WASHINGTON, DC, Mar. 30 – Hotelier Hitesh (HP) Patel, of Austin, Texas, is the new chairman of
AAHOA, the world’s largest hotel owners association. Patel took the reins at the association’s 2018
convention and trade show in National Harbor, Md. “I am proud to have the opportunity to lead AAHOA at this exciting and pivotal time in the association’s
history,” said Patel. “With a rapidly growing membership of nearly 18,000 hoteliers who own about one in two hotels across the United States, AAHOA is being recognized as the voice of America’s hotel owners. I am grateful that our members place their trust in me to represent their interests on the national
stage. I am truly humbled by this fact and the opportunity to help lead us into another year of excellence.
As we continue to build on the success of our advocacy efforts and present greater educational
opportunities to our members, I am confident that we will make AAHOA even stronger and influential.”
Patel stated his commitment to bring together every hotel owner in the United States, noting that, “The
doors of AAHOA are wide open to anyone who is, or wants to be a hotel owner.”
“Last year we made education a top priority for our association. Our goal is not to be just a resource for
hotel owners, but to be the resource for hotel owners.” Patel’s passion for education stems from his work
in supporting AAHOA’s educational initiatives, for which he earned the AAHOA Award of Excellence.
In his address to the 2018 AAHOA Convention, Patel pledged to expand the association’s advocacy
activities and called on AAHOA’s members to become more engaged with their elected officials. “Our
engagement to advocate for our industry both in Washington D.C. and state capitals around the nation
continues to grow stronger. AAHOA now partners with eleven state lodging associations. We are on the
front lines fighting to make sure there is a level playing field for all hotel owners. We are pushing back
against proposed increases in occupancy taxes. Through our partnerships with Polaris, BEST, and the
Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign, we have become a leading voice in the effort to stop
human trafficking.”
Patel joined AAHOA in 2004 and began his service on the AAHOA Board of Directors in 2010, when he
was elected Director at Large. He is the Chief Executive Officer and President of Capital City Hospitality
Group, LLC. He is an AAHOA Certified Hotel Owner (CHO) and a Certified Hotel Administrator
(CHA®). Patel also holds several leadership positions within the hotel industry, including a place on both
the Austin Hotel & Lodging Association Board of Directors, an appointment to the Austin Economic
Growth and Redevelopment Task Force, and an IHG Owners Association Ambassadorship. Patel is a
graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and holds a degree in business administration.
