Last week, the Otelier team had the pleasure of attending and sponsoring the 2025 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show in New Orleans – and what a week it was! We connected with hundreds of inspiring hoteliers, industry leaders, and partners, all coming together with fresh ideas and a shared commitment to drive hospitality forward.
This year’s AAHOACON, themed “New Ideas, New Connections, New Orleans,” delivered on its promise with a packed agenda and best practices for hoteliers to operate more effectively.
AAHOACON25 drew more than 5,000 registered attendees to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, featured nearly 500 exhibitors, and filled 85,000 square feet of exhibit space. Leadership transitions also took center stage, as Kamalesh (KP) Patel officially began his term as the 35th Chairman of the AAHOA Board of Directors. "The enthusiasm and engagement at AAHOACON25 truly showcased the strength of our community,” Patel said.
In Hotel Management, Esther Hertzfeld reported from the event that hotel owners are struggling in the current environment with challenges such as labor shortages, the high cost of construction and interest rates. On stage, Liam Brown, group president at Marriott International, acknowledged the headwinds but insisted "reliance and perseverance are the characteristics of [AAHOA members] and of the industry."
In HOTELS Magazine, Publisher David Eisen wrote from the event: “The association is a huge powerhouse, often flexing its might in Washington, touting issues important to its collective. Now facing the most challenging time since the pandemic, it’s sounding the klaxon call to its constituents, government officials and its franchise partners and the brands, which depend on and succeed on the backs of their capital.”
A highlight of AAHOACON25 was the tech panel: "The Future of Hospitality: Dazzling Tech, AI Magic, and Hacker-Proof Security," where Otelier’s Chief Technology Officer, Shams Chauthani, joined a group of tech leaders to explore how emerging technologies are reshaping hotel operations.
The discussion centered around how AI and automation are moving beyond buzzwords to deliver real value by freeing up staff, improving accuracy, and driving better business outcomes.
On the panel, Ryan Rothschild, President of x-quic, discussed how AI is making the OTA payment process more accurate. “The average AAHOA member pays $16,000 a year per hotel, at least in the first year, on overages to OTAs – and they don't know it,” he said. “97.2% of all hotels that we've worked with are overpaying OTAs. Most people think, ‘that's probably not me.’ It is.”
Rothschild emphasized the broader value of automation: "Everyone is in the same boat: It's hard to get good help. So, AI is not replacing people's tasks, it's actually helping them to become more proficient. So we can actually probably do more with less employees."
Chauthani brought his deep expertise in hotel data and system integrations to the conversation, offering a practical perspective for hotel owners looking to leverage technology without overwhelming their teams. “Hotels can use AI and automation tools to save time and make better decisions. But, at the end of the day, the technology is only as good as the inputs that you give it, the questions that you ask, and what outputs you're looking for,” he said.
Chauthani also addressed a topic that's increasingly top of mind: data security. He highlighted the critical role technology partners play.
"The level of investment that it takes to protect customer data – How many hoteliers have the resources and the ability to invest that kind of money to protect their own data? That's where they can lean on companies like Otelier that take that ownership and take that responsibility in making sure that you're actually building the right technology, building the right institutions, bringing the data together,” he said.
AAHOACON25 was a powerful reminder that despite challenges, the hospitality industry is brimming with innovation, resilience, and a spirit of collaboration. At Otelier, we look forward to continuing to support the AAHOA community as we work together toward a bright future for hospitality.