Alexi Khajavi, president, Hospitality, Travel and Wellness at Questex, has joined the American Hotel & Lodging Association Board of Directors, a group that includes some of the most influential leaders from all sectors of the lodging industry, including brands, owners, real estate investment trusts, management companies, branded properties, independent hotels and state associations.
Khajavi leads the hospitality group at Questex, an information services and event company with deep expertise in the hospitality industry with more than 564,000 readers who are engaged in optimizing hotel operations. This comprises the largest U.S. distribution in the market. Questex, the parent company of Hotel Management, also produces global events, including The International Hospitality Investment Forum, with nearly every global hotel chain CEO in attendance, and several specialty curated buyer/seller events such as Hotec Design.
"I am excited to join AHLA’s Board of Directors,” Khajavi said. “Joining this esteemed group is an honor, and I am eager to collaborate with fellow industry leaders in shaping the future of hospitality. Together, we'll drive innovation, champion excellence, and elevate our collective impact on the dynamic landscape of the hospitality sector."
As a member of the board, Khajavi will be part of vital discussions concerning a broad range of industry- and AHLA-related issues. AHLA is the largest hotel association in America and remains deeply engaged in policy issues affecting hoteliers at all levels of government. In 2023, AHLA advocacy efforts led to:
- A clarification in Paycheck Protection Program eligibility guidelines that will save hoteliers an estimated $14 billion
- A $9 increase in the continental U.S. per diem rate that will generate an estimated $300 million for hoteliers
- The release of an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year 2024
“I am thrilled to welcome Alexi to the AHLA Board of Directors,” AHLA President and CEO Chip Rogers said. “Year after year, AHLA raises the bar for hospitality advocacy and member services thanks in large part to the amazing leaders from all sectors of our industry who serve on our board. We have assembled another slate of extraordinary executives in 2024. Alexi’s guidance and counsel will be instrumental to delivering advocacy victories for our members in 2024.”
AHLA and Questex joined forces in 2023 to launch The Hospitality Show, a new event for the entire hospitality ecosystem that empowers the industry to operate hotels more efficiently and profitably. The inaugural event brought together more than 3,800 attendees from across the entire sector, including senior executives of hotel brands, owners, operators, management companies, developers, investors, and technology partners for two days of education, networking and curated buying experiences. This year’s event will be held October 28-30 at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio. For more information, visit www.thehospitalityshow.com.