WASHINGTON, D.C., September 18 — AAHOA Members put the hospitality industry’s priorities directly in front of policymakers this week, holding hundreds of meetings with members of Congress and their staff during AAHOA’s 2026 National Leadership & Advocacy Conference. The September 15–16 conference brought hotel owners from across the country to Washington to advocate for policies affecting their businesses.
For hotel owners, federal policies can directly affect the cost of doing business and their ability to invest in their properties. AAHOA’s advocacy efforts are focused on creating a business environment that gives hoteliers greater flexibility to operate, invest, and grow.
“Our hotel owners are small business owners, employers, and community leaders, and the decisions being made in Washington have a direct impact on our ability to operate and grow,” said AAHOA Chairman Rahul Patel. “We came to Washington to make sure our members’ experiences are part of those conversations. Our members are asking for practical solutions that will help them invest in their properties, create jobs, and continue serving their communities.”
AAHOA Members own 60% of the hotels in the United States and support 4.2 million jobs across the hospitality industry,” said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake. “That gives our members a powerful voice in Washington, and this conference allows them to use it. Our members came to share what they are seeing in their businesses, explain how federal policies affect their day-to-day operations, and make sure policymakers hear directly from the people running hotels on main streets across America.”
Day 1 – Advocacy Education, Keynote Speaker, Congressional Reception
U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO), a lead sponsor of the Supporting Trade and Rebuilding Opportunity for National Growth (STRONG) Act, spoke with AAHOA Members about the importance of small businesses and the role hotel owners play in creating jobs, building wealth, and strengthening their communities. The STRONG Act would increase the maximum value threshold for SBA 7(a) and 504 loans from $5 million to $10 million.
Alford encouraged AAHOA Members to make their conversations with members of Congress personal and specific, sharing their business experiences, successes, and the jobs they are working to create. He also discussed the need for clear SBA guidance on quality-of-earnings requirements and encouraged members to continue bringing their real-world experiences to policymakers and supporting the STRONG Act.
The program also brought together two prominent hospitality industry leaders for the Leadership Exchange, “Leading with Vision: Building a Hospitality Legacy.” Mitch Patel, president and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group, shared lessons from building the company from a $3,000 start in 1997 to a growing portfolio of 44 hotels across eight states. Teague Hunter, president and CEO of Hunter Advisors, moderated the conversation, drawing on more than 25 years of hotel industry experience and leadership of more than $13 billion in hotel transactions.
Also featured were Chiling Tong, president and CEO of the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, and Tina Wei Smith, former executive director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Both serve on the Congressional Commission on the National Asian Pacific American Museum, which is exploring the creation of a national museum celebrating Asian Pacific American history, culture, and contributions.
The evening concluded with a Congressional Reception, where AAHOA Members engaged in discussions with lawmakers, including:
- Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA)
- Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)
- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL)
- Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA)
- Rep. Derek Tran (D-CA)
Day 2 – Advocacy in Action
On the second day, AAHOA Members participated in hundreds of in-person meetings with members of Congress and their staffs, ensuring that the hospitality industry’s priorities were at the forefront. These discussions focused on advocating for solutions to drive industry stability, promote competition, and support small business owners.
Key Legislative Priorities:
- Expand access to capital by increasing SBA 7(a) and 504 loan limits from $5 million to $10 million, by supporting the STRONG (H.R.4153) and Loans In Our Neighborhoods (LIONs) (S.901) Acts to help hoteliers finance growth, renovation, and recovery.
- Support the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2025 (H.R.5258), to restore accountability to the legal system by reinstating mandatory sanctions for frivolous lawsuits and protecting hotel owners from costly, meritless litigation.
- Support the American Franchise Act, specifically (S.3525), to establish a clear, consistent joint employer standard that protects franchisees on which many AAHOA Members rely.
- Support the Credit Card Competition Act of 2026 (H.R.7035 and S.3623) that brings competition to the credit card network routing market.
About AAHOA
AAHOA is the largest hotel owners association in the nation, with Member-owned properties representing a significant part of the U.S. economy. AAHOA’s 20,000 members own 60% of the hotels in the United States and are responsible for 1.4% of the nation’s GDP. More than 1 million employees work at AAHOA member-owned hotels, earning $51.3 billion annually, and member-owned hotels support 4.2 million U.S. jobs across all sectors of the hospitality industry. AAHOA’s mission is to serve and protect the business interests of its members through profit-driven member benefits and services, effective advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, and impactful community engagement.
