AAHOA
090 | Hotelier Vendor Relations with Atul Patel
AAHOA
Atul G. Patel, CHO is a second generation hotelier. He and his family moved to the United States in 1979 and settled in Tifton, GA, where his family bought their first independent hotel. After learning the trade in the family business, Atul went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Emory University, and a Master’s Degree in Finance Georgia State. He now has an interest in seven properties, and he and his partners manage a portfolio of five.
In This Episode, Atul Reveals
- What it was like growing up in the hotel business, actually living on property for many years, and why he decided to return to hospitality after college.
- Some of the challenges he’s faced over the years, including the ADR at one of his properties that remained flat for over 10 years ago, while profitability decreased due to rising costs, and what he did about it.
- Why he chose to serve on multiple brand Franchise Advisory Councils (FACs), on the AAHOA Board of Directors, and what he learned from that experience.
- The secret to vendor relations, and how vendors can build meaningful relationships with hoteliers that are mutually beneficial.
Resources & Links
Atul G. Patel, CHO
- atul302@gmail.com
- Phone: (678) 898-9138
Mentioned in this Episode
AAHOA
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346 | Repositioning For Recovery: Hotel conversions to outpace new builds
Lodging Econometrics has tracked the hotel industry since 1998. Its global database includes new-hotel pipelines as well as renovations and brand conversions. Hotel franchisers once eager to launch new brands are focused on converting existing hotels because it’s a faster way to recover revenue lost to the COVID-19 pandemic than through new construction. In Episode 346, Lodging Leaders explores the increasing number of conversions in the U.S. hotel industry and what owners and operators need to consider before repositioning an asset.
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345 | ‘Rosy View of Future’: Hotel industry sees unleashing of pent-up investor demand
In the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., financiers anticipated a swell of distressed hotel businesses. Some raised rescue funds to respond to what they thought was a pending crisis. Though there are financial rescues taking place, the level of such activity is far below what industry advisers and fund managers expected. Commercial real estate investors positioned to act in the early days of the pandemic held off and are now just beginning to unleash their cash hoards totaling billions of dollars. Episode 345 of Lodging Leaders podcast explores the state of capital investment in the hotel industry.