Bharat Patel

Mr. Bharat Patel is co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Sun Development & Management Corporation, Indianapolis, Indiana. His reputation, experience and knowledge of the hospitality business are well known to industry insiders, national franchise companies, hotel and construction lenders. A recognized expert in design, value engineering, hotel development, construction, operations, franchising and financial deal structuring, Mr. Patel's opinions and advice are highly regarded and widely sought by trade publications, business editors, lenders and franchisors.

Due in large measure to Mr. Patel's strong but steady leadership, Sun Development has grown to 32 hotels, with an amazing 16 more scheduled to open throughout 2008 and 2009. As one who is no stranger to success in whatever he sets out to do, Mr. Patel has been able to impress upon his maturing organization the importance of "controlled growth, being market savvy, and working diligently every day to make the company the very best it can be." Through aggressive and intelligent land acquisitions in high-barrier-to-entry markets, Sun is successfully transitioning its portfolio mix to the more upscale families of brands of Hilton and Marriott as a strategy to ensure the long-term value and competitiveness of its core assets.

At age 19, Bharat Patel emigrated from India to the U.S., where he matriculated at the University of Southern Mississippi, Rutgers University and New Jersey Medical School, earning Bachelor's Degrees in microbiology and biochemistry and his Master's Degree in microbiology. At age 48, Mr. Patel is married, has two sons, and enjoys sports (Indianapolis Colts), competitive volleyball, history, flying and architecture.