The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) is a trade association that represents hotel owners. As of 2022, AAHOA says it has approximately 20,000 members who own about 60% of the hotels in the United States.[1] AAHOA provides service and support for hoteliers through its educational offerings, policy and political advocacy for the interests of hotel owners, opportunities for professional development, and community engagement.[2]
 | |
| Abbreviation | AAHOA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1989 |
| Legal status | Trade association |
| Purpose | Hospitality industry resource |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, GA, U.S. |
| Location |
|
| Coordinates | 33°56′03″N 84°21′08″W / 33.9341409°N 84.35231629999998°W |
| Membership | 20,000 |
President & CEO | Laura Lee Blake, Esq. |
Chairman | Bharat Patel (2023-2024) |
| Website | AAHOA |
The association's current President & CEO is Laura Lee Blake.
History
editIndian Americans in the hotel and motel industry early on faced discrimination, both from the insurance industry and from competitors placing "American owned" signs outside their properties to take business from them.[3] In 1985, a group was formed in Tennessee, the Mid-south Indemnity Association, which then grew nationwide and changed its name to the Indo American Hospitality Association.[4] Another group of Indian hoteliers was created in Atlanta in 1989 to address discrimination issues and increase awareness of Asian Americans working in the hospitality industry under the name Asian American Hotel Owners Association.[4] In 1994, the organizations merged in order to work more efficiently to defend Asian hotel owners’ interests throughout the United States.[4]
Anti-ADA stance
editIn 2018, the AAHOA lobbied on behalf of legislation opposed by the disabled community because the law would decimate enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and opens the door to further attacks on civil rights laws.[5][6]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access, Testimony of Jagruti Panwala, Vice Chairwoman, AAHOA" (PDF). U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ "About AAHOA". AAHOA.com. AAHOA. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ Ling, Huping; Austin, Allan W. (2015). Asian American History and Culture: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 333. ISBN 978-1317476450.
- ^ a b c Turkel, Stanley (2009). Great American Hoteliers: Pioneers of the Hotel Industry. AuthorHouse. p. 194. ISBN 978-1449007522.
- ^ "Drive-by Lawsuits". AAHOA. Asian American Hotel Owners Association. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ "Action Needed to Save the Americans with Disabilities Act". Disability Action for America. Retrieved 13 February 2018.