HOUSTON, TX (TIP): Indian American Texas hotelier Miraj S. Patel has become the youngest chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) board of directors in its 35-year history.
Patel became chairman for 2024-25 at the April 5 conclusion of the 2024 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show in Orlando, Florida, which set a record level of exhibiting vendors and welcomed nearly 6,500 attendees for the industry’s leading event for hotel owners, according to a media release.
“It is an honor to serve America’s hotel owners as the newest AAHOA Chairman,” Patel said. “I am committed to helping solve some of the industry’s toughest challenges with simple and straightforward solutions and to putting our members at the center of every decision we make.”
Patel is a second-generation hotelier who began his career in hospitality at a young age, growing up in his family’s first 30-room independent property.
He got his start in volunteer service at AAHOA by serving as a committee member for several years and joining the AAHOA Board of Directors in 2019 after being elected as Young Professional Director Western Division.
“Serving as the youngest chair in the association’s history further demonstrates AAHOA’s commitment to fostering the growth and success of the next generation,” Patel said.
“I’m always encouraging young professionals not to let age determine success. Many times, people may say you’re too young, but that is absolutely not true. There are so many folks who are young but still do whatever it takes to find success. If you never try, you’ll never know what you’re capable of achieving.”
Today, Patel is President of Wayside Investment Group, a Texas-based company that specializes in making opportunistic investments in the lodging and hospitality real estate sector.
Over the years, Patel has exemplified a strong track record of leadership in the industry. Aside from his devotion to the hospitality industry, he is a firm believer in giving back to the community, according to his official profile.
He serves various industry associations and charitable organizations and continues to seek opportunities to make a positive difference. Patel earned his master’s in business administration and his Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Lodging Management from Johnson and Wales University in Miami, Florida.
“On behalf of the entire AAHOA organization, we congratulate Miraj on becoming AAHOA’s newest Chairman,” said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake.
“We look forward to working under his leadership to continue to advance the industry and position AAHOA as the only true voice of hotel owners in the nation. Miraj has an incredible passion for serving the industry and members of AAHOA, and, like those who have come before him, we know he’ll have a significant positive impact on AAHOA in the years ahead.”
“I promise to lay the foundation for a tomorrow that reflects the aspirations, needs, and challenges of today,” Patel said. “I am where I am today because of AAHOA, and it’s incredibly reassuring to know the same is true for so many other AAHOA Members.
“As Chairman of AAHOA, I will strive to work alongside the 2024-25 AAHOA Board of Directors to shape a future where we are pioneering new ways of thinking, a collaborative spirit, and results for AAHOA Members.”
Tag: AAHOA
-
Indian American Texas hotelier Miraj S. Patel becomes youngest chairman of AAHOA
-
Indian American Texas hotelier Nishant Patel is new AAHOA chairman
BALTIMORE (TIP): Texas hotelier Nishant (Neal) Patel, who grew up in Surat, India, and came to Mississippi with his family nearly 20 years ago, is the new chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association.
Patel became chairman at the conclusion of the 2022 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show in Baltimore from April 12 to15. It was the second major convention AAHOA has held since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“If you’ve ever wondered to what extent AAHOA serves its membership, I am a perfect example,” said Patel, a second-generation hotelier, in a statement as cited by hotelmanagement.net.
“My parents didn’t have the opportunity to have AAHOA as a resource, but thankfully, when I took over the family business, AAHOA was there for me as I navigated the hospitality industry. AAHOA provided me with the educational tools I needed to run a hotel successfully.” “Like the majority of AAHOA Members, we were in search of the ‘American Dream,’” said Patel, who grew up in the industry, wearing many hats as he helped his family run their first 20-room independent property in Laurel, Mississippi. “My parents wanted to create a better life for their children and leave a legacy that generations to come would be proud of.” “My parents always told me that if you don’t try, you won’t succeed. If you talk too much, you’re not learning,” Patel said. “As I step into my new role, my focus is on our members and serving them well. Going forward, I will be the facilitator to make things happen.”
“AAHOA helped us create generational success,” Patel said. “After all that AAHOA has given me and my family, I’m looking forward to serving this great organization and giving back to the AAHOA community through listening, learning, bringing new ideas to the table, and enacting change at every level of the organization.”
These days, Patel calls Austin home and is the managing partner of Blue Chip Hotels, which owns and operates multiple hotels. Blue Chip Hotels has more than 1,200 rooms in several states among both branded and independent properties.
