ATLANTA, Ga., June 9 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), which represents 20,000 hoteliers in all 50 states, commended the bipartisan Senate vote today to confirm Dilawar Syed as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
AAHOA leaders noted that the Deputy Administrator position had been vacant since 2018. The SBA plays an important role in fostering entrepreneurship among hoteliers and other small-business owners and was critical in sustaining hotels during the pandemic through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs).
In March, as Syed’s nomination went before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, AAHOA called on Senators to confirm him to the post.
AAHOA also noted Syed’s long history of advocating for underserved entrepreneurs and of building and scaling companies himself. A South Asian software and artificial intelligence technologist, Syed currently serves as a State Department special representative for commercial and business affairs. He will soon be sworn in as SBA Deputy Administrator.
“The Senate confirmation of Dilawar Syed is a big step forward for small businesses in the United States, including the 20,000 AAHOA Members,” said AAHOA Chairman Bharat Patel. “Our Members contribute 1.7 percent of the U.S. GDP and are part of the fabric of communities across the country. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with the federal government to ensure a strong and sustainable future for entrepreneurs including the hoteliers we represent.”
