AAHOA's fifth annual HerOwnership Conference drew women hotel owners and hospitality leaders to Nashville this week, with a program built around the practical side of ownership: operations and capital, technology, financial planning and portfolio growth.

The Asian American Hotel Owners Association, which represents roughly 20,000 hotelier members across the U.S., structured the event for operators making daily decisions about how to grow and protect hotel assets rather than for casual industry observers.

Masterclass sessions covered legal issues, hotel financing and lending, bookkeeping, wills and trusts, and daily hotel operations. The financing track was sponsored by Bridge.

What did the agenda cover?

The program went beyond classroom sessions:

• A roundtable on leading with purpose, hosted by the AAHOA Charitable Foundation
• Discussions on creating long-term hotel value
• A brand-building session with purpose, sponsored by Red Roof
• An AI technology session sponsored by M3
• A portfolio diversification session with Primrose
• A reception, Boots & Beats, featuring country singer Molly Lovette

The sponsored sessions targeted issues that directly affect hotel owners' operations and asset strategies — from technology adoption to how a brand shapes a property's positioning.

Who spoke?

Simmi Shah, founder and CEO of South Asian Trailblazers — a media platform, community and advisory agency focused on elevating South Asian voices — delivered the keynote. Shah grew up in the hospitality industry and spoke about founding her company, the role her family played in her career, personal branding and AAHOA's importance to the hospitality community.

"I would not be the person I am today if I had not grown up in this industry," Shah said. "I am so glad I grew up in the AAHOA community."

She credited AAHOA's founders as the "giants on whose shoulders I stand" as she builds a podcast highlighting South Asian achievements.

AAHOA Chairman Rahul Patel framed the conference's value in terms of the connections it produces. "HerOwnership continues to show what is possible when women in our industry have a place to connect, share their experiences, and learn from one another," he said. "We heard honest conversations about ownership, leadership, business growth and the challenges that come with building a career in hospitality. The connections made here will continue long after the conference, and that is what makes HerOwnership so valuable to AAHOA and our members."

Patel credited Purnima Patel, AAHOA Women Hoteliers director, Eastern division; Arti Patel, Women Hoteliers director, Western division; and the Women Hoteliers committee for planning the event.

Why does it matter for operators?

AAHOA President and CEO Laura Lee Blake tied the conference's themes to the asset value women owners have built. "Women hotel owners know the value of what they have built, and they are making decisions every day about how to grow and protect it," she said.

Purnima Patel pointed to the deal-making value of informal time between sessions. "Some of the best conversations happen between sessions, when women are talking about the challenges they are facing and sharing ideas and solutions," she said.

Arti Patel set a concrete multiplier for mentorship: "If each of us opens the door for five women and helps them find their place in this industry, the impact can continue long after this conference."

Now in its fifth year, HerOwnership has established itself as AAHOA's dedicated venue for women hoteliers to trade operational strategies — a format the association is positioned to expand as women's ownership of U.S. hotel portfolios continues to grow.