AAHOA Member Hotel Financing via AAHOALending.com | Bridge
AAHOA member hotel financing: how AAHOALending.com gives owners faster access to competitive capital
Ninety-five percent of hoteliers told AAHOA they would benefit from comparing financing terms in a standardized format. That number comes from an AAHOA member survey conducted before the launch of AAHOALending.com, and it captures a frustration most hotel owners already know firsthand: the traditional lending process is slow, fragmented, and stacked against borrowers who lack time to shop dozens of lenders one at a time.
AAHOALending.com, powered by Bridge, is the lending platform AAHOA built specifically for its members. It connects hotel owners with 300+ lenders, creates deal-ready materials within 24 hours, and typically delivers multiple indicative term sheets within one to three days. AAHOA members also pay discounted fees, charged only when a deal closes and funds.
This guide covers every financing option available through the platform, explains how the process works step by step, and details the member-exclusive benefits that make AAHOALending.com different from going it alone.
Why AAHOA members need a better path to hotel capital
AAHOA's nearly 20,000 members own roughly 60% of all hotels in the United States, accounting for more than 34,000 properties and 3.1 million guestrooms. That scale should translate into lending leverage. Instead, most hotel owners still approach financing the same way they did a decade ago: calling a handful of known lenders, collecting quotes manually, and hoping they found the best deal.
Meanwhile, the lending environment has tightened. Over 90% of hoteliers in the same AAHOA survey said market conditions are more challenging than in previous years, according to Hotel Business. Interest rates have risen, underwriting criteria shift frequently by brand, market, and leverage level, and regional banks that once anchored hospitality lending have pulled back.
The result: hotel owners spend weeks assembling loan packages, only to hear that their deal doesn't fit a lender's current credit box. AAHOALending.com was built to solve that problem.
What AAHOALending.com is (and how Bridge powers it)
AAHOALending.com is a hospitality-focused lending marketplace launched by AAHOA in partnership with Bridge at AAHOACON25 in April 2025. Bridge is AAHOA's Club Blue Industry Partner, the highest tier in AAHOA's vendor program. Only 12 of AAHOA's 300+ industry partners hold that designation.
The platform is not a lead-generation tool. It manages deals from initial request through funded capital. Here is what it does:
- Connects owners with 300+ lenders. The network includes large banks, community and regional banks, SBA lenders, private debt funds, and family office lenders. Some family offices lend exclusively through the platform.
- Creates offering memos and deal rooms in 24 hours. After a borrower submits basic project details (property overview, budget or trailing-12-month financials, pro forma), Bridge's team uses AI and internal data to build an institutional-quality offering memorandum and a digital deal room, at no cost to the borrower.
- Delivers multiple term sheets in 1 to 3 days. Most users receive indicative terms and lender interest within that window. Final approval and funding still require standard due diligence.
- Enables side-by-side comparison. Borrowers review rates, fees, and terms from multiple lenders in a standardized format, exactly what 95% of surveyed members asked for.
"By creating offering memos and a deal room, we centralize everything that a lender would want to look at in one place," said Bridge CEO Rohit Mathur in Today's Hotelier. "There's no cost to the user for us to do all of that."
Hotel financing options available through AAHOALending.com
The platform covers the full spectrum of hotel capital needs. Both flagged (branded) and independent hotel projects are eligible.
Acquisition and value-add financing
For owners buying an existing hotel or acquiring a property that needs repositioning, the platform sources acquisition loans ranging from $2M to $50M. Lenders evaluate the property's current performance, the buyer's operating experience, and projected returns after any improvements.
Whether you're a first-time hotel buyer or adding your tenth property, submitting through AAHOALending.com puts the deal in front of lenders already active in hospitality acquisition.
Refinancing and cash-out
Hotel owners refinancing an existing mortgage or pulling equity from a stabilized asset can access loan options from $2M to $50M. Refinancing can lower monthly debt service, free up capital for other projects, or replace a maturing loan before it balloons.
Bridge's platform helps owners start inside today's underwriting reality, so they avoid wasting time on lenders whose current criteria don't fit their deal.
PIP and renovation financing
Property improvement plans (PIPs) are brand-mandated renovation requirements that franchised hotel owners must complete within set timelines. Falling behind on a PIP can trigger franchise penalties or termination.
AAHOALending.com sources PIP and renovation financing from $500K to $15M. The platform's lender network includes specialists who understand the urgency and structure of brand-mandated upgrades, which means fewer rejected applications from lenders unfamiliar with PIP timelines.
Ground-up construction
New hotel construction loans range from $10M to $50M on the platform. Construction financing is the most complex capital structure in hospitality, involving draws, completion guarantees, and brand approval milestones. Bridge's deal room keeps construction documents organized for lenders who specialize in this asset class.
For an overview of how different lender types approach construction deals, see our guide to hotel construction and acquisition financing in 2026.
Rehabilitation
Older properties that need substantial work before they can reopen or rebrand fit the rehabilitation category. Rehab financing bridges the gap between a property's current condition and its projected performance after renovation, and the platform matches these deals with lenders experienced in value-add hospitality projects.
Member-exclusive benefits: what AAHOA negotiated
AAHOA didn't just put its name on an existing product. The association negotiated specific terms for its members.
Discounted, success-only fees
Fees on AAHOALending.com are charged only when a deal closes and funds. No upfront costs, no application fees, no charges if you receive term sheets but decide not to proceed. AAHOA negotiated discounted fee rates for its members, according to the AAHOALending.com FAQ and Today's Hotelier.
