�We were very pleased by the voter turn-out,� stated Fred Schwartz, president, AAHOA. �This was a year where we had many more qualified candidates than open positions so competition was fierce.�

In addition to electing 12 board members (nine regional directors and three directors at large), AAHOA also bid a fond farewell to Chairman Dan Patel, who moved onto the position of ex-officio, and welcomed former vice chairman Mike Amin into the position of chairman.  

�That�s the way AAHOA�s board is set up,� explained Dan Patel, ex-officio, AAHOA. �The officers, made of up the treasurer, secretary, vice chairman and chairman, have a one-year term in each role.  So every year after elections the new board confirms the succession of the officers, votes in a new treasurer, and the previous year�s treasurer becomes secretary and so forth.� 

The 2002-2003 AAHOA officers are: Mike Amin, chairman, Hitesh Bhakta, vice chairman, Nash Patel, secretary, and M.P. Rama, treasurer.

�I�m have some pretty big shoes to fill,� said Amin, �but with a strong board and staff around me I am confident that we will accomplish great things over the next 12 months.�

AAHOA�s board of directors is divided into three categories with some overlap of members.  This year�s executive committee, in addition to the officers and ex-officio, is comprised of RC Patel, Dinu Patel, Mukesh Mowji, Asvin Patel, Hemant Patel and Ketan Masters.  

The directors at large are Mike Amin, Hitesh Bhakta, Ketan Masters, C.K. Patel, Dan Patel, Hemant Patel, Jags Patel, Manhar Patel, Priti Patel, Surekha Patel, R.C. Patel and M.P. Rama. 

The regional directors are Alkesh Patel, Northwest region, Mukesh Mowji, North Pacific region, Naz Patel, South Pacific region, Robin Prema, Southwest region, Dipan Patel, Upper Midwest region, Kirrit Bhakta, Central Midwest region, Suresh Patel, South Central region, Kirrit Patel, North Central region, Kirrit Bhikha, Midsouth region, Roy Patel, Gulf region, Nash Patel, Florida, Piyush Mulji, Southeast region, Rajni Patel, Mid-Atlantic region, Asvin Patel, Mideast region, Dinu Patel, Northeast region, Jay Vanmali, Western Canada, and Deepak Ruparell, Eastern Canada. 

This year AAHOA also welcomed new allied regional director, Mike Duffy, president and CEO, Paymentech Merchant Services. 

�It was bittersweet to see (former allied regional director) Richard Reyer�s term end,� continued Patel.  �He has been an important part of AAHOA since the beginning and I am sure he will continue to be an allied member.  However, we are also excited to welcome Mike Duffy onto the board.  He has had a strong and respected presence in AAHOA for many years and we are honored that he accepted the position.�

The fastest-growing organization in the United States hospitality industry, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association was founded in 1989.  AAHOA has a membership base of more than 6,000 members who together own more than 35% (17,000) of the hotel properties in the United States.