Asian American Hotel Owners Association

The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) is a trade association that represents hotel owners. As of 2020, AAHOA has approximately 19,500 members who own about half the hotels in the United States.[1] AAHOA provides service and support for hoteliers through its educational offerings, policy and political advocacy for the interests of hotel owners, opportunities for professional development, and community engagement.[2]

Indian Americans in the hotel and motel industry early on faced discrimination, both from the insurance industry and from competitors placing "American owned" signs outside their properties to take business from them.[3] In 1985, a group was formed in Tennessee, the Midsouth Indemnity Association, which then grew nationwide and changed its name to the Indo American Hospitality Association.[4] Another group of Indian hoteliers was created in Atlanta in 1989 to address discrimination issues and increase awareness of Asian Americans working in the hospitality industry under the name Asian American Hotel Owners Association.[4] In 1994, the organizations merged in order to work more efficiently to defend Asian hotel owners’ interests throughout the United States.[4]