ORANGE, CA— It may not quite be a case of business as usual, but life goes on for the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) as well as ex-Chairman Hitesh Bhakta following his announcement at the close of the association’s annual meeting last week that he was immediately stepping down from his position atop the AAHOA board as well as stepping away from the ranks of the 8,000-plus-member organization. Within the AAHOA hierarchy itself, it was noted the existing officers on the board of directors have succeeded to the next available position, and will serve in those capacities through the 2005 convention. Essentially, they will complete the unexpired term left vacant following Bhakta’s announcement, and will continue to serve in those roles through next year’s convention. The officers would have assumed their new positions following AAHOA’s annual election scheduled for Aug. 14, 2004— an event so ordered by Judge Gino Brogdon Sr. of the Superior Court of Fulton County, GA in a recent ruling against Bhakta and his supporters to extend the current board’s term of office for another year, contrary to the procedures and provisions embodied within the association’s bylaws (see HOTELBUSINESS.COM, Apr. 22). As a result of Bhakta’s resignation: Vice Chairman Nash Patel has moved up to become the association’s new chairman; Manhar “M.P.” Rama is now the vice chairman; and Mukesh Mowji takes over as AAHOA secretary. (Mowji will also continue in his role of association treasurer until a new one is announced following the upcoming elections.) The association’s annual election is slated to take place in New Orleans, LA to fill those board positions that expire this year. After the 2004 – 2005 board is seated, its members will vote for a new treasurer. As for Bhakta himself, the former AAHOA chairman told HOTEL BUSINESS® he fully expects to keep “quite busy,” despite his severance of ties with the professional organization he has been part of for more than a half-dozen years. As an attorney with the law offices of Norman Filer here, he explained: “Actually, I was active in the hotel field long before I ever thought about going into the practice of law.” Alluding to his other responsibilities as president of both CA-based Canyon Country Hospitality Inc. and TX-based Park Suites Hotel Inc., Bhakta indicated he expects to have his hands full with the selling (of one) and purchasing of (two) hotels in the weeks ahead. What’s more, he explained that if his law responsibilities and family-owned hospitality company duties afford him any additional time on his hands, he expected he would also continue his close work with the California Hotel & Lodging Association. Commenting on his decision to step down and away from his AAHOA affiliation, Bhakta said: “Announcing my resignation was no easy decision… by any stretch of the imagination.” As he pointed out: “The process was difficult, but I felt I had to be honest with myself and realize it’s very difficult— if not outright impossible— to go against the will of the majority.” In Bhakta’s estimation: “I’ve always felt AAHOA’s members and officers— and I include myself when I say this— have been exceedingly passionate about the association and its needs… as we rightfully should be. However, I felt that matters of politics seemed to start getting in the way of work.” Pointing out that AAHOA is an association heavily tended to by volunteers, Bhakta allowed that this (surmised) greater emphasis on politics than on work doesn’t measure up as the best and highest use of one’s time.
Hitesh Bhakta rings curtain down on his AAHOA career.