Patel became an AAHOA member in 2012 and soon volunteered to serve as an AAHOA Ambassador. He joined AAHOA’s board of directors in 2016 after being elected as the young professional director, Western division—a position he held for three years. Patel also serves on the HITEC Advisory Council and promotes organ donor awareness through his volunteer work with Samaj Saves Lives.
Recognitions and awards
The association also recognized six hoteliers for achievement and excellence in the hospitality industry with its annual awards. The 2022 award winners are:
The AAHOA Award of Excellence: Vimal Patel, president and CEO, QHotels Management, AAHOA Ambassador, Gulf Region
The Cecil B. Day Community Service Award: Manhar Rama, CEO, Sima Hospitality; AAHOA past chair (2005-2006)
The Outreach Award for Philanthropy: Babu Patel, Trustmark Park Hospitalit.
The Outstanding Woman Hotelier of the Year Award: Pinky Bhaidaswala, SSN Hotel Managemen.
The Outstanding Young Professional Hoteliers of the Year Award: Armaan Patel, AGA Hotels; and Taran Patel, managing, A1 Hospitality Group and AAHOA Ambassador, Northwest Regio.
Also at the convention, Kamalesh (KP) Patel of Santa Cruz, California, was named the new AAHOA secretary. Patel is the CEO of Aarav Hospitality and AKS Hospitality.
AAHOA members also elected the following 10 members to the board of directors:
Alabama regional director: Sanjay Patel
Central Midwest regional director: Arti Patel
North Carolina regional director: Pinkesh Patel
Northeast regional director: Preyas Patel
Northwest regional director: Taran Patel
Upper Midwest regional director: Kalpesh Joshi
Washington, D.C., Area regional director: Deepak Patel
Director at large Eastern division: Pinal Patel
Director at large Western division: Hitesh Patel
Young professional director – Western division: Tanmay Patel
-
Indian American hoteliers Members of AAHOA contribute $368.4 billion to US GDP
WASHINGTON (TIP): Members of Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) – largely Indian Americans – have a significant impact on US economy, supporting 4.2 million jobs with $214.6 billion in wages, according to a new study.
As many as 3.5 million guests stay at 34,260 AAHOA hotels, making up 60% of US hotels, each night, according to the study conducted by AAHOA in partnership with Oxford Economics.
These guests would fill all 30 NFL stadiums + all 31 MLB stadiums, says the study on the economic impact and industry influence of the association’s nearly 20,000 members.
The study analyzed the share of US hotels and rooms owned by AAHOA members, hotel operations, hotel guest ancillary spending, capital investment, and indirect and induced impacts supported by AAHOA hotels in other parts of the US economy.
The study’s topline results were presented to AAHOA Members during the general session on the first day of the 2021 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show on Aug 3 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas.
“This study gives us the clearest picture to date about the scale, reach, and economic impact that AAHOA Members have in the United States,” said AAHOA Chairman Biran Patel.
“It is remarkable how far AAHOA Members have come since the association’s founding in 1989 when a small group of hoteliers banded together to fight discrimination,” he said.
“That commitment to helping hoteliers grow their businesses and realize the American Dream is reflected in the impressive numbers revealed today,” Patel said.
“We are proud of what our members have accomplished and remain committed to being the foremost resource and advocate for America’s hotel owners.”
“The findings laid out in this new study are a testament to the strength and influence of AAHOA Members and serve as yet another reminder of hotel owners’ vital economic contributions to communities across the nation,” said AAHOA Interim President & CEO Ken Greene.
“AAHOA Members are the heart and soul of the hospitality industry and will continue to play an essential role in our nation’s economic recovery,” he said noting guests at AAHOA hotels spend billions of dollars in local economies.
AAHOA Members employ as many workers as FedEx and Home Depot – combined, and the 1.1 million employees who work at AAHOA Member hotels earn $47 billion annually, Greene said.
The study shows that AAHOA supports a total economic impact of:
- $368.4 billion contributed to US GDP
- $139 billion of hotel sales annually
- $96.8 billion of federal, state and local taxes
- $50 billion in purchases from suppliers each year
- $24 billion capital investment including reinvestment and new development
- 2 million jobs with $214.6 billion of wages
- AAHOA hotels support tax revenue of $789 in federal, state, and local taxes and $402 in state and local taxes per US household
- AAHOA members share of us properties by hotel class: Economy 65.9%; Upper Midscale 61.7%; Midscale 56.6%; Upscale 50.7%; Upper Upscale 46.8%; Luxury 40.7%.
The study based on two-year research with a deep dive on a sample of 5,000 hotels has a +/-1.4% margin of error.