THE LATEST
Today's Hotelier magazine

Invaluable experience

0
By on AAHOA Spotlight, First Perspectives, Leadership

by JYOTI SAROLIA

The most successful entrepreneurs I have ever known became that way by investing in themselves and their futures. With that goal in mind, after attending my first AAHOACON more than a decade ago, I knew one of the smartest investments I could make was to become an AAHOA Lifetime Member. My first AAHOACON convention was overwhelming, but it opened a new world of vendor options, networking, and educational opportunities. Two days were not enough! Snaking through exhibitor aisles and seeing each supplier and their show specials became a bargain-hunting extravaganza. And what girl doesn’t enjoy shopping, especially if it’s for hotels she owns? Brand-sponsored social events were, and still are, invaluable opportunities to meet industry leaders and learn more about how their brand visions align with my own portfolio growth goals. Hospitality is an industry forged through the strength of relationships. As hoteliers, we know this to be true with our guests. And I have come to learn firsthand that brand development leaders who are involved with AAHOA are just as interested in customers like me who rely upon relationships to guide future partnership, development, and asset-acquisition decisions.
LEARN FROM THE BESTThere is no substitute for learning from people who’ve already traveled paths you wish to pursue. AAHOA is the most powerful networking conduit in the lodging industry, and I can’t even count the ways I have benefitted from advice generously shared by my growing network of peers and mentors. You can’t put a price on the value of having access to the kind of professional expertise that comes from getting involved with AAHOA, whether by simply coming to the industry’s largest gathering of hotel owners or through AAHOA’s incredible Town Halls. By investing in your relationship with AAHOA, you will find vast opportunities to network, share challenges, find solutions, and build a lifetime network of friends and industry colleagues. In addition, AAHOA has an amazing lineup of educational opportunities. I have taken advantage of so many professional and personal learning resources. AAHOA offers a treasure trove of content just through its webcasts alone! My two all-time favorite workshops, “How to Develop a Hotel” and “How to Start Your Own Management Company,” became catalysts in building the confidence I needed to launch my own company in 2018.If you own a hotel, you already know this. There are decisions in our business lives only owners can make. What this supposed “new normal” will eventually look like is still unknown, but this only further underscores the value of AAHOA’s educational offerings and the importance of being a lifelong learner.

OPEN DOORS
I’m grateful for all AAHOA does to protect our shared interests as small business owners through its tireless and never-ending work on the legislative front. AAHOA’s political leadership has helped open doors at the local, state, and federal levels, enabling me to build positive relationships with elected officials, advocate for our industry, and help protect the interests of all hotel owners within my community and state. With AAHOA’s help, I’m more able to reach government decision-makers by telling the story of a small business owner. And my story is one of a woman with big dreams who believes in the power of a proud industry. I share my belief of our industry’s ability and history of making the world a better place for our guests, our associates, and our communities. This marks my eighth year serving as a South Pacific Region Ambassador and my third year being a Premier Ambassador. I have participated in various AAHOA committees, including Franchise and Industry Relations and Strategic Planning. And AAHOA recognized me with its prestigious Outstanding Woman Hotelier of the Year Award. In addition, I was the first woman elected to chair the Choice Hotels Owners Council. Throughout my journey, the insights and support I’ve gained from AAHOA have helped me become the hotelier I am today and the person I aspire to be tomorrow.

Share.

Related Posts

Comments are closed.