WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 31 – Last week, hundreds of AAHOA Members and leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., for AAHOA’S 2023 Fall National Advocacy Conference (FNAC) to raise awareness of the most pressing matters facing hotel owners across the country. Hoteliers had the opportunity to advance their policy priorities by meeting with more than 200 offices and 70 Members of Congress.
AAHOA Leadership participates in AAHOA’s 2023 Fall National Advocacy Conference, October 24-25, 2023, in Washington, D.C
AAHOA hosted a bipartisan group of keynote speakers for its biannual event including:
- Representative Beth Van Duyne (R-TX)
- Representative Rich McCormick (R-GA)
- Representative Shri Thanedar (D-MI)
FNAC provided the opportunity for America’s hoteliers to establish relationships with legislators in our nation’s capital and engage directly with bipartisan policy experts and lawmakers. The policy decisions deliberated upon by these officials can have a significant effect on AAHOA Members and the hospitality industry at large.
AAHOA’s advocacy efforts not only benefit members and their hotels but have the potential to uplift the communities in which they live and serve. FNAC provides AAHOA Members with the opportunity to create and further their relationships with Members of Congress and advocate for solutions that can alleviate long-standing issues that have impacted hoteliers, who are mostly small business owners.
“Advocacy at the state, local, and federal level is a pillar upon which AAHOA stands,” said AAHOA Chairman Bharat Patel. “Representing such a large portion of the hotel industry, it is through our voice that we strive to shape and fortify policies that help pave the way to our industry’s success.”
AAHOA’s Federal Affairs team provided valuable updates on the association’s legislative priorities in Washington, D.C., to ensure the sustainability of hotels and the broader American travel industry. At FNAC, AAHOA Members urged Congress to support the following issues:
- Expanding access to capital by increasing SBA Loan Limit Amounts
- Protecting Main Street small business owners by supporting the Credit Card Competition Act
- Addressing the labor shortage by supporting the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act (H.R. 3734) and the SEASONAL Act (S. 2705)
AAHOA Ambassador Meghna Patel, Florida Regional Director Chetan (Chris) Patel, U.S. Representative Gregory Steube (R-FL-17), AAHOA Ambassador Dhinesh Gandhi, and AAHOA Member Krishna Patel.
“Meeting face to face with lawmakers is the bridge that connects passion to policy,” said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake. “As the voice of more than 60% of all U.S. hotel owners, it is critical that our AAHOA leaders work with lawmakers to implement changes that will lift up the industry in these challenging times. As our AAHOA Members share their stories and speak about the pressing issues, they build personal connections with the top lawmakers in this country. The long-term impact will be immense, and allow AAHOA to serve the industry for many future generations.”
From assisting with workforce development to combating unnecessary taxes, FNAC provides a necessary platform for AAHOA Members to engage with policymakers at the highest levels.
“Like us, legislators are human first. Events like FNAC remind us that relationship building is woven into the fabric of governance,” said Patel. “Year after year, AAHOA Members help inform lawmakers about our industry. AAHOA Members make up an industry that contributes significantly to the American economy. Our voice has great value and deserves to be heard.”
For more information on AAHOA’s policy priorities and issues advocated for at the 2023 AAHOA Fall National Advocacy Conference, download the AAHOA FNAC Backgrounder.
AAHOA Officers at the White House with Stephen Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States and the Director of the Office of Public Engagement.
For more photos from the event, email [email protected].
