Get to know AAHOA’s 2023 award winners
Each year, AAHOA honors a select few who go above and beyond in their service to the hospitality industry. This year, winners were announced at the general session of the 2023 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show in Los Angeles, CA. The annual AAHOA Awards Program recognizes the best of the best, and what follows is just a glimpse at what makes these winners so special as we explore why they’re so passionate about belonging to AAHOA.
AAHOA is proud to have dedicated and innovative leaders who light the path for future generations.
Mahesh Ratanji
AAHOA Award of Excellence
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AN AAHOA MEMBER AND WHY DID YOU JOIN?
I’ve been an AAHOA member for 10 years. AAHOA is a well established platform with countless benefits, and it’s a great organization with a strong representation of hoteliers.
HOW HAS AAHOA MEMBERSHIP SHAPED YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER?
AAHOA membership provides me and my company with the tools, knowledge, and insight necessary for success in the hospitality industry. It has allowed me to network with many other AAHOA Members and learn about the opportunities and challenges in the industry. AAHOA has endless connections to financial institutions, vendors, franchises, and more that are invaluable in the hospitality business sector.
WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO HOTELIERS WHO HAVEN’T YET JOINED AAHOA?
Join AAHOA! Being an AAHOA Member will bring a wealth of knowledge and broaden your horizons in hospitality, which only benefits you and your business.
Chandrakant (Chan) Patel
Cecil B. Day Community Service Award
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AN AAHOA MEMBER AND WHY DID YOU JOIN?
I joined AAHOA in 1989. HP Rama is a friend of mine and I wanted to support him in promoting this new organization.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR HISTORY OF COMMUNITY SERVICE?
Internationally, I’ve donated to Cath Labs in India near Surat for heart catheterization, which has saved many lives. I also sponsor free heart stress tests for members of our community in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and 300 members of our community took advantage of this event.
WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO HOTELIERS WHO HAVEN’T YET JOINED AAHOA?
Economically, the fee paid to join AAHOA is recovered multiple times over through the benefits AAHOA offers. And, the more members in AAHOA, the stronger is its collective voice.
The Metric Hotel
IAHA Independent Hotel of the Year Award
Answers provided by Sumit Vanmali
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE METRIC HOTEL?
The Metric is an affordable luxury boutique hotel in the Downtown Los Angeles market made for modern travelers. We run on a techdriven, limited-staff model that focuses on guest satisfaction by providing a clean and consistent guest experience.
WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT THE METRIC HOTEL?
The Metric is a design-focused hotel with a guest experience unlike a traditional property and guests love that. Check-in is quick and easy via mobile or kiosk, rooms are spotless, and the casual experience makes us feel more like a hotel/short-term rental hybrid.
WHAT SPECIFIC CHALLENGES DO INDEPENDENT PROPERTIES FACE IN TODAY’S MARKET?
Two of the biggest challenges independent properties face today are competing for direct bookings vs. OTA’s large marketing budgets and incorporating a tech stack that is on par with branded chains in the marketplace. This is especially true for revenue/yield management-related software, which is critical in today’s dynamically priced room distribution model.
Harold Daniels
Outreach Award for Philanthropy
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AN AAHOA MEMBER AND WHY DID YOU JOIN?
I’ve been an AAHOA Member for many years, and I joined because they keep the hotels going and help hotels.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS AND WHY YOU FEEL IT’S SUCH AN IMPORTANT UNDERTAKING?
I have been living the dream for more than 40 years. I love helping those in need and have been doing this from the time I was 10 years old. There is a need to help those who need help.
WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO HOTELIERS WHO HAVEN’T YET JOINED AAHOA?
Hoteliers must join to support AAHOA because numbers have power. Today, with cities, counties, and state governments stepping on hotels’ rights, someone has to be a watchdog, and there is strength in numbers.
Nimisha Patel
Outstanding Woman Hotelier of the Year Award
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AN AAHOA MEMBER AND WHY DID YOU JOIN?
I’ve been with AAHOA, as a member, since 2004. I joined because it was an organization in our industry to be a part of for connections, information, and knowledge.
HOW HAVE YOU SEEN AAHOA WORKING TO HELP EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD REGARDING WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY?
While a member, I had the opportunity to take a leadership role as a Director. In doing so, I saw the initiatives the organization was taking to level the playing field for all women and men. During my time, I was able to get many women more involved in pertinent issues that affect our lives personally and professionally. AAHOA has always supported that.
HOW HAS AAHOA MEMBERSHIP SHAPED YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER?
The continued growth I see in AAHOA is a reason why all members of the hospitality industry should join. It is a great network of professionals and knowledge that give you support.
Rickesh (Ricky) Patel
Outstanding Young Professional Hotelier of the Year Award
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AN AAHOA MEMBER AND WHY DID YOU JOIN?
I’ve been an AAHOA member since 2017 and joined after attending AAHOA events with my father. I was shocked to learn that AAHOA was so large, which led me to become a lifetime member in 2019.
HOW HAS AAHOA MEMBERSHIP SHAPED YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER THUS FAR?
AAHOA has been very beneficial for my professional career. AAHOA events such as conventions, Town Halls, webinars, and regionals provided me with resources, vendors, and contacts that accelerated my hotel career further. I was also able to utilize the education AAHOA offers by taking their CHO and CHIA courses.
WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO HOTELIERS WHO HAVEN’T YET JOINED AAHOA?
Joining AAHOA provides hoteliers with an abundance of resources, advocacy, and education. The resources and connections AAHOA brings to their members is unmatched. I encourage all hoteliers to be a part of AAHOA and to get involved.
Danny Gaekwad
Political Forum Award for Advocacy
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AN AAHOA MEMBER AND WHY DID YOU JOIN?
I’ve proudly been an AAHOA Member since almost the inception of the association, and it has allowed me to meet the great leaders of hospitality and make some amazing friends along the way.
WHY ARE YOU SO PASSIONATE ABOUT ADVOCACY, AND DO YOU THINK IT’S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS GREATER ATTENTION ACROSS THE INDUSTRY?
There is no progress without it, and we need to focus 200% more on advocacy because our world’s largest hotel owner association definitely has the money and relationships to reach the highest level and fight for our industry. If we don’t focus on advocacy then other organizations will continually be heard over us.
WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO HOTELIERS WHO HAVEN’T YET JOINED AAHOA?
AAHOA has deep relationships with city, state, and national leaders in politics and hospitality and there’s a good chance AAHOA can help solve your problems. The AAHOA PAC can help you get involved in your community and develop relationships with your leaders. Developing relationships takes years and years but it’s worth every penny and ounce of sweat you put in. Being on the world’s largest hotel owner group team, you aren’t alone in your fight!
