The full AAHOACON26 Education Session Schedule is now live, featuring sessions on the Trade Show Floor designed to help you turn ideas into action and support AAHOA’s strategic vision. Explore the lineup and plan your experience before AAHOACON kicks off on Wednesday, April 8.

Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) are essential to the safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. aviation system. Despite ongoing partial federal government shutdowns, TSOs continue showing up for work without pay, safeguarding millions of travelers and supporting the flow of commerce that drives the U.S. economy. Contact your members of Congress and ask them to ensure TSA is fully funded and to cosponsor permanent solutions that guarantee pay for essential federal workers during funding lapses.

This month, Inside Hospitality Solutions (IHS) chose to spotlight the founders and members of AAHOA as their Hero of Hospitality. In "AAHOA: The American Dream and the Power of Ownership," IHS detailed how Indian American immigrants faced systemic discrimination, and, instead of retreating, they organized into a collective voice that has transformed the industry. Today, AAHOA Members are the backbone of U.S. hospitality, and our community has become a pillar of the economy.

A new bill in Georgia will expand the state's squatter laws to cover hotels and motels. Until now, a legal loophole forced hoteliers to go through a civil eviction procedure to remove unauthorized, non-paying hotel guests who claimed the hotel as their residence. Georgia AAHOA Members Vipul and Kataki Patel have faced multiple eviction fights in the last three years. Vipul said squatters often put the safety of other guests at risk, and the new bill will help to address those issues.

In American hospitality, one name stands out above all the rest: Patel. A recent Times of India article details how early Gujarati immigrants, particularly those with the last name Patel, rose above xenophobia to now own more than half of the hotels and motels in the U.S. Thanks to trailblazers like Kanji Manchhu Desai, the Gujarati business philosophy of "Dhandho," and sacrifice and hustle, the "Patel Motel Cartel" achieved the American Dream.

Your voice shapes the future of our industry. The 2026 AAHOA Elections will be conducted entirely online via your smartphone. To ensure you can cast your vote, please take two minutes today to complete these three essential steps:

1. Confirm Your Eligibility: Log in to MyAAHOA.com to verify your status. Annual Members must renew their membership by today, March 26, to be eligible to vote.
2. Update Your Info: Ensure you have a valid, unique email address and mobile number on file.
3. Get the App: Download the Voatz app (available on the App Store or Google Play) so you are ready for the credentialing process.

Important Reminders

Spousal Voting: For a spouse to be eligible to vote, their full name must appear on the membership application.

Need Help? Visit the Elections Resource Center or contact info@aahoa.com.

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 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.

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 quickly approaching – apply by Friday, April 17!