JK Patel immigrated to the United States in 1978 from Kisumu, Kenya with his wife and two young children. In Kenya, Mr. Patel had worked with Barclays Bank where he served as senior loan officer. That strong financial background served him well when he bought his first hotel in Aiken, South Carolina in 1979: a full-service Ramada Inn. Since then, Mr. Patel has developed, owned and operated more than 30 hotels throughout the Southeast. Today, Mr. Patel still enjoys an active role in the day-to-day operations of the company. In 1996, Mr. Patel had the distinct honor of serving as chairman of the Asian American Hotels Owners Association (AAHOA), an organization that currently boasts a membership of more than 19,500. JK Patel currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, Geeta. He enjoys traveling with his family and friends and spending time with his four grandchildren who live close by.
Current role