Tarun S. Patel, CHA is a second-generation
hotelier who completed his undergraduate studies with a degree in
finance and economics from San Diego State University. He also attended
postgraduate classes at the Haas School of Business at the University of
California, Berkeley in finance and real estate management.
Tarun is the President of Pacific Hospitality Company (www.pachospitality.com), a family-owned, full-service real estate services company specializing in management, development, and investments in the hospitality industry. Tarun is also a Principal in Penta Hospitality (www.pentahospitality.com), a hotel development and management company located in San Jose, California. Tarun has also held various finance executive roles in various Fortune 500 Silicon Valley Technology Companies.
He currently serves on the California Lodging Industry Issues Political Action Committee, a venture among numerous state-based associations focusing on increasing the voice of the hospitality industry in the California political landscape.
Tarun joined AAHOA in 1995 as a future hotelier and has since been actively involved in the association. He has spoken on various future hotelier panels and in 2002 served as a member of the Technology and Education Committee. He began his first three-year term on the AAHOA board in 2003 as a Director at Large. Tarun was selected to be a member of the Executive Committee in 2003, 2004, and 2005. He has also been the chair of the Information Technology Committee since 2003. Tarun was elected Treasurer at the 2006 AAHOA Annual Convention, a historic moment as he was the first to be elected by the AAHOA membership. Tarun is co-chair of the Governance/By-Laws Team and the Sponsorship Team.
Tarun resides in San Jose, California, with his wife, Trushita, and his daughters, Maiya and Ariya.

