TARAN PATEL, MANAGING principal of A-1 Hospitality Group and AAHOA Northwest regional director, has received the 2023 Lodging Operator of the Year award
by the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association for his outstanding contributions to both the hospitality industry and communities.
"Oregon's hospitality industry is filled with remarkable, passionate people who go above and beyond on a daily basis because they love what they do," said Jason
Brandt, ORLA president and CEO. "These recipients represent not only some of our industry's most dedicated leaders and advocates, but also the exemplary service
that sets the high standard for the entire industry to achieve."
Following the completion of his MBA in 2015, Taran began working in operations and development, contributing to the company culture established by his parents.
Under his leadership, A-1 Hospitality Group's hotels not only offered crucial assistance to their communities during the pandemic but also stayed operational,
safeguarding job stability for their team members and enabling them to provide for their families during challenging times.
SALEM, OREGON, RECENTLY changed its plan to use transient lodging tax funds for library funding gaps. AAHOA and the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association
have been closely monitoring the municipality's attempts to divert the protected revenue from its intended purpose, promoting tourism.
Instead, the city will use funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Hotel taxes diverted from tourism could diminish funding for year-round visitor attraction
efforts, AAHOA said in a statement.
"AAHOA and ORLA were proactive in ensuring appropriate use of the transient lodging tax in the city of Salem," said Taran Patel, AAHOA's Northwest regional
director. "This is a great example of the importance of AAHOA members being active in advocacy at the local levels of government."