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AAHOACON26 Showcases "Liberty, Leadership, Legacy" in Philadelphia | Last week, the 2026 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show brought some 5,300 hotel owners and industry leaders to Philadelphia for a focused and forward-looking program centered on this year's theme: "Liberty, Leadership, Legacy." From 10 education sessions to top-level keynote speakers, networking, and a Trade Show floor featuring some 500 exhibitors, AAHOACON26 emphasized the importance of strong leadership, building on the industry's legacy, and delivering practical strategies to help hotel owners strengthen performance and profitability in a changing environment. | | | | |
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AAHOA Welcomes Rahul Patel as New Chairman | On the final day of AAHOACON26, Rahul Patel officially assumed the role of Chairman of the Board for the 2026-27 term. Rahul's theme, "Strong Roots, Stronger AAHOA," focuses on strengthening the association's foundation through deeper member engagement and shared experiences. He prioritizes protecting members' profitability, advocating for solutions to rising insurance costs, growing AAHOA's education offerings, and ensuring fairness in franchise relationships. | | | | |
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Meet Your New AAHOA Secretary | On Thursday, April 9, AAHOA Members took to the polls to elect new members to the 2026-27 Board of Directors. Dhiren Masters, who most recently served as North Texas Regional Director, won the Secretary race. "I'm ready for the new generation to come into AAHOA and help guide the industry and the association, bringing new ideas, and elevating AAHOA to the next level," Masters said. AAHOA Members also elected 11 other members to the Board. | | | | |
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Tech Pitch Winner Pushes the Boundaries of Hospitality Technology | At this year's Tech Pitch Competition, co-powered by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals, eight pioneering companies showcased how they're revolutionizing the guest experience, staff engagement, and operational effectiveness. Sadie AI took home the top prize. Sadie is a 24/7 Voice AI front desk agent designed specifically for hotels. It answers every call instantly, provides property details, shares availability and rates, and books and manages reservations. Roomiy Finance and Ocra secured second and third place, respectively. | | | | |
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The Future of Hospitality Showed Up at AAHOACON | At the AAHOACON26 Collegiate Championship: Hotel Turnaround Competition, powered by Russell Partnership Technology, university students from across the country stepped into the role of hotel owners, making real-world operational and investment decisions to turn around underperforming assets. University of South Carolina captured the People's Choice Award, while Grand Valley State University earned the Judges' Championship Trophy. | | | | |
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Recognizing the 2026 AAHOA Awards Recipients | |
This year, six AAHOA Members were recognized as AAHOA's annual awards recipients for their contributions in service, leadership, and community engagement. On Friday, April 10, the following awards recipients were celebrated on the main stage:
- AAHOA Award of Excellence: Vijay Patel
- Cecil B. Day Community Service Award: Rishan Patel
- AAHOA Charitable Foundation Outreach Award: Hasmukh (HP) Rama, Past AAHOA Chairman (1991-92)
- Outstanding HerOwnership Award of Excellence: Helen Zaver
- Outstanding HYPE Award of Excellence: Aaryan Patel
- IAHA Independent Hotel of the Year Award: Rest & Relax Inn & Suites, represented by Mitesh (Tish) Patel
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Save Time, Money, and Hassle with Walmart Business | |
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Deadline Tomorrow: Serve as a 2026-2027 Committee Member | | |
If you want to make a difference for AAHOA Members and the hospitality community, we encourage you to apply to serve on an AAHOA Committee. Eligible applicants are AAHOA Members in good standing. Ensure your membership is up to date by joining or renewing today at MyAAHOA.com. The deadline to apply is tomorrow, Friday, April 17, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
Applicants are encouraged to review each committee's job description and applicant prerequisites in AAHOA's Governance Policy, pages 14-24, to ensure you meet all prerequisites.
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Deadline Tomorrow: Apply to Be an AAHOA Ambassador
| The participation and talent of our dynamic membership are vital to AAHOA's success. If you want to make a difference for AAHOA Members, consider serving as an AAHOA Ambassador. This key role is vital to helping AAHOA be the foremost resource and advocate for America's hotel owners. Eligible applicants are members in good standing. The deadline is tomorrow – apply by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 17. | | | | |
AAHOA Supports Women in Hospitality | During Women's History Month, AAHOA supported Travel Portland's Women in Hospitality Forum, which brought women across the industry together for conversation, mentorship, and community-building. AAHOA Member Sapana Patel, president of AJA Hospitality and Jaiden Investments, served as a panelist at the forum. | | | | |
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Just last week, thousands of hoteliers and hospitality leaders convened in Philadelphia for the 2026 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show – and what a week it was! Hot off the press – here's a roundup of AAHOACON26 news coverage:
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Work with AAHOA Vendor Partners | |  | When you do business with AAHOA Vendor Partners, you're supporting the companies that support you. Explore exclusive savings and industry-leading products designed to help AAHOA Members succeed. | | | | |
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Maximize Your Member
Benefits
| | | AAHOA's Membership Benefits Brochure is your quick guide to all the exclusive perks and programs available to all hotelier members. From advocacy to savings and networking opportunities, this brochure highlights how AAHOA supports hotel owners at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey. | | | | |
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U.S. RevPAR +0.4% y/y last week; Easter timing shift weighed on early week and Group results | |
As Truist Securities wrote, "Overall, U.S. RevPAR was +0.4% y/y for the week ending 4/11/2026, per STR/CoStar, above the prior week's result of -5.1% y/y but below the 10-week average of +3.2% y/y. Last week's results were weak due to the timing of Easter. This year's holiday fell on April 5th compared to April 20th in 2025 and subsequently we see the negative results of the past two weeks reversing in the upcoming weeks as we lap the timing of last year's holiday. The holiday weighed heavily on Sunday RevPAR (-13.8% y/y) and also impacted Monday and Tuesday (-10.3% and -5.8% y/y, respectively). That said, results drastically improved as the week progressed with Friday notably up 10.6% y/y. Upscale RevPAR: -1.9% y/y; Upper Midscale RevPAR: +1.6% y/y."
For more, read the full report here, and read the China/Europe report here. Check out the March Lodging Roadmap here.
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