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AAHOACON24 concludes in Florida
AAHOACON24 saw record attendance making it the is the largest trade show in AAHOA’s 35-year history
AAHOACON / Image- X (@AAHOA)
The 2024 Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) Convention & Trade Show, known as AAHOACON24, culminated on Apr.5 successfully drawing thousands of attendees and exhibitors to the Orange County Convention Center, Florida.
The three-day event saw the appointment of the association’s youngest chairman Miraj Patel and Pinal Patel's appointment as the new secretary. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and Congressman Shri Thanedar (D-MI) attended the event as special guests.
In a first, AAHOA hosted the Hotel Turnaround Collegiate Championship, which challenged university students to compete via a hotel ownership simulation program in making the kind of decisions all hotel owners must take to turn things around when performance is lagging. Grand Valley State took home The People’s Choice Award, and Oklahoma State received the Judges Championship Trophy.
The 2024 Tech Pitch Competition, co-powered by HFTP was also organized and won by Kings III Emergency Communications for its emergency communications business. Notably, Kings III's pitch emphasized their commitment to enhancing elevator communication devices to meet updated ADA codes for sight- and hearing-impaired guests.
Outstanding achievements of hospitality industry members were celebrated through the AAHOA Awards Program. Jay S. Patel, honored for strong leadership and contributions to the lodging industry. Hitesh Patel and Prakash Saraf were recognized for their commitment to community service, while Amit Bhakta received the Outreach Award for Philanthropy. Ruby Dhalla and Dhruv Patel were acknowledged for their exemplary leadership as a woman hotelier and a young professional, respectively. Additionally, Ray Patel was commended for his advocacy efforts in advancing AAHOA’s mission.
AAHOA chairman Miraj Patel said, “These exceptional award recipients exemplify excellence in the hospitality industry through their multifaceted contributions. It is a privilege to showcase their outstanding service.”
In conjunction with these accolades, AAHOA unveiled updates to its 12 Points of Fair Franchising, reflecting the evolving landscape of the hospitality industry. Notably, Point Number 12 now includes a "Change of Control" clause in Franchise Agreements to protect franchisees in the event of brand acquisitions or mergers. This revision aims to provide franchisees with equitable options during ownership transitions, reinforcing AAHOA's commitment to fair franchising practices and member support.
Apart from workshops and networking sessions, the event featured keynote addresses by Kevin O’Leary, world-renowned businessman, author, investor, and TV personality, Rahul Kapoor, India’s leading mindset coach, motivational speaker, and author, and Dr. Kiran C. Patel, AAHOA lifetime member, Zambian Indian American philanthropist, serial entrepreneur, hotelier, and cardiologist.
Rahul Kapoor, India's dynamic High-Performance Mindset Coach, Motivational Speaker, and Author, set the stage on fire at AAHOACON24!
— AAHOA (@AAHOA) April 5, 2024
Did Rahul Kapoor's electrifying session leave you motivated? Share your experience!#AAHOA #AAHOACON24 #Hotelier pic.twitter.com/QIWxNToKl0
AAHOACON24 concluded with over 130 exhibitors wanting to rebook and 100 percent of all exhibiting hotel brands already having rebooked for AAHOACON25 set to take place in New Orleans next year.
“We continue to raise the bar year after year, and AAHOACON24 exemplifies our commitment to excellence,” said AAHOA president and CEO Laura Lee Blake. “Celebrating AAHOA's 35-year anniversary, the success of AAHOACON24 is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved, from our exhibitors and sponsors to our talented speakers, the AAHOA Board, and countless volunteers. Special recognition goes to the dedicated AAHOA Team who worked tirelessly to ensure AAHOACON24 was truly exceptional.”
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