AAHOA
March 23, 2016

052 | Sunil Patel for AAHOA Secretary

AAHOA

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.

While attending college he helped his brother develop their second motel in Columbia TN. After finishing his college he and his brother developed and acquired several branded hotels. Today they enjoy a diversified portfolio of branded hotels which they manage themselves through centralized operations. Sunil also started consulting individuals and companies on hotel acquisitions and development.

Sunil is very active in community service. He has served as the President of the Gujarat Cultural Association in Nashville TN. He is currently the ex officio of Leuva Patidar Samaj of USA. He is involved in every hospitality organization local and national. He loves to play soccer and is an avid marathon runner. He resides in Brentwood TN with his wife Manisha, two daughters Reshma and Prishana and his father Bhulabhai.

Sunil is one of three candidates running for the AAHOA Secretary position in the upcoming Board of Directors election. I’m featuring interviews with all three candidates, asking each the same questions, to give the Lodging Leader listeners a sneak peak into where they stand on key issues facing our industry, and an opportunity to see a side of them you might not see elsewhere.

In This Episode, Sunil Talks About:

  • His current role on the board, how long he has served, and why AAHOA is important to him.
  • Leadership and what he feels makes an effective leader.
  • Legislative awareness, how laws at the local, state and federal level can drastically impact our businesses, and his plan to encourage proactive participation by our industry professionals.
  • Relationships with franchisors, the need for more balanced franchised agreements, and how he plans to address accountability for the Franchisors.
  • The committees he has served on with AAHOA, which one he is most proud of, and why.
  • Vendors, the integral part they play in AAHOA’s financial stability, and his plan to strengthen relationships with them.
  • The challenges AAHOA has faced over the last couple years that threw the association into the spotlight, and what he did during this time to uncover the truth and make sure that AAHOA was protected.

Resources & Links

AAHOA

  • 311 | Shelters From the Norm: Hotels used for hospitals and housing face unexpected problems

    A year ago, Darshan Patel, CEO of Hotel Investment Group in San Diego, California, was one of the first hoteliers in the U.S. to step up and offer properties to overwhelmed hospitals seeking places to care for COVID and non-COVID patients as well as vulnerable populations. As the crisis eases and Hotel Investment Group works to return the hotels to business, Patel is negotiating with local governments to pay for the wear and tear on the properties. Patel is not alone as many hoteliers are unexpectedly dealing with problems that state and local governments’ urgent decisions have created, including property damage, increased costs and eviction bans. This report is the second in a two-part series examining the pros and cons of opening hotels to alternative uses during the pandemic. It is part of Long Live Lodging’s special coverage of the coronavirus crisis and its impact on the hospitality industry.

  • 310 | Hotels Convert to Housing: Federal COVID-19-relief funds fuel transactions

    Dhruv Patel, president of Ridgemont Hospitality, in October shared a bittersweet moment with his parents, Pravin and Sima Patel, when the family business sold the first motel that Pravin had built from the ground up more than 30 years ago. But they rest assured knowing it was the right decision because the 22-room property is being converted into affordable housing for military veterans at risk of homelessness. The transaction is among hundreds taking place across the U.S. as state and local governments work with non-profit agencies to create affordable housing solutions for vulnerable populations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In Episode 310 Long Live Lodging reports on the financial and legal aspects of what it takes to convert a hotel into long-term housing. This report is part of Long Live Lodging’s special coverage of the coronavirus crisis and its impact on the hospitality industry.

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