Ash Patel

Ash Patel is the president and CEO of Southwest Hospitality Management with hotel assets in California, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Ash has over 30 years of hotel experience and has managed, acquired, renovated, and repositioned many assets with diversification from budget-friendly assets to upper-scale assets.

Ash has a wide array of brand experience including Hilton, Marriott, IHG, LaQuinta, Choice Hotels, Wyndham Worldwide, and Best Western.

Ash was elected as a member of the Board of Directors for the Asian-American Hotel Owners Association in 2003 and served as Chairman of the Board 2008 and 2009. He also represented the association as an Officer from 2005-2010. Ash was pivotal in instituting AAHOA’s lobbying efforts in Washington, DC, and, during his leadership, he incorporated the AAHOA Political Action Committee Fund.

Ash also was elected in 2003 to represent over 2,000 Days Inn of America franchisees and served on their Advisory Committee. Ash also has ventures in the restaurant, banking, and insurance industries. Ash served on the Advisory Council in 2015-2016 for Transparency, Technology, and Diversity for the Arizona Secretary of State. In his spare time, Ash volunteers wherever he can to aid the hospitality and tourism industry or to help those in need. He also enjoys a Grand Prix Motorcycle race, exploring the sights, or taking in a round of golf with friends.