ATLANTA—AAHOA issued the following statement in response to the murder of a hotel staff member who was killed last Wednesday morning in Dallas. The slaying comes after the 2024 murders of AAHOA Member Hemant Mistry in Oklahoma City and of Pravin R. Patel in Sheffield, Ala.
(See related article.)
“Our hearts are absolutely broken for the victim’s family, who witnessed this unimaginable act of violence,” said AAHOA Chairman Kamalesh (KP) Patel. “Hotels are not just workplaces for our members and their teams—they are homes, businesses, and community spaces. The brutality of this crime is beyond comprehension, and our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones, the property owners, and all staff who are grieving this senseless loss.”
AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake said, “This is one of the most horrific crimes we have seen impact a hotel workplace in recent memory. Our hotelier community is devastated, and we stand united with our member and their team during this incredibly painful time. No one should ever face such violence while simply doing their job.”
Access to Educational Resources
AAHOA is committed to providing immediate access to educational resources to help hoteliers and their staff manage difficult situations safely and effectively. These resources will include guidance on handling confrontational guests, de-escalating tense encounters, and strengthening hotel security protocols.
“We are committed to advocating for enhanced security measures and the implementation of comprehensive safety protocols to protect members of our community,” Patel said. “We encourage AAHOA Members and the industry to reach out for support or resources you may need during this time. AAHOA is dedicated to creating a platform where concerns can be raised and solutions collaboratively developed. Let us use this moment to reinforce our commitment to each other’s safety and well-being, continuing to foster a professional environment that preserves and upholds the integrity and resilience of our industry.”
Below is a collection of articles from AAHOA’s Today’s Hotelier magazine that address safety and security:
- 16 Ways to Improve the Safety in Your Hotel
- Balancing independence: Adopting best practices from branded hotels in safety and security
- Security slip-ups: Steer clear of these five hotel security mistakes
- Time’s up!: Don’t wait to ensure the security of your property, staff, and guests
- The best defense is a good offense
- Finding solid ground: Building a culture of safety and security on a firm foundation
- Finding the phonies: Overcoming the rise in fake IDs
- How to discourage loitering at your hotel
- Cover your bases: 5 ways to reduce your risk in the extended-stay market
- Safe employees are happy employees
- Diffusing tense situations
- A safer experience: Hotel security tools being shared with local first responders
- Mitigating travel safety concerns for female travelers
- Data and hotel security: Everything you need to know about protecting your data, your property, and your business
