Kamalesh “KP” Patel officially assumed the role of AAHOA's 35th chairman and Vimal “Ricky” Patel was elected secretary at the 2025 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show in New Orleans. Other highlights of AAHOACON included panel discussions with industry leaders who discussed the state of the industry.
More than 6,000 AAHOA members, their families and vendors attended the event at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center April 15 to 17 under the theme "New Ideas, New Opportunities, New Orleans." More than 500 vendors had booths in the tradeshow and keystone speakers included Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, stand-up comedian and author Zarna Garg and "Hollywood's Brandfather" Rohan Oza.
AAHOA President and CEO Laura Lee Blake said a tide of optimism and determination was sweeping across the association. This optimism comes from having survived trials, from COVID and natural disasters to major political shifts.
“If you take nothing else from this conference, let me say this with confidence, the state of AAHOA is stronger than ever,” Blake said. “We have turned adversity into opportunity. Brands are returning. The industry dialog is stronger than ever. This is our moment. This is our time to embrace the American dream.”
In with the new
New Chairman KP Patel served as AAHOA's North Pacific regional director and was a premier ambassador for several years, the association said in a statement. He was elected secretary in 2022, beginning a leadership path that has now led to his chairmanship.
"It's an incredible honor to serve as chairman of AAHOA," KP Patel said. "This association has been the backbone of support for hotel owners like myself. As we navigate an ever-changing industry, I'm committed to strengthening our foundation, empowering membership, and ensuring AAHOA continues to be the voice, the resource, and the community that hotel owners rely on."
Patel’s platform centers on the theme “Strengthening AAHOA Through Member Empowerment.” He stressed ensuring AAHOA members’ profits, stronger advocacy on issues important to the association, increasing unity and more dialogue with brands and policymakers. During the conference, KP said he was passionate about AAHOA’s charitable foundation and scholarships.
He said there is a continuum of leadership for AAHOA that he must uphold.
“This is why we do what we do, not just for today, but for tomorrow, as we prepare for a transition of leadership later today, I want to emphasize something important: AAHOA’s strength is in its continuity,” he said. “Every chair who has come before me has built on the foundation laid before them. They have led with vision, dedication and commitment, and I am honored to carry that momentum forward. But leadership isn't about just one person, it's about all of us. It's about ensuring that our voices continue to be heard, that our industry remains strong, and that AAHOA positions for long term success.”
Kamalesh described AAHOA not just as an association, but as a family.
"This community shaped my career, and now it's my turn to serve,” he said. “If AAHOA isn't delivering value, creating opportunities, and strengthening this industry, then we're not doing our job. I want every member to know their voice matters and that this association belongs to them.”
"On behalf of AAHOA, we congratulate KP on his new role as chairman," Blake said. "He brings a deep commitment to our mission and a clear vision for the future. We are excited to work together to advance AAHOA's advocacy, expand our impact, and continue building an association that reflects the strength and spirit of America’s hotel owners."
The first step of the journey
AAHOA’s newly selected secretary Ricky Patel has owned both branded and independent hotels since immigrating to the U.S. at age 21. He has served in multiple AAHOA leadership roles, including as ambassador, Gulf regional director, and on committees covering government affairs, strategic planning, education and professional development, and bylaws and governance.
“I want hotel owners to win the economic future, so we must be prepared not only for the change we know is coming but also for the change we don’t see coming,” Vicky said. “My style as an officer will be to work energetically on today’s issues while proactively anticipating tomorrow’s problems.”
He also chaired two ad hoc committees on insurance—where he led a search for affordable property premium options—and on revenue generation, where he helped raise $1.8 million in new funds for AAHOA.
Outside of AAHOA, Patel has worked on behalf of hotel owners in volunteer executive roles, including as a board member of the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation and as board chairman for Lafayette Travel.
Updates from the experts
AAHOACON2025 included several panel discussions featuring hospitality industry veterans and experts. The topics ranged from changes in the industry faced by the latest generation of Asian American hoteliers to concerns about the uncertain economy.
During one general session panel, Al Patel, president of Columbia, Maryland-based Baywood Hotels, discussed the different approaches each generation of Asian American hoteliers takes to the business.
“I think the risks that they took, first, leaving their homeland, coming to a place where they had no friends, no family, no structure, leaving that comfort to come to this country, didn't speak the language, didn't know the culture, and took these enormous risks part of this motel business and worked extremely hard,” Al Patel said. “That's just what I remember from my parents, is they worked extremely hard. And I think as that transition to us, we saw that hard work. We also worked hard in the beginning, but we also at some point, learned that after we work hard, we've got to work smart also. And so, you know, that was kind of the progression that worked hard, and now we're getting smart, and then we'll see how the next, the third generation, works.”
On the same panel, Mit Shah, CEO of Atlanta-based Noble Investment Group, said the business is third generation is going to have is going to be very different.
“Let's just state here for a moment that building hotels is really hard. For obvious reasons, costs, availability of land costs, financing and making those numbers work. Labor costs themselves, and the brands who actually get paid on growth, are looking at all of this and understanding that they have got to find other pockets,” Shah said. “Is it surprising that Marriott is in the service department business? That they're in the cruise business? That Hilton is in the glamping business?”
During the View from the Top panel on the last day of the conference, Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, gave his view on the economy.
“Talking to all of you, over the last three days, there's never been more uncertainty in terms of development, but there also does not seem to be a lot of concern out there that the resiliency of select service has never been more tested, never been more proven than it was throughout COVID,” Ballotti said. “I think there is tremendous optimism still out there. We're all feeling it on the trade show floor.”
When the panel’s emcee, former AAHOA Chairwoman Jagruti Panwala, asked what would be the top ask the panelists would have if they met President Donald Trump, Ritesh Agarwal, OYO founder and CEO described the time he met Trump.
“Four years ago, I had the opportunity to see President Trump in New Delhi when he was visiting and I gave him a quick background about what we were doing in Asia and in the US, and he said two things,” Agarwal said. “The first thing he said is, ‘I'm a huge believer in the economy and the mid-scale sector of the industry. And second is, I know a thing or two about hotels to test their activities. If I were to say something to the administration, I'd say I'm an optimist. I'm an entrepreneur. In a room full of entrepreneurs, we all are seeking opportunities.”
Agarwal, who also spoke at AAHOA’s second annual “HYPE – Helping Young Professionals Evolve” conference in February, also said the hotel industry can provide a short-term solution to the nation’s housing problems. He also would like to see the return of the Opportunity Zone concept created during the first Trump administration.
