AAHOA will host its annual Congressional Day and Capitol Hill Reception in Washington, D.C. on September 15, 2010 – the same week that Congress returns from its summer recess. The Capitol Hill Reception will be held in the evening from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Senate Dirksen Building, Room G-50.
The Reception will be attended by key members of Congress, influential leaders in the hospitality industry, as well as AAHOA Officers, Board members, Ambassadors, leading AAHOA members and executive staff. During the Reception, members of Congress will be invited to speak regarding the important issues facing the country and how AAHOA members can assist in working with them for the benefit of hoteliers, the community, and the nation. This year’s Reception will be preceded by individual appointments with members of Congress to discuss AAHOA’s top legislative priorities for 2010. The day will open with training and speakers for the Board members and Ambassadors regarding specific talking points to raise with their members of Congress. The AAHOA leaders will then proceed to their appointments, which will be held in the designated Congressional offices. During the appointments, AAHOA leaders will be separated into teams and rotated so that each group will meet with the Congressional representatives from their respective states – with each team having as many as three to five appointments.
The entire day’s events will give AAHOA Board members, Ambassadors and leaders the opportunity to interact with members of Congress and their staffs. It is also an excellent way for AAHOA to present a united front in order to weigh in on political and legislative issues that affect both our members and the industry. AAHOA's previous events on Capitol Hill have been instrumental in furthering the association’s advocacy efforts. “As we draw closer to the November elections which could result in significant changes in Congress for the next session, there are several important legislative issues that we will be raising to ensure our voices are heard at this critical time,” said ChandraKant “C.K.” Patel, CHO, Chairman of AAHOA. “With their return from the summer break, the members of Congress will be prepared to tackle some tough issues that are facing this country. We can meet face-to-face with them and influence the final outcome of the vote on those bills that will have the greatest impact on our members.” “With the ongoing economic crisis that is severely impacting the hotel industry, and the inability of our members to obtain necessary financing, AAHOA will have an excellent opportunity to sit down with our country’s most prominent elected officials and share our perspectives as small business owners,” said Fred Schwartz, President of AAHOA. “While it takes more than one day to build lasting relationships with members of Congress, our ongoing efforts throughout the year to reach out and support our elected officials have historically proven to be beneficial in helping AAHOA make a difference. This year promises to be no different.”
During the afternoon and evening prior to the Congressional Day and Capitol Hill Reception, AAHOA will be hosting a Washington District Regional meeting in Baltimore, Md., on September 14, 2010.
About AAHOA The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) is THE voice of owners in the hospitality industry. Founded in 1989, AAHOA is now one of the fastest-growing organizations in the industry, with 10,000 members owning more than 20,000 hotels that total $128 billion in property value. AAHOA members employ 578,600 full- and part-time workers with a $9.4 billion payroll. AAHOA Officers include Chairman ChandraKant “C.K.” Patel, CHO, Vice Chairman Hemant D. “Henry” Patel, Treasurer Alkesh R. “Al” Patel, CHO, Secretary Mehul B. “Mike” Patel, CHA, and President Fred Schwartz, each of whom works closely with a 33-member Board of Directors to provide direction for the association. AAHOA is dedicated to promoting and protecting the interests of its members by inspiring excellence through programs and initiatives in advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, member benefits, and community involvement.
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