India Post News Service

PHOENIX, AZ: Over two hundred members attended AAHOA’s first of the two Southwest regional conferences held in Mesa, AZ on October 4 at the Windemere Hotel & Conference Center. This was a proud moment for AAHOA Vice Chairman, Ash Patel, as this is his hometown and the participants are close to his heart.

The agenda included one seminar "Franchising Protection Strategies to Implement Fair Franchising" presented by Sharma Law Group and a trade show with over fifty vendors. Business meeting commenced by a vote of thanks by Ash Patel to all the sponsors, volunteers and Jay Olsen who graciously provided complimentary rooms to the AAHOA board members at his hotel.

He then invited David Nance of the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association (AZHLA) to brief the attendees of the challenges Arizona is facing regarding minimum wage increase, funding for tourism, Employer Sanctions Act, No match letters and many other issues that AZHLA tackles on local and state levels.

Shirish Patel representing "Polio for Children" urged all to contribute to this noble cause as AAHOA embraces this charity which has no administrative costs. Southwest regional Ambassador, Hitesh Patel, who also represents National Asian Indian Republican Association (NAIRA), spoke of the importance for all members to be politically active to protect their American dream and their investments. He urged all to contribute to the Political Action Committee (PAC) fund. He helped raise $6,000 at the last AAHOA annual convention but knows that the members can do better at the next convention.

Fred Schwartz reiterated again to take advantage of the programs that AAHOA offers to its members such as professional development, franchise issues and products and services. Danny Patel, AAHOA Chairman, lauded Ash Patel for his commitment and asked Arizonians to fully support their new Chairman next year in his agenda. He also briefed everyone on the PAC fund, Ambassador Program, 888-my-aahoa phone line and so on.

Also, he mentioned that AAHOA has hired experts to review the Performance Appraisal Report, which was given to major franchisors. The experts will then advice whether to release this report to the members or not. Joseph Koehler, Assistant US Attorney, gave his views and opinions on how hotel owners should be alert when renting rooms to aliens. Almost 500,000 illegal aliens try to cross the border and the US Border Patrol & Customs Immigration enforcement officers cannot catch them all.

He said that folks that bring them are using local transit systems, houses, motels, vacant lots, etc. until they find a place for them or get money from their relatives. Six motels in Mesa area were knowingly renting rooms to illegal immigrants and they were prosecuted accordingly. "Y’re great contributors in this great country.

You can lose everything," said Koehler. He gave toll free number, 1-800-BE-ALERT to report if anyone is using any motels to harbor illegal aliens. He said to watch for people with no identification, or who ask for rooms at the back, or rent three to four rooms and then harbor more people than legally allowed, and finally to watch out for aliens that ask for no service in their rooms. Penalties are stiff if caught and, therefore, he asked all to be vigilant. Again, these were views of Mr. Koehler and not of the Department of Justice. A Q&A session followed by entertainment ended this meeting.