Patel, CEO of Oregon-based Buggsi Hospitality which owns and operates 18 hotels in the Pacific Northwest and has four additional hotels under development, told some 500 attendees that sensitivity to diversity in today�s business environment is vital for professional and profitable leadership, especially in the hospitality industry.
 
�We are a business that exists to serve people of all cultures, so we must be aware of and respectful of the cultures, customs, and preferences of our guests if we are going to care for these visitors properly,� Patel said. �In addition, our work force comes from many countries and backgrounds, and we need to understand their values and frames of reference so we can properly motivate and reward them.� 

Continued Patel, �AAHOA was created in 1989 because of discrimination faced by Asian hoteliers from certain lenders, insurers, and franchisors.  Over the past decade, we have worked hard to break down stereotypes and build up both personal and professional respect.  The result is that today, we have more than 7,300 members involved in mutually rewarding business partnerships with franchisors, banks, and vendors throughout the country � partnerships that are contributing hundreds of millions of dollars each year to the American economy.� 

According to Patel, while AAHOA concentrates on assisting Asian hoteliers and promoting the Indian culture, the association also serves as a strong advocate of economic success by all minorities. 

Patel is a product of diverse cultures and experiences.  Born in Zambia, Africa, and educated in England, he came to the United States in 1988.  That year, he built his first hotel -- 51-unit Super 8 in LaGrande, Oregon � and began operating it with his sister while they both learned the hospitality business.

And learn he has, servicing in a series of increasingly senior leadership positions with such key industry groups as the Oregon Lodging Association and the American Hotel & Motel Association, as well as AAHOA.

AAHOA members own more than 17,000 hotels, which represent more than 60 percent of all new lodging properties in the U.S. and have a total market value of $38 billion.  The association, with headquarters in Atlanta, provides programs of education, advocacy, and assistance across the country for both franchise and independent hoteliers.