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September 01, 2021335 | ‘Waking Up A Giant’: Armed with fresh data that reveal members’ economic might, AAHOA leaders see new day ahead
With 20,000 members, AAHOA is the largest hotel owners group in the world. But it has not regularly exercised the power that comes with size. That is about to change. A new study by Oxford Economics reveals the membership’s stunning combined economic strength, including the fact that members own 60 percent of America’s hotels. AAHOA Chairman Vinay Patel and other AAHOA leaders say the association plans to wield its might in forging a post-pandemic recovery that ensures everyone in the lodging industry a more profitable future.
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January 15, 2020245 | Win-Win: Women of AAHOA step up to the leadership plate
This is the second of a two-part update about people, campaigns and programs that are furthering the mission to promote more women into leadership roles in the hospitality industry. In this episode we touch base with Jagruti Panwala and Rachel Humphrey who are in top leadership roles at AAHOA, the world’s largest hotel owners association read more
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January 30, 2019198 | Energy & Experience Turn Into Results with Jyoti Sarolia
Jyoti Sarolia is a third-generation hotel owner from San Diego. She serves as Chief Operating Officer of Ellis Hospitality that operates seven properties and she just completed a one-year term as Chairman of the Choice Hotels Owners Council. Her original career choice was to be a lawyer, but now she is raising the bar in read more
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November 14, 2018188 | Lawsuits, Legislation & Licensing with Imesh Vaidya
Imesh is a second-generation hotelier from New Mexico who has owned and managed hotels for more than 25 years. He currently owns and manages 7 franchised properties and he has two more under construction and scheduled to open in 2019. Imesh has served on the franchise advisory councils of LaQuinta and IHG, and has led read more
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September 26, 2018181 | Disruptive Force for Positive Change: Forging Future at CH&LA, AAHOA with Bijal Patel
Bijal Patel guides San Jose-based Coast Redwood Hospitality, which owns and operates a portfolio of multiple real estate and hotel projects. He is a third-generation hotelier who signed his first franchise agreement while a senior in high school and earned the prestigious Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) designation at age 20. He enthusiastically gives back to read more
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May 17, 2017112 | Connecting with Your Team, Empowering Women and Mountain Climbing with Lina Patel
Lina Patel’s goal is to climb mountains and her passion is to serve. Born and raised in India, Lina immigrated to the United States in the early 80’s with her parents. She grew up working in the hotel, cleaning rooms, doing laundry, working front desk shifts, and even mowing the lawn. She remembers coming home after school and read more
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April 26, 2017109 | Passion, Courage and Patience with Dina Patel
Dina Patel, CHO was born in Bardoli, India, and immigrated to USA with her family in 1988, when she was 10 years old. Two years later, Dina’s parents bought their first independent motel in San Antonio, Texas. From day one, Dina helped out in every part of the motel. Dina earned a BBA (magna cum read more
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April 19, 2017108 | Education is the Most Powerful Weapon with Miraj Patel
Miraj S. Patel, CHIA, CHO is a highly motivated young professional who is currently pursuing a B.S. in Hotel & Lodging Management at Johnson & Wales University. He is the President & CEO of Houston, TX based, Mirage Hospitality, and he has spoken at various business, educational, social and legislative conferences. Miraj earned his Certification read more
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April 05, 2017106 | Biran Patel for AAHOA Secretary
Biran has been an AAHOA member since 2001, Lifetime Member since 2008, and proactive leader since 2010. He now serves as North Texas Regional Director and previously was an Ambassador. Under his leadership as Regional Director, North Texas repeatedly achieved record highs in PAC contributions, Lifetime Members, and paid members. Currently, he serves on the read more
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March 29, 2017105 | Jay Lallu for AAHOA Secretary
Jay Lallu has a unique path to the hospitality business. He was born and raised in Colon, Panama. Jay could not continue his college education as his father had fallen sick. To provide for his family, he started to work at a retail store in Colon. This opened the doors for him to begin working read more
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January 18, 2017095 | The Smartest Room with Tarun Patel
Tarun S. Patel is a second generation hotelier and entrepreneur specializing in Hospitality Management and Development, Deal Structure, Finance and Accounting. He’s Principal of Pacific Hospitality Company, and Founder and CFO of Pracrea Inc, a Silicon Valley based startup offering software-as-a-service solutions used by commercial real estate brokers and owners to manage the sale of read more
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December 14, 2016090 | Hotelier Vendor Relations with Atul Patel
Atul G. Patel, CHO is a second generation hotelier. He and his family moved to the United States in 1979 and settled in Tifton, GA, where his family bought their first independent hotel. After learning the trade in the family business, Atul went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Emory University, and read more
