To contact a committee chair, please send an e-mail to committees@aahoa.com and reference the committee name in the subject line, or simply click on the "E-mail this committee" link below.

2012 Convention Special Team Committee
E-mail this committee

This team is responsible for organizing and hosting the AAHOA Annual Convention and Trade Show and meetings.

1. Alkesh R. Patel
2. Atul G. Patel
3. ChandraKant I. (C.K.) Patel
4. Chandresh Brahmbhatt
5. Fred Schwartz
6. Hemant D. (Henry) Patel
7. Hitesh (HP) Patel, CHA
8. Jayesh Patel, CHA
9. Mehul B. (Mike) Patel, CHA
10. Pratik R. (Prat) Patel
11. Ramesh K. (R.K.) Patel
12. Shailesh (Sly) Patel
13. Suresh (Sam-Sarpanch) Patel
14. Tarun S. Patel

Bylaws and Governance Committee
E-mail this committee

This committee is responsible for implementing the bylaws and multi-year governance model that AAHOA has established.

1. Jay Patel - Co-Chair
2. Mehul B. (Mike) Patel, CHA - Co-Chair
3. Bhavesh B. Patel
4. Chandresh Brahmbhatt
5. Dharmendra Patel
6. Ketan M. Masters
7. Kirit (Kenny) Patel
8. Pratik R. (Prat) Patel
9. Shailesh (Sly) Patel
10. Suresh (Sam-Sarpanch) Patel
11. Vinod N. Patel
12. Fred Schwartz
13. Laura Lee Blake

Education and Professional Development Committee
E-mail this committee

The education committee develops, designs and implements all on-going educational programs for members. It assesses current member needs as it identifies educational resources, topic development, and presentation methods.

1. Dharmendra Patel - Co-Chair
2. Hitesh (HP) Patel, CHA - Co-Chair
3. Heena S. Patel
4. Kalpesh (Kal) Patel
5. Mitesh Patel
6. Nimesh A. (Nick) Zaver
7. Paresh (Pete) Patel
8. Jonathan Albano

Ethics and Enforcement Committee
E-mail this committee

1. Bakulesh G. (Buggsi) Patel - Chair
2. A. V. Patel
3. Hasmukh P. (H. P.) Rama
4. Kirrit R. Bhikha
5. Nitin Shah
6. Ramesh B. Gokal
7. Ravi C. Patel
8. Fred Schwartz
9. Laura Lee Blake

Finance, Budget and Audit Committee
E-mail this committee

Among other responsibilities, this team participates in periodic auditing of revenues and expenses and is responsible for managing the annual budget.

1. Alkesh R. Patel - Co-Chair
2. Davang V. (Dave) Patel - Co-Chair
3. Arvind G. Patel
4. Atul G. Patel
5. Sanmukh Patel Swami
6. Satish (Sunny) Gabhawala
7. Laarni V. Mata

Humanitarian Committee
View Committee Update
E-mail this committee

This team selects the entities that AAHOA endorses for four years FIFO. It coordinates the allocation of space in AAHOA Lodging Business magazine for humanitarian-related advertisements; sends quarterly mailings to membership for fundraising; and develops policies and procedures for giving sponsorship money.

1. Jitu Ishwar - Co-Chair
2. Shailendra N. (Sam) Devdhara - Co-Chair
3. Davang V. (Dave) Patel
4. Hasu Patel
5. Hitesh L. Patel
6. Kirit (Kenny) Patel
7. Mike Ryan
8. Nimesh A. (Nick) Zaver
9. Ramesh K. (R.K.) Patel
10. Jonathan Albano

India Committee
E-mail this committee

Work to make CHO class happen yearly at VVU; create plan for a Hospitality Forum in India for CEOs.

1. Alkesh R. Patel
2. ChandraKant I. (C.K.) Patel
3. Mahendra Z. (M.Z.) Patel
4. Pushpendra R. Bansal

Industry and Franchise Relations Committee
E-mail this committee

This team promotes AAHOA's 12 Points of Fair Franchising, and provides our partners-- the franchisor community-- honest and fair feedback concerning their compliance with the 12 Points. This group has released a progress report on leading franchisors for public review.

1. Rajesh (Raj) Bhagia - Co-Chair
2. Satish (Sunny) Gabhawala - Co-Chair
3. Atul G. Patel
4. Bharat Patel
5. Bhavesh B. Patel
6. Chandresh Brahmbhatt
7. Dharmendra Patel
8. Hitesh L. Patel
9. Jay Patel
10. Jayesh Patel, CHA
11. Kalpana Patel
12. Mitesh Patel
13. Paresh (Pete) Patel
14. Paul (Prashant) Patel
15. Pratik Bhakta
16. Shailesh (Sly) Patel
17. Laura Lee Blake

Legislation Committee
E-mail this committee

This team identifies and cultivates relations with local, state, and federal government agencies which will promote the needs and concerns of our members. It will consistently identify legislative initiatives that support AAHOA's goals and will coordinate requirements and plans to have a successful PAC. It will work to create an AAHOA brand on Capitol Hill.

