ATLANTA -- Two leaders from the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) will address minority hospitality-industry officials this week in Miami at the 20th annual National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD) Summit.

2016 AAHOA Chairman Bharat "Bruce" Patel and Vice Chairman Bhavesh Patel each will participate in the three-day event hosted by the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay.

The gathering will include sessions on hospitality-related government affairs, industry diversity, hotel financing, and franchise/brand issues. The agenda also includes panels on women's and minority issues within hospitality.

On Thursday, Chairman Patel will serve on the general-session executive roundtable titled "A View from the Top," a panel that explores hospitality's changing investment opportunities from the perspective of industry leaders.

"It's an honor, not only to serve on this panel at NABHOOD, but to be considered an industry leader," he said. "I have had the privilege of learning from some of the best and most successful hoteliers in the country; now I have a wonderful opportunity to share some of what I've learned."

Vice Chairman Patel will join the "Feasibility & Marketing Studies - Why are they so important?" panel late Thursday morning to offer his perspective on underwriting analyses' role in making sound investments.

"I've always enjoyed the numbers side of this business, so it's a real pleasure to serve on this panel," the AAHOA vice chairman said. "I'm really looking forward to hearing the other panelists' perspectives."

The NABHOOD Summit will also include an AAHOA town hall event on Wednesday evening emceed by 2004 AAHOA Chairman Naresh "Nash" Patel.

For more information, please visit NABHOOD.net/summit.

About AAHOA

AAHOA is the largest hotel owners association in the nation, with Member-owned properties representing a significant part of the U.S. economy. AAHOA's 20,000 members own 60% of the hotels in the United States and are responsible for 1.7% of the nation's GDP. More than one million employees work at AAHOA member-owned hotels, earning $47 billion annually, and member-owned hotels support 4.2 million U.S. jobs across all sectors of the hospitality industry. AAHOA's mission is to advance and protect the business interests of hotel owners through advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, member benefits, and community engagement.

Kate Viana
Communications Manager
(404) 419-8983
AAHOA