The Asian American Hotel Owners Association appointed hotelier Rahul Patel chairman for the 2026-2027 term at its annual hospitality convention and trade show this month.
Born in India, Patel migrated to the U.S. in 2004, after which he purchased his first hotel in Indiana. Patel, who now owns and operates several hotels, was elected AAHOA secretary in 2023, starting his leadership journey with the association.
Patel is focused on “strengthening the association’s foundation through deeper member engagement and shared experiences,” according to AAHOA.
In his new role, Patel will prioritize “protecting members’ profitability, advocating for solutions to rising insurance costs, growing AAHOA’s education offerings to support better financial and operational decisions and ensuring fairness in franchise relationships by pushing back against burdensome regulations and mandates that impact owners’ bottom lines,” the association detailed in a release.
“Rahul is a thoughtful, collaborative leader with a strong focus on member engagement and building meaningful connections across our association,” AAHOA President and CEO Laura Lee Blake said in a statement. “I look forward to working closely with him to strengthen AAHOA’s advocacy efforts, deepen member involvement, and continue advancing an organization that truly reflects the strength and diversity of America's hotel owners.”
In conjunction with Patel’s appointment, AAHOA named a slate of other leaders to its board of directors, including several regional directors and Dhiren Masters as secretary. Masters most recently served as AAHOA North Texas regional director and has nine years of leadership experience at the association, according to an April 10 release.
With the new appointments, Rahul Patel replaces Kamalesh Patel as chairman, while Masters replaces Vimal Patel as secretary. Kamalesh Patel and Vimal Patel held their respective titles for the 2025-2026 term.