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March 23, 2016052 | Sunil Patel for AAHOA Secretary
Sunil was born in Walsall, England. His family migrated to the United States in the early eighties. They purchased their first 35 room motel in Pulaski TN. Sunil finished high school there, and earned a BS degree in Accounting from Middle Tennessee State University. Through high school and college he helped in the family business read more
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March 23, 2016051 | Pratik Bhakta for AAHOA Secretary
Pratik Harishchandra Bhakta is a second generation hotelier and multi-property owner. He has served as a Board Member for the Days Inn Franchise Advisory Committee, AAHOA North Carolina Regional Ambassador, and AAHOA North Carolina Regional Director. Pratik earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1994. The son of Harishchandra read more
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March 23, 2016050 | Jagruti Panwala for AAHOA Secretary
Jagruti has been active in AAHOA for over a decade, holding leadership positions since 2011 when first elected Female Director At Large, Eastern Division. Re-elected in 2014, she has also co-chaired the Women’s Hotelier Committee for five years and served on the Strategic Planning Committee for two years. She testified to Congress against proposed harmful read more
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December 16, 2015036 | Effective Networking through Touchpoints and Follow Up with Binita Patel
Binita is currently a Vice President with HMB Hotels based in Allentown, PA, focusing on the finance and asset management aspects of the business. Prior to returning to HMB Hotels, she served as a Manager at Ramsfield Hospitality Finance, and Associate Investment Manager at Beacon Hospitality Partners, both located in New York, NY. Binita earned read more
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November 25, 2015033 | Attitude Decides the Latitude in Life with Hemant Patel
Hemant “Henry” Patel CHO CHA was born and raised in India, and he immigrated to the United States in 1986. Within a few short years, he and his wife settled in Miami, Florida, where they invested in their first property – The King Motel – an independent property on Biscayne Blvd. He also has an interest read more
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November 18, 2015032 | Bridging the Generation Gap with Nimesh Zaver
Nimesh “Nick” Zaver was born and raised in London, England, and he immigrated to the United States with his family in 1981. After graduating from high school, Nimesh attended college-level courses in business and architecture at institutions including the University of Central Florida, the University of Arkansas at Monticello and Louisiana Tech University. Before completing his read more
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August 26, 2015021 | Mediation, Fact-based Decision Making, and Doing the Right Thing with Ramesh Gokal
Ramesh Gokal is a 39-year veteran of the hospitality industry, with a recognized reputation in the areas of entrepreneurship, franchise leadership and mediation expertise. His diverse industry experience includes being an entrepreneur, owning developing and managing a diverse hotel portfolio, working as a brand president for the world’s largest hotel franchise company, Cendant, and selling read more
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July 22, 2015016 | Adapting to Change, Delivering the Right Product, and Government Affairs with Ash Patel
Ashwin “Ash” Patel entered the lodging industry in 1992 as a resident-manager and partner of a 54-unit Econo Lodge in Flagstaff, AZ. In 2004, he started Southwest Hospitality Management, LLC, with ownership interest in hotels that have affiliations with a variety of national chains, including Marriott, La Quinta Hotels, Choice Hotels, Wyndham Worldwide Hotels, Hilton read more
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June 17, 2015011 | Raising Capital, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, and Prefab Hotels with Dan Rama
Dinesh “Dan” Rama is Co-Founder, Partner/Designated Broker of NewGen Worldwide – a real estate investment advisory company that works with owners and investors in all aspects of the hospitality business. The firm provides services for the sale and acquisition of lodging properties, consulting, hotel asset management, and hotel litigation support. NewGen also owns and operates several read more
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May 13, 2015006 | Another Day in Paradise with Mukesh Mowji
Mukesh Mowji, in addition to being a co-founder & CEO of Pracrea, Inc., is also a Principal in Silver Creek Hospitality and Everest Hospitality. Mukesh is a Charter member of The Indus Entrepreneur (TiE), served as Chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and was President of Leuva Patidar Samaj of USA (LPS). read more
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April 29, 2015003 | Great Leadership Stems from the Heart with Nancy Johnson
Nancy Johnson’s career in hospitality spans more than 40 years, the last 25 of which were in executive roles with Carlson that include heading up the brands Country Inn & Suites™ and Radisson Hotels International. Nancy served as Chair of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) in 2012, and initiated AH&LA’s Women in Lodging Council. read more
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April 29, 2015002 | Using Technology for a Better Tomorrow with RP Rama
Raman “RP” Rama is the Vice President and Chief Technology Officer/Chief Information Officer of JHM Hotels. Born in Malawi, Africa, RP obtained his education from a few different places. While he was waiting for his U.S. Visa, he taught economics and business administration to students who are still in touch with him. Once he obtained read more