients come from underrepresented communities.
  • The foundation funds students pursuing education and careers in the lodging sector.

AHLA FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTED $710,000 in academic scholarships to 246 students at 64 schools nationwide for the 2025–2026 academic year. Nearly 90 percent of recipients are from underrepresented communities, reflecting the foundation’s focus on expanding access to hospitality careers.

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S. government shutdown
Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Congressional deadlock shutters government

Summary:

  • The U.S. government shut down at midnight after Congress failed to agree on funding.
  • About 750,000 federal employees will be furloughed daily, costing $400 million.
  • Key immigration and labor programs are halted.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT shut down at midnight after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on funding. Disputes over healthcare subsidies and spending priorities left both sides unwilling to accept responsibility.

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S. government shutdown 2025 news
Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Trump, Congress face shutdown deadline

Summary:

  • President Donald Trump will meet Congress as a shutdown looms.
  • Democrats say they are ready to negotiate a bipartisan deal.
  • Thousands of federal jobs and the U.S. travel economy are at risk if a shutdown occurs.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP will meet Congressional leaders on Monday after Senate Democrats rejected a Republican stopgap spending bill to fund the government until Nov. 21. The U.S. Travel Association recently warned a government shutdown could cost the travel economy $1 billion a week.

Keep ReadingShow less