1. Hitesh L. Patel - Co-Chair
2. Shailesh (Sly) Patel - Co-Chair
3. Akhil Agrawal
4. Anurag Varma
5. Bhavesh B. Patel
6. Chandresh Brahmbhatt
7. Dharmendra Patel
8. Jaimin Patel
9. Jay R. (Jimmy) Patel
10. Paresh (Pete) Patel
11. Pratik R. (Prat) Patel
12. Rajesh (Raj) Bhagia
13. Ricky Patel
14. Satish (Sunny) Gabhawala
15. Chip Rogers
16. Laura Lee Blake
17. Sheree Edwards

Membership Committee
E-mail this committee

This team helps plan for the recruitment and retention of members and works to secure member commitments to the association. Its responsibilities include the identification and development of valued benefits for our members, including financial incentives, exclusive offers, and other partnerships which attract the interest and support of all members.

1. Kalpana Patel - Co-Chair
2. Ramesh K. (R.K.) Patel - Co-Chair
3. Balvant M. (B.M.) Patel
4. Gary A. Prema
5. Jayesh Patel, CHA
6. Jitu Ishwar
7. Nimesh A. (Nick) Zaver
8. Satish (Sunny) Gabhawala
9. Shailendra N. (Sam) Devdhara
10. Vinod N. Patel
11. Jonathan Albano

Public Relations and Communications Committee
E-mail this committee

The Public Relations and Communications committee develops and promotes new forms of communication with our members and with media sources. It is responsible for improving AAHOA's technology infrastructure to help enhance member communications.

1. Heena S. Patel - Co-Chair
2. Pratik R. (Prat) Patel - Co-Chair
3. Davang V. (Dave) Patel
4. Jay Patel
5. Kalpana K. Patel
6. Kirrit R. Bhikha
7. Mitesh Patel
8. Paresh (Pete) Patel
9. Rajal J. (Raj) Patel
10. Chris Carlson

Revenue Generation Committee
E-mail this committee

This team identifies ways to provide additional revenue streams for the association.

1. Bhavesh B. Patel - Co-Chair
2. Chandresh Brahmbhatt - Co-Chair
3. Arvind G. Patel
4. Atul G. Patel
5. Hitesh (HP) Patel, CHA
6. Jay R. (Jimmy) Patel
7. Kalpana Patel
8. Kirit (Kenny) Patel
9. Mike Ryan
10. Nimesh A. (Nick) Zaver
11. James Jenkins

SIG: Independent Committee
E-mail this committee

Team responsibilities include identifying and promoting the interests of independent hoteliers and including them in ways that enhance their professional growth and development.

1. Davang V. (Dave) Patel - Co-Chair
2. Andy Bhula
3. Balvant M. (B.M.) Patel
4. Hitesh (HP) Patel, CHA
5. Kalpesh (Kal) Patel
6. Kirit (Kenny) Patel
7. Ramesh K. (R.K.) Patel
8. Shailendra N. (Sam) Devdhara
9. Shailesh (Sly) Patel
10. Suresh (Sam-Sarpanch) Patel
11. Vinod N. Patel
12. James Jenkins

SIG: Women Committee
E-mail this committee

This team encourages women of the AAHOA membership to take a more active role in the industry and become leaders within and outside AAHOA.

1. Heena S. Patel - Co-Chair
2. Kalpana Patel - Co-Chair
3. Kirti V. (Kay) Surati
4. Lina Patel
5. Nayana (Nancy) Patel
6. Neelam Patel
7. Tina P. Patel
8. Trusha Patel
9. Tass Sweeney

SIG: Youth Committee
E-mail this committee

The team encourages more involvement and membership of the young Asian American professionals in the hospitality industry and works to create a bridge between the current leadership of AAHOA and the next generation of leaders of AAHOA.

1. Ankit Bhakta - Co-Chair
2. Pratik R. (Prat) Patel - Co-Chair
3. Atul G. Patel
4. Hitesh (HP) Patel, CHA
5. Kalpesh (Kal) Patel
6. Kunal Patel
7. Milan C. Patel, CHA
8. Mitesh Patel
9. Nimesh A. (Nick) Zaver
10. Paresh (Pete) Patel
11. Jonathan Albano

Sponsorship Committee
View Committee Update
E-mail this committee

This team works to create and foster new sponsorship relationships.

1. Arvind G. Patel - Co-Chair
2. Balvant M. (B.M.) Patel
3. Chandresh Brahmbhatt
4. Jay Patel
5. Jayesh Patel, CHA
6. Ketan M. Masters
7. Kirit (Kenny) Patel
8. Mitesh Patel
9. Rajesh (Raj) Bhagia
10. Ramesh K. (R.K.) Patel
11. Satish (Sunny) Gabhawala
12. Shailendra N. (Sam) Devdhara
13. James Jenkins

Strategic Planning Committee
E-mail this committee

This team is creating and implementing a strategic plan for AAHOA to accomplish its goals for the next 5 years.

1. Hemant D. (Henry) Patel - Chair
2. Bhavesh B. Patel
3. Dharmendra Patel
4. Pratik R. (Prat) Patel
5. Rajesh (Raj) Bhagia
6. Satish (Sunny) Gabhawala