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Patel motels did not storm into America with fanfare. Nothing happened overnight. Owners of these motels arrived quietly from Gujarat, India. With small families, they entered the motel business with courage and took charge of roadside properties. With time, their journey became a national legacy. This journey is also the heart of the book Surat to San Francisco – Untold Stories of Patel Hoteliers from Surat, where the story of Gujarati hoteliers unfolds with grit and heart.
In the fall of 1942, Kanji Manchhu Desai, a Gujarati immigrant, leased a hotel in Sacramento. He came from modest roots in a village near Surat, worked hard, and believed this new land offers possibilities. He ran the hotel day and night – cleaned rooms, greeted travelers, fixed pipes, and learned the American hospitality system one guest at a time. His success inspired others from the Patel community to try the same idea.
Soon, another Gujarati, Nanalal Patel, arrived with another idea: community funding. No complex contracts. No high-interest loans. Just trust between families. This system helped new Indian Americans enter the hotel industry when banks refused them. That support opened doors to dozens of early motel owners.
Life in those properties meant effort without breaks. Children vacuumed halls after school. Parents worked front desks through the night. Families repaired old fixtures instead of calling contractors. They washed sheets, scrubbed floors, and ensured each guest felt welcome. Bit by bit, small profits appeared. Families reinvested every dollar back into improving the property.
In no time, Patel Motels got a reputation for hygiene, comfort, and hospitality. The number of returning customers was increasing, and besides, the motel’s mouth-to-mouth publicity was quite effective. The motel industry noticed something different happening.
There was no secret trick. Just values. Service mattered more than shine. Clean rooms counted over fancy decor. Trust mattered more than aggressive marketing. Owners treated guests the way they treated family back in Surat. They looked them in the eye, cared, and solved their problems on the spot.
The hospitality business changed because of this. Travelers on long highways began to prefer family-run motels. Other motel owners started copying this model. The hospitality sector slowly shifted toward efficiency, warmth, and personal attention.
The growth did not happen alone. New arrivals found guidance from those already running properties. Families helped one another. Cousins worked night shifts. Aunts prepared meals for staff. Older relatives watched the front desk while younger ones ran errands.
Because costs stayed low and standards stayed high, profits grew steadily. Owners expanded their business, buying a second motel, then a third. Before long, Patel Motels stretched across states and highways, each one built with pride and sweat.
By the 1970s and eighties, the movement became powerful. Indian Americans owned thousands of motels across the country. A hotel in Sacramento had triggered a wave of change that reached Texas, New Jersey, Florida, and beyond. Family-run operations became a potent force in the hospitality industry. Guests now expected fair prices, clean rooms, and friendly service, and Patel Motels delivered every time.
This rise also changed the common belief. People started seeing Indian Americans not just as workers but as business leaders and property owners. They helped revive failing motels and gave them new life. The hotel and motel landscape looked different now.
Gujarati culture shaped these spaces. Warm smiles. Chai (tea) brewing in the back room. Festivals celebrated in the lobby. Children studying near the office between helping with chores. These were not just motels. They were living homes, filled with laughter, struggles, and pride.
Guests felt comfort that went beyond a bed and a shower. They found kindness, patience, and care. That energy made Patel Motels stand out in a world that often felt rushed and transactional.
Nothing came easy. Many faced discrimination. Some dealt with unfair regulations. Banks rejected them. Competitors underestimated them. But they never stopped. They learned each rule and negotiated every contract. They also showed up early and stayed late. Their unity and resilience turned challenges into steppingstones.
Today, their success is massive. Yet, it never felt loud. It grew from rooms cleaned by hand, meals shared in small kitchen spaces, and ledger books balanced at midnight. These motels became a symbol of immigrant determination. They proved that ownership and dignity belong to everyone who works for it.
New generations now manage these properties. They study business, travel the world, and bring the latest technologies into operations. However, the roots stay the same. Family first. Guests valued. Work done with care. This balance of tradition and ambition keeps the legacy strong.
To feel the heartbeat behind these motels, explore Surat to San Francisco – Untold Stories of Patel Hoteliers from Surat. This book is written after interviewing more than 150 Patel hoteliers, capturing voices, sacrifices, and dreams that shaped the motel business in America.
It also reveals how families crossed oceans, built trust in a new land, and shaped the hospitality industry forever.
So, the rise of Patel Motels reminds every dreamer that beginnings don’t define limits. With community, courage, and consistency, small steps can transform entire industries. Dive into Surat to San Francisco – Untold Stories of Patel Hoteliers from Surat today and discover how far vision and family can take you. Let these stories inspire your own path.
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