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ASIAN HOSPITALITY IS A B2B NEWS MAGAZINE AND WEBSITE THAT COVERS THE U.S. HOTEL INDUSTRY. OUR NICHE READERSHIP AND TARGET MARKET ARE INDIAN AMERICAN HOTELIERS, WHO OWN MORE THAN HALF OF THE HOTELS IN AMERICA. THE COMMUNITY OF HOTELIERS IS AMONG THE MOST AFFLUENT GROUP BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE U.S., WITH AN ESTIMATED $35 BILLION IN BUYING POWER. ASIAN HOSPITALITY uniquely provides editorial in Gujarati, the language spoken by most Asian American hoteliers who have roots in Gujarat, India. Its sister publication, PRIYA, is the business magazine for entrepreneurial women. In Indian American hotel businesses, women make most of the buying decisions. They also have carved their own paths to business success, leading family enterprises and starting their own ventures. The next generation of the Asian American hotelier community is made up of highly educated and experienced women and men who are eager to take hotel development and operations to the next level. ASIAN HOSPITALITY is with them every step of the way.

A BENGALURU YOUTUBER visiting the U.S. sparked debate on social media after sharing his experience of being charged $14.99 for a bottle of water at a five-star Las Vegas hotel after asking for a complimentary glass, comparing it to Indian hospitality. Ishan Sharma called it his biggest "culture shock." "American hotels. They just don't get hospitality. Funny how they ask for tips but won't even give complimentary water," wrote Ishan Sharma, a second-year electrical engineering student at BITS Pilani, Goa, on X. "Basic services like helping with luggage and being accommodating were missing. I checked in at 2 a.m., exhausted from the flight, and asked for a glass of water. They said, 'It's $14.99 for a 200ml bottle; you can buy it.' And this is at a $200 (₹16,800) per night hotel! Complete lack of empathy. Unbelievable!" Sharma, who stayed at Caesar's Palace, noted that his experiences at three, four, and five-star hotels in the U.S. had been similar.

CALIFORNIA-BASED HOTELIER Sunil "Sunny" Tolani has been named a top entrepreneur by Yahoo Finance. Tolani's the Prince Organization was named one of the fastest growing private companies in Orange County, California, by the Orange County Business Journal. In the Yahoo listing, Tolani is recognized not only for his work operating multiple hotels but also charity work, youth empowerment and education. It also mentions the organization's receipt of several honors and awards, including the 2016 Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence and, more recently, the Nelson Mandela Leadership Award from the Non Resident Indian Welfare Society. "Sunil Tolani is a self-made man, highly respected and publicly admired worldwide Indian American CEO, social entrepreneur, philanthropist and humanitarian," the Yahoo article said. "[The Prince Organization is] regularly commended by various third-party organizations as one of the best and top places to work. Prince has also been named the fastest growing private companies and top minority-owned organization three times in a row."

KASHYAP "KASH" PATEL, President Trump's nominee for FBI director, highlighted his Indian roots at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, greeting his parents with "Jai Shree Krishna". If confirmed, he would be the first Indian American to lead the nation's top investigative agency. AAHOA backed Patel's nomination, citing his public service and national security experience as crucial for addressing challenges facing both the FBI and the hospitality industry. "Kash Patel's nomination is a significant moment," said Miraj Patel, AAHOA chairman. "His counterterrorism and public service background offers valuable expertise for tackling complex security issues." Patel, 44, was a public defender and federal prosecutor before joining Trump's administration during his first term as president in 2019. He served in various roles, including under the secretary of defence and the director of national intelligence. Trump nominated him in November to replace Christopher Wray, who led the FBI for more than seven years and who Trump appointed in his first term.

AT THE 2024 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show held last week in Orlando, Florida, history was being made at the same time it was being recalled. Miraj Patel assumed his role as the youngest chairman the association has had, while his predecessor Bharat Patel and AAHOA President and CEO Laura Lee Blake spoke on the legacy that led to the association's current success. AAHOACON24, the 35th national conference for the association, saw more than 7,000 registered attendees and 524 exhibitors at the Orange County Convention Center, blocks away from Disneyworld and Universal Studios. It included more than 44 education sessions and had two times the number of sponsors than in 2023 with 26. Event revenue was 6 percent higher than 2023 and 31 percent higher than in 2022. The tradeshow sprawled over more than 84,500 square feet of exhibit space. In a speech during the first general session, Bharat presented his theory on what led to AAHOA's current status: compound success.