ATLANTA– Bhavesh Patel, national vice chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), was a featured speaker at the 14th annual Southern Lodging Summit in Memphis, Tenn.

“AAHOA’s leadership position in the lodging industry is reinforced through our participation in leading events like the Southern Lodging Summit,” said Bhavesh Patel. “I was honored to share the perspective of our almost 16,000 hotel-owner members, who see a bright future in hospitality, but are concerned about the ever-growing volume of regulation being placed on the backs of small business owners.”

Bhavesh Patel
Bhavesh Patel

Chuck Pinkowski, owner of Pinkowski & Company, a co-host for the Summit along with the Metropolitan Memphis Hotel & Lodging Association, is a leading voice in hospitality consulting and the chairman of the Southern Lodging Summit Committee. He says AAHOA’s position in hotel ownership means their voice is important in all hotel-related discussions, “AAHOA members have become a driving force for hotel ownership and development. Their engagement in an event like ours brings a perspective the industry needs to hear.”

The Southern Lodging Summit is one of the industry’s premier annual events, hosting more than 200 leaders from across the southern United States. Featured speakers include major brand executives, industry experts and nationally recognized hoteliers.