Rocco Bova

054 | Creating Rewarding Relationships with Guests, Staff and Industry Professionals with Rocco Bova

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Rocco Bova is a passionate hotelier and an energetic entrepreneur with a remarkable career of nearly 20 years. He studied hotel management at Westminster College in London and Cornell University in Singapore, and he has worked in some of the finest, world class properties in amazing destinations spanning three continents. He’s led pre-opening, rebranding, and repositioning projects, and he’s recognized as a turnaround expert. Keep Reading »

Evan Hackel

053 | Ingaging Leadership (with an I for Involved) with Evan Hackel

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Evan Hackel, creator of the concept of Ingaging Leadership and author of Ingaging Leadership, is a successful businessman who has started more than 10 companies. During his tenure at CCA Global Partners, he ran a $5 billion division. One of his signature achievements was turning around a bankrupt business in four years, more than doubling system-wide sales to exceed $2 billion. Keep Reading »

052 | Sunil Patel for AAHOA Secretary

/0 Comments/in , /by

Sunil was born in Walsall, England. His family migrated to the United States in the early eighties. They purchased their first 35 room motel in Pulaski TN. Sunil finished high school there, and earned a BS degree in Accounting from Middle Tennessee State University. Through high school and college he helped in the family business learning the basics of the hospitality business. Grooming himself for what may lie in his future. Keep Reading »

051 | Pratik Bhakta for AAHOA Secretary

/0 Comments/in , /by

Pratik Harishchandra Bhakta is a second generation hotelier and multi-property owner.  He has served as a Board Member for the Days Inn Franchise Advisory Committee, AAHOA North Carolina Regional Ambassador, and AAHOA North Carolina Regional Director. Pratik earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1994. Keep Reading »

050 | Jagruti Panwala for AAHOA Secretary

/0 Comments/in , /by

Jagruti has been active in AAHOA for over a decade, holding leadership positions since 2011 when first elected Female Director At Large, Eastern Division. Re-elected in 2014, she has also co-chaired the Women’s Hotelier Committee for five years and served on the Strategic Planning Committee for two years. She testified to Congress against proposed harmful labor laws. Her focus repeatedly has been getting more women, independent, and young hoteliers involved. In 2011, she received the prestigious Chairman’s Award of Excellence. Keep Reading »

Dan Gregory and Kieran Flanagan

049 | Systems and Strategies That Make Success More Likely with Dan & Kieran

/0 Comments/in , /by

Dan Gregory & Kieran Flanagan are behavioral researchers and strategists, specializing in behaviors and belief systems–what drives, motivates and influences us. They have won business awards around the world for Innovation, Creativity and ROI working with such organizations as Coca-Cola, Unilever, News Corp and the United Nations in Singapore. They are passionate advocates for the commercial power of creativity and a return to more human engagement, cultures and leadership. Keep Reading »

Paul Kesman

048 | Create Your Story, Then Communicate It with Paul Kesman

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Paul Kesman is a marketing and public relations professional with over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He assists hotel owners, management companies, capital providers and suppliers to the industry define and articulate what separates them from the competition and develop strategies to convey their messages in the right manner, to the right audiences, at the right times. Keep Reading »

Eliza Selig

047 | Hospitality Attacks: Tips That Could Save Lives with Eliza Selig

/in , , , , /by

Eliza Selig is the Director of Communications for Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), a global professional association for financial and technology personnel working in hotels, clubs and other hospitality-related businesses.  She has been with HFTP since 1999, overseeing the association’s communications endeavors, including serving as editor/managing editor of the association’s journal The Bottomline. Keep Reading »

Howard Feiertag

046 | Stop Selling and Start Listening with Howard Feiertag

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Howard Feiertag, CHA, CMP, CHSE, is an industry veteran, with more than 50 years of service to the industry. He is currently on the faculty of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, where he teaches Hospitality Sales as well as Meetings and Convention Management. Keep Reading »