Rahul Patel serves as the Secretary of AAHOA, which represents nearly 20,000 hotel owners owning 60% of the hotels in the United States.

He was born in Surat, India, and migrated to the United States in 2004 to pursue the American Dream. His wife and in-laws owned and operated a small motel in Winfield, KS, and Rahul purchased his first hotel in Indiana a few months later.

Rahul completed his schooling at Vallabh Ashram in Gujarat, India, and obtained his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Brisbane, Australia. Today, he owns and operates several hotels and has two ground-up projects underway in Florida. Besides his professional achievements, Rahul has a passion for working with AAHOA, performing community service, and serving on his local TDC as an Advisory Board Member. AAHOA's 12 Points of Fair Franchising helped him avoid Liquidated Damages when he purchased his first hotel.

Rahul got involved in AAHOA after attending a few events and was fascinated by how the organization protected the hospitality industry and entrepreneurs like him.

Outside of work, Rahul enjoys outdoor activities, such as playing volleyball and cricket, singing karaoke, and spending quality time with his family and friends.