The members of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) are no strangers to overcoming difficult situations. AAHOA was founded in 1989 by a group of Indian American hoteliers who faced widespread discrimination in the hospitality industry, including unfair insurance rates, limited access to loans, and even roadside signs advertising “American Owned” hotels to deter customers from their businesses. AAHOA gave them a unified voice, advocated for their interests and grew into the largest hotel owners association in the country.
Now in 2025, the nearly 20,000 AAHOA members, who collectively own over half of the hotels in the United States, face another set of hurdles. Economic uncertainty, increased product and labor costs, higher interest rates, lower occupancy rates and decreasing numbers of international visitors to the USA have made it a challenging environment for the hospitality industry.
These were the topics on the minds of the more than 5,000 attendees and nearly 500 exhibitors gathered at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans in April for the 2025 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show (AAHOACON25) with a theme of “New Ideas, New Connections, New Orleans”.
AAHOACON25 Event Highlights and Major Announcements
AAHOACON25 featured over 30 educational sessions, immersive workshops, and networking opportunities. Keynote speakers included branding expert Rohan Oza and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
The executive insights were particularly informative, covering topics such as the differences among each generation of AAHOA hoteliers and the industry headwinds. Keith Pierce, EVP, President of Franchise & Development, Sonesta International Hotels Corporation, addressed the current state of the industry, noting that “Uncertainty creates anxiety”, and many react by stalling and doing nothing. “But this will pass. Don’t freeze, otherwise you will be behind.”
Several announcements were made during the AAHOACON25 conference that will have significant benefits for AAHOA members, including:
- AAHOA Marketplace: a partnership with Avendra International, expanding member access to industry-leading products at improved/competitive prices.
- com: a new initiative with Bridge, offering members faster, more flexible financing options.
- AAHOA Advocacy Council: created to represent member interests at all government levels.
- A new collaboration with Kalibri Labs for advanced industry insights for smarter decision-making.
- A Student Internship Program to invest in the next generation of hoteliers by connecting students with real-world hotel experience.
Hotelier Kamalesh (KP) Patel became the new Chairman of AAHOA’s Board of Directors, and Vimal (Ricky) Patel became the new AAHOA Secretary. AAHOA Members also elected 10 new members to the Board of Directors, and recognized the achievement and excellence of the 2025 AAHOA Award recipients.
Highlights From The AAHOACON25 Tradeshow
Here are just a few of the nearly 500 exhibitors that displayed their products on the 85,000 square foot trade show floor:
The Entire Gym provides hotel guests with a personal gym in their hotel room! This is a great solution for properties that may not have a fitness center or those that want to add this as an in-room amenity.
Guest Supply offers a comprehensive range of products, including guest amenities, linens, housekeeping products, and FF&E for hotels. Their FF&E services include consulting, project management, design, procurement, installation and financial services.
Enseo provides a comprehensive suite of hospitality technology solutions, including interactive guestroom entertainment, managed Wi-Fi, smart room controls, and employee safety devices. Their flexible feature set allows hotels to pick and choose the solutions that work best for their brand and guests and gives hoteliers more control, customization and innovation options. 24/7/365 support, along with proprietary and industry-leading tools, ensures industry-leading remote monitoring ability to proactively detect and solve a potential issue prior to a hotel even noticing it.
AAHOCOAN25 attendees were able to book a massage in the HBO Max booth at the White Lotus, the popular series. The HBO Max streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery enhances the guest experience by providing access to a wide range of entertainment options. For a great video of the booth and a good chuckle, check out Glenn Haussman’s LinkedIn post.
Green Suites Hotel Solutions specializes in eco-friendly amenities and sustainability programs for hotels. Their dispensers and bulk amenities help properties reduce environmental impact and improve guest satisfaction. They also offer a program where you receive free dispensers, free liquids, and free shipping, and just pay per occupied room.
Helping properties create memorable guest environments and optimize renovation investments for over 15 years, Curve Hospitality provides custom furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) solutions for hotels. Their services encompass design, manufacturing, and procurement, ensuring cohesive and functional hotel interiors.
