Hotels (Commonwealth Union) _ Alexi Khajavi, President of Hospitality, Travel, and Wellness at Questex, has joined the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Board of Directors. AHLA’s Board of Directors includes influential leaders from various sectors of the lodging industry, covering brands, owners, real estate investment trusts (REITs), management companies, branded properties, independent hotels, and state associations.
Khajavi leads the Hospitality Group at Questex, an information services and event company specializing in the hospitality industry. Questex operates Hotel Management, a publication with over 564,000 engaged readers focusing on optimizing hotel operations. The company also organizes global events, including The International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) and specialty curated buyer/seller events like Hotec Design.
As a member of the AHLA Board of Directors, Khajavi will contribute to discussions on a wide range of industry and AHLA-related issues. AHLA is the largest hotel association in the United States and plays a crucial role in advocating for policy issues affecting hoteliers at all levels of government.
In 2023, AHLA’s advocacy efforts, led to significant outcomes, including a clarification in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) eligibility guidelines estimated to save hoteliers $14 billion, a $9 increase in the continental U.S. per diem rate generating an estimated $300 million for hoteliers, and the release of an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year 2024.
Khajavi expressed excitement about joining AHLA’s Board of Directors, emphasizing collaboration with industry leaders to shape the future of hospitality. AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers welcomed Khajavi, acknowledging the significant role AHLA’s board members play in advocacy and member services.
AHLA and Questex collaborated in 2023 to launch The Hospitality Show, an event focused on the entire hospitality ecosystem. The inaugural event gathered over 3,800 attendees from across the sector, and this year’s event is scheduled for October 28-30 in San Antonio, Texas.
