Hundreds of Hotel Owners Converge on Capitol Hill to Advocate for Hospitality Industry

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. October 28, 2013

ATLANTA, GA - October 28, 2013 - The nation's largest hotel owners association met in Washington D.C. with a unified message for Congress aimed specifically at supporting small business and the lodging industry. The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) hosted nearly 250 of its member owners, along with national hospitality industry leaders, for a two-day event that included over 300 appointments with Congressional members and their staff.

AAHOA members advocated for three specific bills now before Congress:

• “Commercial Real Estate and Economic Development (CREED) Act of 2013”, which would reinstate the highly successful SBA 504 re-finance loan program that arbitrarily ended September 27, 2012.

• “40 Hours is Full Time Act of 2013” and the “Save American Workers Act of 2013”, which would establish the traditional definition of full-time work at 40 hours per week in the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

• “Jobs Originated through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act of 2013”, which would greatly enhance international travel to the U.S. by reducing visa wait times for tourism-related travel and expanding the Visa-Waiver Program (VWP).

In reference to the bills being discussed by AAHOA members, Association President Fred Schwartz said, “The legislation we are advocating for is common sense and has bi-partisan support. If passed, it will make a positive difference for both the hospitality industry and the entire nation.”

Among the legislators that participated in AAHOA's Legislative Action Summit was Dr. Ami Bera, U.S. Representative (D-CA) who is also a member of the Association.

Speaking to the crowd he stated, “It's amazing the strides we've made as a Diaspora,” noting 8 percent of all businesses in the United States are started by Indian-Americans. “The future looks incredibly bright for the broader community.”

Also in attendance was Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) who, when addressing the reception on the first night said, "You have no idea how powerful these gatherings are...I think there are more members of Congress here tonight than any other meeting I've seen this year."

In addition, the women of AAHOA hosted a breakfast with Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) who encouraged them to become involved and be a force “not to be reckoned with, but one to partner with.” Attendees were able to ask questions and give feedback on key issues affecting not only AAHOA members but small business owners as well.

“The AAHOA Legislative Action Summit was the most successful of our association's 25-year history. With more than 300 scheduled congressional meetings and dozens of members of Congress attending our sponsored events, we championed the interests of hotel owners like never before. The great news is, our efforts to represent the lodging industry in Washington D.C. will only strengthen from this event,” states Chairman Mehul “Mike” Patel.

For more information about the AAHOA Legislative Summit, please contact Director, PR & Communications Heather Daniel at (404) 419-8987 or [email protected].

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 more than 12,000 members owning more than 20,000 hotels that total nearly $130 billion in property value.