24-hour offering memo and deal room
Within one business day of submitting basic deal information, Bridge creates a professional offering memorandum, a pro forma projection model, and a secure digital deal room. These materials are typically what borrowers spend days or weeks preparing on their own. There is no cost for this service.
Access to 300+ lenders, including Hilton-preferred lenders
The lender network has grown from 150+ at launch to more than 300. It includes large national banks, community banks, SBA-approved lenders, private debt lenders, and family offices. Bridge also partners directly with Hilton through its "Unlocking Doors" program, which provides existing and potential hotel owners with financing through a diverse group of lenders, including minority-owned banks across the country.
For AAHOA members developing or acquiring Hilton-branded properties, this means access to lenders who already understand Hilton's franchise requirements and underwriting expectations. Bridge also maintains brand-specific landing pages for Hilton owners.
Lender blocking and confidentiality
Owners can block specific lenders from seeing their deal. If you don't want your current lender to know you're shopping for better terms, you can exclude them. The platform is SOC 2 compliant, lenders must sign NDAs, and deal information is never shared with AAHOA Board members or other platform users.
How the process works: three steps
Step 1: Submit a loan request
Visit AAHOALending.com and enter basic details about your project: property type, location, loan purpose, budget or trailing-12-month financials, and a brief overview. The initial submission takes roughly 10 minutes.
Step 2: Bridge builds your deal package
Within 24 hours, Bridge's team creates your offering memorandum, pro forma, and deal room. The platform uses AI combined with industry benchmarks to generate institutional-grade materials. Lenders matched to your project type and size gain access to your deal room.
Step 3: Compare offers and choose
Most borrowers receive indicative terms from multiple lenders within one to three days. You compare rates, fees, loan structures, and terms side by side, then select the lender that fits your project. Final underwriting and due diligence follow standard timelines, which can range from weeks to a few months depending on deal complexity.
DK Patel, president of Prianna Hospitality and an AAHOA member, described his experience in Today's Hotelier: "AAHOA Lending is the most efficient financing process I've used because their technology is powered by real people. We've now closed multiple deals with them, and I can't imagine going back to a manual process."
Who should use AAHOALending.com
The platform is designed for any AAHOA member with a hotel financing need, but certain profiles benefit most:
- Multi-unit owners expanding portfolios who need acquisition or construction capital across multiple markets and want lender competition to improve terms.
- Owners facing PIP deadlines who can't afford delays from lenders unfamiliar with franchise renovation requirements.
- First-time hotel buyers who lack existing banking relationships and need exposure to multiple lender types (SBA, conventional, bridge, CMBS) in one place.
- Owners refinancing maturing debt who want to compare current rates without tipping off their existing lender.
- Developers building ground-up properties who need lenders comfortable with construction draws and brand approval processes.
How AAHOALending.com compares to traditional hotel financing
Factor | Traditional approach | AAHOALending.com |
|---|---|---|
Lenders contacted | 3 to 5 (manual outreach) | 300+ (automatic matching) |
Offering memo preparation | Borrower-created, days or weeks | Bridge-created, within 24 hours |
Time to receive term sheets | 2 to 4 weeks | 1 to 3 days (indicative) |
Fee structure | Varies; often upfront | Success-only, discounted for AAHOA members |
Lender specialization | Depends on borrower's network | Pre-qualified hospitality lenders |
Confidentiality controls | Limited | Lender blocking, NDAs, SOC 2 compliance |
Platform track record
Bridge has closed over $500 million in hotel financing in 2025 alone, including more than $100 million through its direct lending arm, according to AAHOALending.com. The platform also maintains partnerships with major hospitality brands beyond AAHOA, including Hilton, Choice Hotels, and Wyndham.
These partnerships matter because they signal that brand-level franchise teams trust Bridge's process and lender network. When a franchisor directs owners to a financing platform, that platform's lender curation and deal execution have been vetted.
FAQs
Is AAHOALending.com only for flagged (branded) hotels?
No. Both flagged and independent hotel projects are eligible for financing through the platform. Acquisition, refinance, rehab, ground-up construction, and PIP financing are all supported regardless of brand affiliation.
What does it cost to use the platform?
There is no upfront cost. Bridge creates your offering memo, pro forma, and deal room at no charge. Fees are only charged when a deal closes and funds, and those fees are discounted for AAHOA members.
How quickly will I receive term sheets?
Most borrowers receive indicative terms and lender interest within one to three days of submitting their deal. Final approval and funding timelines depend on due diligence and underwriting, which can take additional weeks.
Can I prevent specific lenders from seeing my deal?
Yes. The platform lets you block any lender from accessing your deal room. This is useful if you're exploring options without alerting your current lender. All participating lenders sign NDAs, and the platform is SOC 2 compliant.
Do I need to be an AAHOA member to use the platform?
AAHOALending.com is built for AAHOA members. AAHOA membership unlocks discounted fees and full platform access. Non-members can explore hotel financing through Bridge's main platform.
What types of lenders are on the platform?
The network includes 300+ lenders: large national banks, community banks, SBA lenders, private debt funds, family offices, and Hilton-preferred lenders. Some family office lenders participate exclusively through Bridge's platform.
Start comparing hotel loan offers today
AAHOA built AAHOALending.com so its members would never have to wonder whether they got the best deal available. If you have a hotel project that needs capital, whether it's an acquisition, refinance, PIP, construction, or rehab, submit your deal and let 300+ lenders compete for your business.