The rise of the Patels

This article from Express Hospitality describes how Asian-Americans — many of them with the Patel surname — have become dominant players in the United States lodging industry in just a few decades.

They overcame language barriers, culture differences, hurdles from banks and insurers, and old-fashioned bigotry. Now, Asian-Americans control more than 50 percent of America’s budget lodging industry and 37 percent of all hotels.

And one of the shining examples is a historic Route 66 motel:

But for the Patels, it is not only business as usual. Apart from this acumen that is firmly ingrained in their DNA, they have a value system and the motel owners are also doing their bit to keep the culture of their adopted country intact. Jagedish and Ramila Patel took over the iconic Wigwam Motel in Rialto, California, which stars in Pixar’s hit animated film Cars.

This Frank Redford-built property with its legendary teepees owes a lot to its present owners. The Patels painstakingly restored the place, which had degenerated to dereliction and would attract unsavoury ladies of the night and drug peddlers. They restored the neon signs, revamped the pool and did up the rooms. Today, the motel stands with all its glory on the iconic Route 66, proving that at a Patel motel you will receive much more than a comfortable night’s stay.

“The American dream gives anyone the motivation to succeed. Sometimes immigrants forget that they are operating business in a totally different country, with different customs, and the fact that America is a melting pot of cultures,” says their son, Manoj Patel. He feels that more flexibility should be brought in to make adjustments for learning. “Not all guests will be so sensitive to whether the motel is East Indian-owned or not,” he points out, adding that they haven’t faced any such difficulties yet.

I know of at least a half-dozen exemplary Asian-American motel owners like Manoj who are helping preserve historic properties. The Mother Road could use a few more like them.