Rahul Patel named Chair at Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA)

Posted on Today at 10:40 am

Rahul Patel has become the 36th chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), serving for the 2026–2027 term.

Patel officially assumed the role at the conclusion of AAHOACON26, the association’s annual convention & trade show, held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

Patel’s theme, “Strong Roots, Stronger AAHOA,” focuses on strengthening the association’s foundation through deeper member engagement and shared experiences. He prioritizes 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.

“As chairman, my focus is simple: strong roots and an even stronger AAHOA,” Patel said. “That means deeper member engagement, greater accountability and ensuring every resource we build delivers real value to the people we serve.”

New secretary, board members

Also at AAHOACON26, the organization announced its new board of directors for the 2026-27 term, including newly elected Secretary Dhiren Masters.

“As we welcome our new board of directors for the 2026–27 term, I’m excited to work alongside leaders who are deeply committed to engaging our members and strengthening the AAHOA community,” said new AAHOA Chairman Rahul Patel. “Our focus is on listening, connecting, and ensuring every member understands the value of their involvement as we work together to advance the interests of hotel owners and the industry.”

Blake said, “I’m proud to welcome our new board of directors and congratulate our newly elected secretary on this important leadership role. The experience, perspectives and dedication of our board members are essential to AAHOA’s success, and their leadership will help drive meaningful advocacy, member support and growth for our association in the year ahead.”

Masters said, “I’m ready for the new generation to come into AAHOA and help guide the industry and the association, bringing new ideas, and elevating AAHOA to the next level. To me, this election signifies that members trust me to do the right thing for the association, for the membership, and I’ll definitely do that as your next AAHOA secretary.”

Masters most recently served as AAHOA North Texas Regional Director. He has nine years of AAHOA leadership experience, including six years on the board of directors. He has served as a board member of the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association and on AAHOA’s Strategic Planning Committee, Education & Professional Development Committee, Ad Hoc E-Commerce Committee, Ad Hoc Technology and Innovation Committee and Young Professionals Focus Group.

AAHOA members also elected the following 11 members to the board of directors: