AAHOA

At AAHOA, creating a strong experience for our exhibitors and partners is a priority at every event.

Following a successful technology experience with UnifyAMS at AAHOACON26, we introduced Unify Leads at the Southeast Texas Hotel Owners Conference & Trade Show. With AI Note Takers, lead enrichment, and intelligent dashboards, exhibitors were able to capture and manage leads more effectively, and we were pleased to hear the positive feedback.

Thank you to the Unify team for helping us continue to enhance the exhibitor experience at our regional events.

Congratulations to AAHOA Northwest Ambassador Bonny Panchal on receiving the Hoevet Hospitality Award at the Chamber of Medford & Jackson County’s annual Excellence in Business Awards!
Bonny is also the Council Chair of the Travel Medford Tourism Council, where he continues to be an active voice for hospitality and tourism in his community.

“I’ve watched Bonny Panchal work, and this recognition doesn’t surprise me one bit. Congratulations on the Hoevet Hospitality Award. Bonny is exactly the kind of rising leader our industry needs — someone who shows up for their community, builds relationships that last, and advocates for hospitality at the local level where it matters most. Leadership isn’t a title; it’s what you do in your own backyard, and Bonny proves that every day. We’re proud to have him representing our Northwest Ambassador Team, and this one is well deserved.”
— AAHOA Northwest Regional Director Taran Patel

Congratulations, Bonny!

Join us next week on Thursday, September 24, in Baton Rouge, LA, for the 2026 Gulf Hotel Owners Conference & Trade Show (HOC).

Attend the General Session panel, “Baton Rouge & Hospitality: The Road Ahead,” featuring:
• Julie Emerson, chief of staff, Office of Governor Jeff Landry
• Louisiana State Sen. Royce Duplessis, District 5
• Jill Kidder, president & CEO, Visit Baton Rouge
• Ryan Haynie, partner, president & principal lobbyist, Haynie & Associates

Plus, Lifetime Members who register for and attend an HOC receive an exclusive AAHOA quarter-zip pullover shirt!

Register Now: AAHOA.com/Calendar

Day 2 of AAHOA’s 2026 National Leadership & Advocacy Conference put advocacy into action on Capitol Hill.

AAHOA Members held hundreds of meetings with members of Congress and their staffs, sharing what they are seeing in their businesses and discussing issues affecting hotel owners across the country.

From access to capital and franchise relationships to legal reform and credit card competition, these conversations matter. But the work does not stop when we leave Washington.

As we head toward the November elections, make sure you are registered to vote and know your state’s registration deadline and voting options.

Keep the momentum going. Stay engaged. Make your voice heard.

A strong day of connection, conversation, and education at the Mid Atlantic Hotel Owners Conference & Trade Show (HOC)!

Thank you to Regional Director Mahendra (MZ) Patel and his AAHOA Ambassadors for bringing hotel owners, industry leaders, and partners together for conversations on the issues shaping hospitality.

The education session, “Estate Planning: Protect What You Spent Years Building,” featured Krish Patel, CHA, CHIA, managing principal, PSK INVESTMENTS; Pooja Patel-Mehta, Esq., managing partner, DPA Attorneys at Law, and AAHOA Ambassador; and Raman (RP) Rama, president, Sarona Ventures.

There’s still time to attend an AAHOA HOC this year! Find one near you at AAHOA.com/HOC.

AAHOA Members are advocating for hotel owners nationwide — from state capitols to Washington, D.C. Catch up on this month's In Your Corner Advocacy eNewsletter.

Inside the latest issue:
• On the ground: Members are hosting Back of the House Tours and meetings with state and federal lawmakers.

• Take action: Weigh in on the STRONG/LIONs Acts and PA HB 2090/2189 via AAHOA's Action Alert Center.

• Stay informed: Updates on the FY2027 per diem rate increase, state primary results, and human trafficking training deadlines.

Read the latest issue and stay informed on the issues that matter most to your business: https://shorturl.at/qJliZ

Hotel financing is changing — is your property ready for lender review?

Join the AAHOA Hotel Owners Academy on Thursday, September 24, for "Hotel Debt, Refinancing, and Capital Stack Readiness," featuring Dr. Leonard A. Jackson of Kennesaw State University.

This session will help hotel owners better understand today's refinancing landscape, including key lender considerations such as DSCR, LTV, NOI trends, PIP exposure, liquidity, and sponsor experience.

📅 2–3 p.m. EDT, Thursday, September 24

You’ll also learn about refinancing timelines, lender-readiness strategies, capital stack options, and additional funding tools available to hotel owners.

Register today: https://aahoa.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Bq3mBiy0R7a9hU6jy0k7QQ

In honor of National Make Your Bed Day, it's "fitting" to recognize the legislators who have rolled up their sleeves and helped make hotel beds.

Through AAHOA’s Back of the House Tours, local, state, and national elected officials step out of the meeting room and into the hotel to see what it takes to keep a property running, from housekeeping and the front desk to maintenance. Bed-making included.

One might say the best way to understand our industry is to make the bed before you make the policy. Thanks to the legislators who have taken the time to join us, pitch in, and learn more about the people and work behind the guest experience.

AAHOA Members: Think your legislator could use a lesson in hospital corners? Invite them for a Back of the House Tour. Request a tour: https://bit.ly/4c6A7JU

The September issue of Today’s Hotelier is here. 🏨

On the cover: Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO), who will take the stage next week as the keynote speaker at AAHOA’s Fall National Leadership & Advocacy Conference, September 15-16.

Before coming to Congress, Alford spent decades connecting with everyday Americans. Today, he is focused on issues that matter to small businesses and hoteliers, including expanding access to capital and advancing AI adoption.

In our cover story, get to know the congressman behind the policies, including the STRONG Act, and get a preview of the perspective he will bring to the stage in Washington, D.C.

📖 Read the September issue here: https://bit.ly/4ddMNPv