NRIs to introduce new trends in Gujarat hotel industry
Wednesday, 07 January 2004, 20:30 IST
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AHMEDABAD: The American trend of hitting the road for a long drive on weekends could well become a new way of vacationing in Gujarat if the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) has its way. "Chains of hotels and motels lead to a boom in tourism. When there is a boom in the hospitality industry, potential tourist spots automatically get recognition," said AAHOA chairman Hitesh Bhakta. "Old roads are revamped and new construction of highways takes place. We've seen all this in the US and now we want to make it happen in Gujarat," Bhakta told IANS in an interview. "One just has to pack one's bags and bundle one's family in the car and hit the highway. You can stop at a highway motel, spend some money on food, shop at a local bazaar and drive off to another place in the morning. "The trends are changing at a brisk pace in India and the culture of long drives is soon to catch up in Gujarat." Bhakta was here leading an AAHOA delegation to discuss investment opportunities in Gujarat with Chief Minister Narendra Modi. As the largest member-based Indian business organisation in the US, AAHOA is one of the most powerful Asian American advocacy groups. Founded in 1989, AAHOA has grown from 100 members to 8,000, including a 30 percent increase in membership since April 2003. Over 80 percent of its members are of Gujarati origin. In his meeting with Modi, Bhakta discussed the possibility of affiliating Gujarat-based hotel management institutes with those based in the US. "Gujarat has the immense potential of producing great entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry. Given the fact that over 80 percent of AAHOA members are Gujaratis, we want to take Gujarat to the pinnacle of economical growth. "We want to hone the young Gujaratis' skill and aptitude for international business and management by exposing them to international quality education." According to Bhakta, AAHOA's members own over 20,000 hotels. "They total up to more than one million rooms representing more than 37 percent of all hotel properties in the US, including 50 percent of economy lodging properties. "The market value of hotels owned by AAHOA members totals around $38 billion. They pay nearly $700 million in real estate taxes annually and create over one million jobs." During his meeting with AAHOA delegates, Modi is learnt to have advised them to tie up with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University in Vallabh Vidyanagar in Anand, 70 km from here, and the Gujarat Hotel Management School in Ahmedabad. AAHOA delegates also promised to promote Gujarat as a tourism destination in the US. "We've decided to promote this year's nine-night festival of Navratri in Gujarat through a campaign in our hotels, so there can be a large number of US tourists heading for Gujarat," said Bhakta. Like last year, the Gujarat government is going to sponsor the Navratri festival when it is held in September-October. Reminiscing about the days of Gujaratis making the hotel and motel business a career choice in the US, Bhakta said, "The hospitality industry was a popular career choice for Gujaratis because it offered immediate housing and cash flow, as well as the opportunity to blend in despite cultural differences. "Soon, the name Patel became synonymous with the hotel business. "At first, many hoteliers met with resistance, especially from bankers and insurance companies who discriminated against Indians, specifically those with the last name Patel. To fight this problem, a group - the Mid-south Indemnity Association - was formed in 1985. It grew nationwide and eventually changed its name to the Indo American Hospitality Association. Another group of Indian hoteliers came together in Atlanta in 1989, also with the goal of addressing discrimination issues and increasing awareness of Asian Americans in the hospitality industry. They called themselves the Asian American Hotel Owners Association.
Source: IANS
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