India Post News Service

CHICAGO: The Upper Midwest Regional Conference of Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) held last week in Schaumburg, a Chicago suburb, lacked the usual exuberance, fun and frolic with most of the members putting up a somber demeanor.

The members of the Midwest Regional chapter obviously carried the unpleasant memories of the last Conference when the Governing Body of the AAHOA had decided to dump Chicago as the venue of the 2008 convention and move it to San Antonio, Texas.Sunny Gabhawala, Upper Midwest Regional Director proceeded to conduct the meeting with dignity and after the normal pleasant civilities acknowledged the support of the vendors of the Trade Show customarily held during the conference.

He thanked the members of the Board present, headed by Chairman, Dilipkumar "Danny Patel", including Ashwin Patel, Vice Chairman, Tarun Patel Secretary, CK Patel, Treasurer and Fred Schwartz, President. He also acknowledged the presence of important constituents of the AAHOA, Past Chairman Mukhesh Mavji, Manu Patel, Bipin Patel and directors of the different regions.

Drawing the attention of the officials from the AAHOA head quarters attending the conference to a 17-point memorandum, Gabhawala asked them with overwhelming emotion to address these grievances, especially to assuage the feeling of the Upper Midwest Region members, who he said keep asking him about the change in venue and the circumstances compelling the Board to take this decision, which hurt the entire Upper Midwest Regional membership.

Gabhawala further drew the attention of the Board Members present and alluded to the Court Case filed in the court challenging the decision of the Board and asked who was responsible to pay the liquidated damages, among the others. He noted that the Board had come up with a reconciliatory recommendation to hold the 2010 Convention in Chicago and demanded what guarantee would they give that the past experience would not recur.Among other things, the memorandum also included questions about the articles appearing in some leading newspapers about the AAHOA internal dissensions and their sources.

Gabhawala demanded appropriate revisions to the By-Laws, Policies and Procedures so that current loopholes could be fixed.At the suggestion of Gabhawala, President Fred Schwartz addressed the gathering hoping that he would provide some answers. He submitted that under circumstances of a law case being filed in the court he could not speak much about the state of affairs, but would like everyone to think about the great reputation and image being built by the AAHOA over the years as a premier association of the Hospitality Industry.

He said he was pained to see a dynamic and powerful organization like AAHOA entangled in a conflict within the family. He pleaded to amicably settle the unfortunate issue without resorting to the Court, but with constructive dialogue. "We have resolved many tough issues before with reconciliation and dialogue rather than litigation.

We can do it again," he urged. He conveyed the decision of the Board to hold the 2010 Convention in Chicago and assured that this decision would be carried out and urged the members to understand and cooperate.Pandemonium, however, broke out as the members began shouting. Babu Marsha Patel took to the podium and asked "Please explain, why you have done this."

He argued that all the reasons the Board had given as grounds for rejecting Chicago were frivolous and unconvincing. Gabhawala and Manu Patel intervened and tried to assuage the restless members urging that as a civilized people, especially Indians, must respect our guests.They requested an honest hearing be given to Past Chairman Mukesh Mavji, who was at the helm of affairs at the time it was decided to hold the Convention in Chicago, and who was aware of all details.Mavji tried to pacify the members, but in vain.

Discussions therefore terminated as a member observed that the differences would be settled by mutual understanding and that the 2010 convention would be held in Chicago.Entertainment was provided by Manpasand Inc., produced by Bhavna Modi. Mazhar and Vijay satiated the appetite of the audience by their renditions of popular classical and modern film songs.