Jay Patel
-Jay S. Patel, CHA-
Jay is the CEO of LHS Companies, which owns and operates multiple hotel properties with 580 rooms within the Florida-Alabama Gulf Coast area. Mr. Patel along with the companies represents owns and operates seven franchised hotels with flags of such brands as La Quinta, Comfort, Ramada, Days, and Econo. Mr. Patel also brings 20 years of hotel experience to LHS Companies. He is also one of the principals of the LHS-EV electric car company.
During his tenure he has actively participated with the Asian-American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), aahoa.com in past years he has served on the Board of Directors, and served on the Industry Relations Committee. Additionally, Mr. Patel in his early years has also served on the Board of Directors of the American Franchisee Association (AFA), Indo-American Hospitality Association (IAHA), and Small Business Administration (SBA) Northern Florida District Advisory Council. Jay is also one of the very few Asian Indians who was elected as a 1996 Delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business (WHCSB).
-The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (“AAHOA")-
AAHOA is THE voice of owners in the hospitality industry. Founded in 1989, AAHOA is now one of the fastest-growing organizations in the industry, with over 8,800 members owning more than 22,000 hotels that total $60 billion in property value.
Currently he also serves as a Board of Directors for the National Franchise Mediation Program (NFMP) on a national level who encourages Franchise Company to mediate rather then litigate its franchise disputes; today many large fortune 500 companies have join the NFMP such as Holiday Inns, Wyndham Worldwide, MacDonald.
The national franchise mediation program was designed to help franchises resolve conflict without the cost and public relations hassle of litigation. While hopefully you will never need their services, the NFMP is a great organization that can help you minimize cost, expense and bad image. He Work with a WSI consultant to not only prevent bad things, but encourage good things to happen with your franchise image. The National Franchise Mediation Program provides a specific step-by-step approach to dispute resolution for both franchisors and franchisees. (Franchise relations: one community, one goal.
-National Association of Black Hotel Owners and Operators (NAHOOD)-
Jay Patel is also the co-founder and current Board of Directors for the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD), nabhood.com. This organization has been exclusively created by Mr. Patel, and several well recognized members of the African American Lodging Community Owners and Developers to represent African American Hotel Owners and Developers to encourage and promote professional growth and create a forum for the exchange of ideas within the Lodging Industry.
NABHOOD’s mission, to increase the number of African-Americans developing, managing, operating and owning hotels; increase vendor opportunities & executive level jobs for minorities, thereby creating wealth within the African-American community. Designed for interested people within the hospitality industry, and want to work with people that will help them realize their dreams and make a difference.
Jay also is actively involved in his community by currently serving as the Chairman for the Wedgwood School Advisory Council for the past two years and prior to this position, he served as Chairman for two years for the School Advisory Council for Longleaf Elementary.
After realizing the concerns franchisees are experiencing in franchising today, Jay has also written a book entitled: FRANCHISING: Is It Fair? A Guide on How to Negotiate an Equitable Franchise Agreement. Franchise industry experts have hailed Patel’s book as a breakthrough in Franchise work. In 1998 a special award was created and awarded to Mr. Patel, known as the Outstanding Service Award presented by the AAHOA for his bold efforts in tackling a tough issue in a straight forward candid manner.
The book teaches franchisees on how to negotiate specific contract previsions that are one sided and in favor of the franchisors only, Patel wrote the original AAHOA 12 Points of friar franchising that are now an industry
Jay believes in the importance of supporting equitable franchise industry issues with emphasis on the future of Franchising to second generation hoteliers. Jay has accepted the responsibility of encouraging and educating both Franchisees and Franchisors.
Jay Patel lives in Pensacola Florida with his wife, two children and his mother.
