AAHOA History
Asians have a rich tradition of entrepreneurship, self-improvement,
and family values. After India's independence in 1947, many of that
country's young people immigrated to the United States to pursue their
education and "the American Dream."
The hospitality industry was a popular career choice because it
offered immediate housing and cash flow, as well as the opportunity to
"blend in" despite any cultural differences. Soon, the name "Patel"
became synonymous with the hotel business.*
At first, many of these hoteliers met with resistance, especially
from bankers and insurance companies who discriminated against Indians,
specifically those with the last name Patel.
To fight this problem, a group – the Midsouth Indemnity
Association – was formed in Tennessee in 1985. It grew nationwide
and eventually changed its name to the Indo American Hospitality
Association.
Another group of Indian hoteliers came together in Atlanta in 1989,
also with the goals of addressing discrimination issues and of
increasing aware-ness of Asian Americans in the hospitality industry.
They called themselves the Asian American Hotel Owners Association
(AAHOA).
By the end of 1994, these two groups merged so they could work
together more efficiently on behalf of Asian hoteliers throughout the
United States. Today AAHOA is the fastest-growing hospitality
organization in the United States and the largest membership-based
Indian business organization in the United States.
*In ancient India, rulers appointed a record keeper to keep track of
annual crops on each parcel of land, or "pat." That person became known
as a "patel."
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