LOS ANGELES—One of the most anticipated events during AAHOA’s annual conference is the stepping up of the group’s new chairman and the election of new board members. During this year’s convention, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Florida hotelier Bharat Patel took over from Neil Patel as leader for the next year.
“I am honored to serve America’s hotel owners as the newest AAHOA chairman,” Bharat Patel said. “Like the theme from AAHOACON23, I look forward to honoring the past and creating a bolder future by working with AAHOA’s nearly 20,000 members to ensure we reestablish strong partnerships with our state associations, grow the AAHOA [political action committee] to new record levels, and make advocacy front and center to AAHOA’s mission and vision.”
Patel has been an active member of AAHOA since 2008. He served as an ambassador for several years before his election to the board of directors as the regional director for Florida in 2015.
He is a second-generation hotelier who learned the hotel business through hands-on experience at properties owned by his parents. Today, he is partner at Gulf Coast Hospitality, which is based in Sarasota, Fla.
“From a young age, I wanted to make a difference, which is why I wanted to join AAHOA,” Patel said. “AAHOA leadership meets with legislators at the highest levels of government, and we’re doing so while simultaneously showing the industry, and beyond, that representation matters.”
Patel plays an active role in his community and previously served on the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association board of directors, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Hotel and Restaurant Advisory Council, the Sarasota County Tourism Development Council and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Advisory Board.
“Congratulations to Bharat Patel on becoming AAHOA’s newest chairman,” said AAHOA President and CEO Laura Lee Blake. “Working alongside you as vice chairman over the past year has been a pleasure, and I am looking forward to all that you will accomplish in the year ahead.”
Patel is a graduate of the University of Florida and resides in Sarasota with his wife, Manisha, and their two children.
“My main focus is all about AAHOA priorities, strategic planning, and laying the path for the future of AAHOA,” Patel said. “We will continue to create educational and networking opportunities for the next generation, create new revenue streams for AAHOA, new sponsorship opportunities, and focus on how AAHOA can provide more value for our members and loyal industry partners for years to come.”
New Board
Also during the convention, the new AAHOA secretary and new members of the board of directors were elected.
Rahul Patel of Bradenton, Fla., who heads Wisdom Group, is the new AAHOA secretary.
The new members of the board of directors are:
- Arkansas Regional Director: Danny (Chintu) Patel
- Florida Regional Director: Chetan (Chris) Patel
- Georgia Regional Director: Vikesh (Vik) Zaver
- Greater Los Angeles Area Regional Director: Naresh (ND) Bhakta
- North Central Regional Director: Bhavesh N. Patel
- North Pacific Regional Director: Ankit Panchal
- North Texas Regional Director: Dhiren Masters
- Director at Large Western Division: Nalin (Neil) Patel
- Young Professional Director Eastern Division: Dylan Patel
- Women Hoteliers Director Eastern Division: Purnima Patel
Tech Pitch Competition
Virdee took home the top prize in the AAHOA Tech Pitch Competition, co-powered by HFTP.
A panel of five judges with expertise in technology and hospitality chose Virdee’s guest experience technology platform from a field of eight finalists. Virdee Virtual Reception Software is aimed at helping properties become more efficient. Whether it’s to help front-of-house staffing, provide guests with their keys, or help them pay for their stay, their goal is to free up staff in a way that allows them to deliver a true guest experience.
The competition is designed to help identify and elevate companies with innovative ideas and products that will help the hospitality industry as hoteliers continue to face challenges, like labor shortages, from the pandemic.
“It's super exciting when you start a company, and you start selling the product, and the first thing you want to do is get product market fit and start building your client base. And then any sort of recognition like this is a huge honor for us. So really, it's a cool experience and a great feeling,” said Branigan Mulcahy, co-founder of Virdee, “There's a lot of great things we learned from the other companies that presented. There are things that help housekeeping be more efficient, and hiring and in tipping, and all of these other technologies that come into the flow.”
“The AAHOA Tech Pitch competition gives us a small glimpse into the future,” said AAHOA President and CEO Laura Lee Blake. “I am grateful for the participants who shared their vision and original products to show us how technology is changing the way the hospitality industry does business. AAHOA remains committed to helping hospitality-focused tech companies share the next big idea on hospitality’s biggest stage at the AAHOA Convention & Trade Show.”
The panel of judges was composed of:
- Master of ceremonies: RP Rama, AAHOA lifetime member
- Neil Foster, HFTP’s global president 2022-2023
- Glenn Haussman, hospitality speaker, podcaster, writer
- Anthony Melchiorri, hospitality expert and TV personality
- Mukesh Mowji, AAHOA past chairman (2006-2007)
- Frank Wolfe, CEO of HFTP
“It was just amazing to be invited. There are a lot of amazing companies that presented as part of the tech pitch competition,” Mulcahy said. “I learned a lot about some of these other platforms, and it was great for us to be able to get our message out. We've been attending AAHOACON since we started the company, since the very first year back from the pandemic. So, we've met a lot of people here, we've established a lot of great relationships, and some of our investors are AAHOA Members and former chairs, so it's good to be part of this organization, and we love the community here.