Cover Story
Strong Roots, Stronger AAHOA
For new AAHOA Chairman Rahul Patel, strong foundations drive lasting success By Cathleen Draper & Olivia Story Long before Rahul Patel became a hotelier, he was a farmer. He woke before dawn in Surat, India, tended soil that didn’t always cooperate, and learned the particular discipline that agriculture demands: You cannot rush what is not ready. You plant. You tend. You wait. The harvest comes – or it doesn’t. Its quality is determined long before the first sprout rises from the earth. It’s shaped by…
Featured
Excellence in Action
Meet this year’s AAHOA Awards recipients By Cathleen Draper Vijay Patel AAHOA Award of Excellence Like many in the hospitality industry, Vijay Patel comes from humble beginnings. Born in Uganda, Patel first moved to India, then London, then the United States. When he first arrived in the U.S. in 1994, he managed a family-owned motel, and in…
The Tipping Point
Third-party operators help to stop management woes in their tracks By Cathleen Draper As hotel portfolios grow more complex, many owners reach a tipping point when doing it all themselves simply no longer works. They’re stretched thin, fighting to keep up with increased costs, evolving brand standards, and tighter margins. On the flip side, they want to…
Moving the Industry Forward
Liberty, leadership, and legacy took center stage at AAHOACON26 By AAHOA Staff From April 8–10, the 2026 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show brought hotel owners and industry leaders to Philadelphia for a focused and forward-looking program centered on this year’s theme: “Liberty, Leadership, Legacy.” Held in a city synonymous with the nation’s founding, AAHOACON26 emphasized the importance…
Columns
The Leadership Bench Problem
Why many hotels are one resignation away from operational risk By Robert Krzak While hospitality’s workforce conversation often centers on frontline staffing shortages, another operational challenge is quietly emerging across the industry: The shrinking leadership bench. Many hotels today operate with lean management structures. A single general manager may oversee multiple departments, supported by only…
The Hidden Cost of Turnover
Employee churn is quietly eroding hotel margins By Priya Jariwala On a busy Friday afternoon, the front desk line is longer than usual. A new hire is still learning the property management system. A housekeeping supervisor is covering rooms because two attendants called out. The general manager is in the back office reviewing payroll and…
Weathering the Storm
What independent hoteliers need most when conditions change fast By Aaryan Patel & Jin Laxmidas Disruption rarely arrives with a clear warning or a convenient timeline. It can take the form of labor shortages, inflation, severe weather, technology failures, brand competition, shifting guest expectations, or sudden changes in travel demand. Independent hotel owners do not…