For over 50 years, HD Supply has been a trusted leader in the hospitality industry, delivering maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products for hospitality to keep your facility running smoothly.
With a robust portfolio that spans from premium to luxury, Kingsdown Hospitality Bedding offers high-quality mattresses and bedding solutions tailored to the hospitality industry. Their products enhance guest sleep quality and help hotels upgrade the guest experience.
The Hollywood Bed Frame Company manufactures durable bed frames and support systems designed for the hospitality industry, ensuring guest comfort and room longevity. The best part – they are extremely easy to assemble.
Since 1982, AVM Enterprises, Inc. has been providing the industry with hospitality and janitorial supplies with a wide range of hospitality products, including amenities, appliances, and linens.
Handcrafted in the U.S.A., Suncoast Aluminum Furniture offers commercial-grade outdoor furniture, combining durability with aesthetic appeal. Their aluminum products are weatherproof, making them ideal for hotel patios and pool areas.
INNsight offers a digital marketing platform for hotels, providing tools for website design, SEO, and reputation management. Their services aim to increase direct bookings and enhance online presence.
Founded in 2013, Bed Bed Bug Heat Doctor / Prevsol is a family-owned and operated business with a mission to provide products that are safe and easy to use, avoid the use of harmful chemicals, and leverage technology to more quickly and efficiently heat an area for treatment.
RCA Commercial Electronics provides hospitality-grade televisions, digital signage, and AV solutions. Their products are designed for durability and guest engagement, supporting seamless in-room entertainment and communication.
Specializing in hospitality lending, State Bank of Texas offers financing solutions tailored for hotel acquisition, construction, and renovation, enabling owners to grow and optimize their portfolios. They can close loans in as little as 10 days.
2025 AAHOA Tech Pitch Competition
Co-powered by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), the AAHOACON25 Tech Pitch Competition showcased innovative solutions designed to enhance hotel operations and guest experiences. The six participating companies were:
- Kitchenless: enables hotels to provide high-quality meals without traditional kitchen infrastructure. The Kitchenless food platform operates through QR code intelligence and utilizes proprietary steam technology to prepare ready-to-serve, chef-curated dishes. Winner of the competition.
- Digit7: enhances guest experiences and streamlines hotel operations with AI-driven solutions and technologies, including facial recognition and autonomous check-in. 2nd Place (tie).
- Ocra: enables hotels to optimize parking revenue and guest convenience with real-time analytics and digital solutions. 2nd Place (tie).
- M3: allows hoteliers to improve profitability and streamline back-office processes by managing budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting with cloud-based financial and accounting software tailored for the hospitality industry. 3rd Place.
- Cloudbeds: help hotels increase bookings and improve operational efficiency through a unified hospitality management platform, integrating reservations, channel management, and guest engagement.
- MEWS: improves both staff efficiency and guest satisfaction with a property management system designed to automate and simplify hotel operations, from reservations to payments.
2025 AAHOA Hotel Turnaround Collegiate Championship
The AAHOACON25 second annual Hotel Turnaround Collegiate Championship challenged students to make strategic decisions to improve hotel performance using the HOTELsim simulation platform. Participating schools included:
- Florida International University
- Grand Valley State University
- Kennesaw State University
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana
- University of Memphis
- University of South Carolina
- Virginia Tech
Congratulations to Virginia Tech, which received the Judges Championship Trophy, and Kennesaw State University, which earned the People’s Choice Award.
Looking Ahead: AAHOACON26
Despite the current challenges the hospitality industry is facing, AAHOACON25 attendees were able to connect, learn and grow, leaving New Orleans energized, determined and with new ideas to continue their success.
AAHOA invites all hoteliers to join the momentum at next year’s convention, AAHOACON26, in Philadelphia, PA. With a proven track record of innovation, networking, and actionable insights, AAHOACON is the must-attend event for anyone in the hospitality industry. Stay tuned for registration details and prepare to connect with industry leaders, discover new solutions, and shape the future of hospitality. Register for AAHOACON26 at aahoacon.com.
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