SHERIDAN, WYOMING – April 18, 2025 - Vimal (Ricky) Patel Takes Office as Secretary of AAHOA
Election held during the 2025 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show
AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) has announced its newly elected board of directors for the 2025-26 term, naming Vimal (Ricky) Patel as the new Secretary. The announcement was made at the 2025 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show in New Orleans, an event that continues to spotlight leaders dedicated to advancing the hospitality industry.
A Legacy of Leadership and Service
Patel brings deep experience and proven results to his new role
Since immigrating to the United States at the age of 21, Patel has successfully operated both branded and independent hotels. His involvement with AAHOA spans numerous leadership roles, including Ambassador, Gulf Regional Director, and member of key committees focused on government affairs, strategic planning, education & professional development, and bylaws & governance.
Patel has also chaired two vital AAHOA ad hoc committees—one dedicated to insurance, where he spearheaded the search for affordable property premium options, and another focused on revenue generation, which brought in $1.8 million in new funds for the association.
Beyond AAHOA, Patel has made impactful contributions to the hotel industry through volunteer leadership, including serving on the board of the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation and acting as board chairman for Lafayette Travel.
Committed to a Forward-Looking Vision
Patel emphasizes proactive leadership for the hospitality industry
“I want hotel owners to win the economic future, so we must be prepared not only for the change we know is coming but also for the change we don’t see coming,” said Patel. “My style as an officer will be to work energetically on today’s issues while at the same time proactively anticipating tomorrow’s problems.”
2025-26 AAHOA Board of Directors Announced
Ten regional and at-large directors elected to strengthen national leadership
Joining Patel on the board for the new term are:
- Neil Patel, Alabama Regional Director
- Viral Patel, Central Midwest Regional Director
- Preyas Patel, Northeast Regional Director
- Taran Patel, Northwest Regional Director
- Pinkesh Patel, North Carolina Regional Director
- Kalpesh Joshi, Upper Midwest Regional Director
- Priyank Patel, Washington DC Area Regional Director
- Bhavin Patel, Director at Large Eastern Division
- Arti Patel, Women Hoteliers Director Western Division
- Paavan Patel, Young Professional Director Western Division
Three new industry partners also added to the board
In addition, three new members will serve as industry partners:
- Nil Kumar, President/Chief Product Officer, Anand Systems Inc.
- Kevin Sloan, Managing Partner, Gauthier Murphy & Houghtaling LLC
- Abraham Tieh, Director, National Commercial Property Tax, O’Connor & Associates
Leadership Congratulates the New Board
Association leaders express optimism and support
“As we welcome our new board of directors for the 2025-26 term, I am honored to work alongside these dedicated individuals to advance our association and the hospitality industry as a whole,” said Kamalesh (KP) Patel, Chairman, AAHOA. “I congratulate our newly elected Secretary Vimal Patel and look forward to collaborating with the AAHOA officers and board to address our members’ priorities, reinforcing AAHOA’s role as the leading voice for hotel owners.”
Laura Lee Blake, President/CEO of AAHOA, added, “I am thrilled to welcome our new board of directors and extend heartfelt congratulations to our new secretary on his election to the AAHOA board. The commitment and diverse perspectives of our board members are vital to AAHOA’s mission. Their leadership will be instrumental in driving advocacy, supporting our members, and promoting growth within our community in the coming year.”
Learn More About AAHOA
Visit the official website for updates and resources
To explore more about AAHOA and its initiatives, visit the official website: https://www.aahoa.com.