Oregon, AAHOA Hospitality Leader Recognized with Statewide Award

​Taran Patel, A-1 Hospitality Group, Honored by Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association
 
[Wilsonville, OR] – The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) will honor five members of Oregon’s foodservice and lodging industry with the prestigious statewide Oregon Hospitality Awards later this month. Taran Patel, Managing Principal for A-1 Hospitality Group and AAHOA Northwest Regional Director, was named the 2023 Lodging Operator of the Year for his outstanding contributions and dedication to serving the hospitality industry and his communities.
 
“Oregon’s hospitality industry is filled with remarkable, passionate people who go above and beyond on a daily basis because they love what they do,” said Jason Brandt, President and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “These recipients represent not only some of our industry’s most dedicated leaders and advocates, but also the exemplary service that sets the high standard for the entire industry to achieve.”

Taran grew up in the hospitality industry, watching his parents grow their business from a 36-room independent motel to a premier hotel property management company with 12 properties in their portfolio. Driven by the American Dream, he learned the meaning of hard work from a young age following in the footsteps of his mentor and father, Vijay. After completing his MBA in 2015, Taran started working in operations and development where he helped cultivate the supportive company culture created by his parents. As Managing Principal, Taran continues to demonstrate strong character and leadership. 

Under his guidance, A-1 Hospitality Group’s hotels not only provided needed support to their communities during the pandemic, but they also continued to stay open to ensure their team members were able to keep their jobs and support their families through difficult times. Taran is recognized by his colleagues as a passionate, hard-working, and engaged industry operator. His contributions extend beyond A-1 Hospitality, as he dedicates his time to several industry boards and organizations. He has not only served as an AAHOA Northwest Ambassador for several years but has now been elected to serve on the Board for the Association as the AAHOA Northwest Regional Director. Taran has also been actively involved with the local Visitor & Convention Bureau, Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, and Washington Hospitality Association where he currently serves on the Board of Directors.

"Congratulations to Taran Patel on being recognized as ORLA’s 2023 Lodging Operator of the Year, which is a strong testament to Taran’s unwavering commitment to excellence, dedication to guest satisfaction, and visionary leadership,” said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake. “We thank our partners at ORLA for recognizing our industry’s top leaders in Oregon for their groundbreaking achievements in, and dedication to, our industry.” 

Nominated by their peers, these award recipients will be recognized in front of an expected 250 delegates at the ORLA Hospitality Conference, September 30–October 2, held at the Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites in Ashland, Oregon. Joining Taran on the list of award recipients is Demetrio De La O Rendon (Lakeshore Inn) as Employee of the Year, Crystal Brenneman (Dixie Tavern) as Team Leader of the Year, and Lisa Schroeder (Mother’s Bistro & Bar) as Restaurateur of the Year. Risk Strategies Company | Fournier Group will also be recognized as ORLA’s Allied Partner of the Year.

For more information on the ORLA Hospitality Awards, visit www.Oregonrla.org/nominate. To learn more or register for the Hospitality Conference, visit www.ORLAHospitalityConference.com. 

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ABOUT ORLA
ORLA is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon. A not-for-profit trade organization, ORLA represents over 3,000 member units and advocates for over 10,000 foodservice locations and over 2,400 lodging establishments in Oregon. The hospitality industry is the second largest business sector behind healthcare. In 2022, our industry provided over 197,000 jobs to working Oregonians and brought in over $10.9 billion in annual sales for Oregon.

ABOUT AAHOA
AAHOA is the largest hotel owners association in the nation, with member-owned properties representing a significant part of the U.S. economy. AAHOA's 20,000 members own 60% of the hotels in the United States and are responsible for 1.7% of the nation’s GDP. More than one million employees work at AAHOA member-owned hotels, earning $47 billion annually, and member-owned hotels support 4.2 million U.S. jobs across all sectors of the hospitality industry. AAHOA's mission is to advance and protect the business interests of hotel owners through advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, member benefits, and community engagement.