The four-day event is showcasing nationally known guest speakers, entertainment, educational workshops.
By Saju Varghese
The 2018 AAHOA Annual Convention and Trade Show (AAHOACON18 ) began in grand style here at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, just out outside the nation’s capital on Tuesday.
AAHOACON18, considered one of the best opportunities for hoteliers and hospitality industry professionals to maximize their business potential, is the largest gathering of hotel owners in the United States.
The opening general session featured a number of speakers, among them the legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson, AAHOA Chairman Bhavesh Patel and its President Chip Rogers.
Patel and Rogers touted the organization’s accomplishments in the past year. Both highlighted tax reform as one of the group’s key achievements.
The event began with a VIP meet and greet on Tuesday evening for top AAHOA political action committee donors and organization’s leaders.
“It was an excellent event, among the best of our industry with an opportunity to meet and discuss with them the hospitality market through their eyes,†said Karan Gaekwad, a hotel industry executive based in Ocala, FL. “It was an invaluable experience.â€
Last year’s annual convention had set a new record with morethan 7,000 attendees and vendors participating in the four-day event.
The organizers are expecting this year’s convention to be even more successful.
AAHOA, founded in 1989, is the largest hotel owners’ association in the world, with 17,753 small business owners being part of it. One in every two hotels in the United States is owned by an AAHOA member.
The four-day event is showcasing nationally known guest speakers, entertainment, educational workshops featuring industry leaders. It is keeping in line with AAHOA’s mission to advance and protect the business interests of hotel owners through advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, member benefits, and community engagement.
Close to 400 hospitality related vendors are introducing their latest products and services at the convention.
Besides Johnson, other prominent speakers at AAHOACON18 include Elaine C. Duke, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Manoj Bhargava, Founder, 5-hour Energy; Linda McMahon, Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA); Secretary Alexander Acosta, U.S. Department of Labor; and Michael Hyatt, Entrepreneur and Technology Visionary.
The entertainment programs lined up feature Indian singers Kirtidan Gadhvi, Neha Kakkar and Mika Singh.
Along side the convention, elections for the members of the Board of Directors and the Officers will be held.