The 2008 Board of Directors Ashwin "Ash" Patel: Taking AAHOA To New Heights
The 2008 Board of Directors
Since he took over as the Chairman of The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) in April 2008, Ashwin "Ash" Patel is committed to taking the association to achieve and accomplish greater goals for its evergrowing members. With a strongly committed team of AAHOA officers, including Vice Chairman Tarun Patel, Secretary Chandra Kant "C.K." Patel, Treasurer Hemant D. Patel and President Fred Schwartz, who work closely with a 31- member board of directors to provide direction for the association, the chairman’s vision has been to render AAHOA truly the voice of owners in the hospitality industry. Knowing him, perhaps it is not a surprise that Ash Patel’s objectives center on promoting political activism, achieving financial independence for AAHOA, establishing a solid PAC fund and increasing membership.
Ash at the 2008 AAHOA Convention in San Antonio.
Founded in 1989, AAHOA is now one of the fastest-growing organizations in the industry, with over 9,100 members owning more than 22,000 hotels that total $60 billion in property value. AAHOA is dedicated to promoting and protecting the interests of its members by inspiring excellence through programs and initiatives in advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, member benefits and community involvement.
Ash and incoming Chairman (now Vice
Chairman) Tarun Patel.
Ashwin Patel, who was born and raised in Luanshya, Zambia had his high school education in Baroda, India. After completing one year of university education in Bombay (Mumbai), Ash immigrated to the United States in 1984. A young Ash Patel began his career as a student of management and marketing program at Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia, during which time he also worked for a local dry cleaning business. The difficult work he performed there helped him acquire invaluable experiences, as he gained the ability to interact with people from all walks of life. These skills helped shape him for the hospitality industry and have carried him strongly and successfully through the past 20 years.
Ash is the founder and president of Southwest Hospitality Management, LLC, a Flagstaff, Arizona-based development and management company with ownership interests in hotels that are affiliated with a variety of national chains, such as Marriott International, Choice Hotels International, InterContinental Hotel Group, Wyndham Hotel Group, and Best Western International, among others. Southwest Hospitality Management (www.swhospitality.com) also provides management and development services for third-party entities.
Ash was also a founding Director of the nationally chartered Premier Commercial Bank of Arizona and sold the bank shortly after charter. He is also in the oil business as a founding officer of "Patel Oil," a Denverbased oil drilling company. He served as the president of the Flagstaff Innkeepers Association for three years from December 1999 to June 2003 and currently serves as exofficio on the board. From 2003 to 2005, Ash served on the Franchise Advisory Committee for Days Inns of America, which represents 2,000 franchisees of this brand. In addition to his personal and professional skills, Ash Patel is an avid motorcycle rider and golfer.
Wishing to focus on something larger than himself, Ash Patel joined AHOA in 1993. After serving as a member of the AAHOA Board of Directors for several years, he transferred his dedication to a new role when he became Chairman in 2008. As Chair of the Government Affairs Committee, he developed his current passion for making AAHOA a household name in the world of politics. He has been instrumental in building the AAHOA Political Action Committee (PAC) fund.
Under his leadership, AAHOA continued meetings with influential members of Congress and state and local governmental officials have bolstered AAHOA’s advocacy profile and created a stronger presence for the organization in Washington, D.C. In addition, AAHOA’s PAC contributions in 2008 so far already have doubled what has been contributed in any other year to date. To date, AAHOA has received more than $149,000 in funds for its PAC — more than twice the amount contributed in any previous year — and that number continues to grow Patel said.
New relationships with founding partners and allied members have been formed as well this year, resulting in improved access to products and services for AAHOA’s members, Patel said. AAHOA has offered an unmatched line-up of events designed to empower its members to succeed, including a Leadership Conference and many regional and town hall meetings.
In 2008, AAHOA hosted and participated in several notable events that provided the organization an opportunity to meet with officials from the Bush administration and members of Congress to promote the legislation that AAHOA champions and speak against bills that threaten the hotel industry such as the Employee Free Choice Act. On April 22, 2008 AAHOA met with Members of Congress, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Representative Sam Farr (D-CA) to discuss our top legislative priorities.
Chairman Patel was invited to a private lunch meeting in the West Wing with Brian McCormack, the Deputy Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs. AAHOA was then invited to the celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with President Bush and an exclusive group of Asian American leaders on May 1, 2008: The same month, under his leadership, AAHOA hosted a Reception with NABHOOD to benefit the DCCC (Democratic Campaign Contribution Committee). Attendees included Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA); House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD); Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY); Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) and other top leaders in D.C. "By taking every opportunity to build relationships with the top leaders of both parties, we are ensuring — and insuring — that AAHOA will remain a powerhouse in D.C.," said Chairman Patel.
In addition to several meetings with US Labor and Justice Department officials, AAHOA was called to testify at a hearing before the Department of Justice concerning the new ADA regulations that will be very costly to hotels if they are adopted. "At AAHOA, as THE voice for owners in the hotel industry we must make sure that we stay on top of these important issues and do all we can to influence the outcome of the final regulations,"said Chairman Patel.
Chairman Patel continues to focus on enhancing professional development for AAHOA members with several educational programs organized for its growing members. In August, AAHOA hosted its 2008 Leadership Conference in Long Beach, California, entitled on "Leadership Beyond Barriers."
In September this year, AAHOA hosted its Second Annual Capitol Hill Reception and Dinner. Keynote speakers included Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Evan Feigenbaum, President of the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) Ron Somers and several US House Members and officials. "AAHOA was chartered back in 1989 and through the years we have been able to preserve, protect and promote Indian Americans as business owners and citizens," Ash Patel said. "Today, we own 40 percent of the hotels in the U.S., making it necessary for our voice to be heard in the political environment. Our growing influence was clearly evident at the Second Annual Capitol Hill Reception and Dinner and it was an honor to be a part of this event."
The Chairman was invited to the VIP reception of the 10th Annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards in London, England. The event provided Ash Patel with the opportunity to promote AAHOA— which received special recognition at the event — and its many accomplishments. Chairman Patel also met with many esteemed individuals including Sarah Brown, the wife of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
During Chairman Patel’s tenure, AAHOA has focused on several national, state and local legislative efforts, realizing success in many of these areas. Although the task of remaining on top of these important legislative issues is large, under Chairman Patel’s leadership, AAHOA has risen to the challenge.
AAHOA supported and promoted the U.S. India Civil Nuclear Agreement actively from the very beginning. "As Indian Americans, we are celebrating this significant occasion because it will have a lasting and far-reaching impact on the future of our great countries," said Patel.
Working towards protecting the rights of the hotel owners and workers Patel said AAHOA diligently has opposed the socalled Employee Free Choice Act, which would eliminate an employee’s right to a secret ballot when voting on whether to form a union in the workplace. He also said, AAHOA has been involved further with the ADA Amendments Act, which becomes effective on January 1, 2009. This Act expands the definition of disabled employees in the workplace and creates additional obligations for employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees who are deemed disabled under the new law.
Looking to the future, Ash Patel said, the annual 2009 Convention & Trade Show will be held on April 22-25, in the Washington, D.C., area, which is expected to commemorate the long and distinguished road that AAHOA has traveled to become the industry and political powerhouse it is today. While celebrating the past, the 2009 convention will also look to the future. "In my remaining months as Chairman of AAHOA, I do not intend to slow down or rest, adding to our accomplishments to date. We will continue to push forward with the initiatives and programs that will benefit our members most and be well positioned to turn over the reigns to our incoming Chairman Tarun Patel at the 2009 Convention," said Chairman Patel.
BY AJAY GHOSH
