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0 commentsFor decades, the name “Patel” has been synonymous with the American motel industry. In cities and along highways across the United States, from modest roadside inns to mid-tier hotels, a striking number of establishments are owned and operated by members of a single Indian community.
While the surname may appear to many as just another name on a signboard, it tells a larger story — one of migration, resilience, and enterprise.
A Journey Begins
In the western Indian city of Surat, 73-year-old Rameshbhai Patel recalls the moment in 1965 when he first considered leaving India for the United States.
“I got a letter from my cousin,” he says, unfolding an aged aerogramme from his drawer. “He told me there were motels for sale in California, going cheap. He said, ‘Come.’ So I went.”
Rameshbhai was among the first wave of Gujaratis — and specifically, Patels — who made their way from India to the US in the wake of America’s 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act. The new law removed earlier racial quotas, allowing skilled and family-sponsored immigrants from Asia to enter the country in greater numbers.
Many Patels who arrived during this period found employment through family connections, often starting out by working the front desks, cleaning rooms and managing the day-to-day operations of small, struggling motels.
By the 1980s, Patels had moved from workers to owners, forming what would become an influential, though informal, network of motel proprietors.
From Surat to San Francisco
The route from Surat to San Francisco — and then to smaller towns across California and beyond — became a well-worn migratory path. Family members sponsored relatives, who in turn brought others over, creating a chain migration model that helped sustain both labour and investment across generations.
Many early immigrants came with little financial capital but contributed sweat equity, working long hours while living on-site to keep costs low.
Kamlesh Patel, now the owner of six motels across California’s Central Valley, describes those early years. “We slept in the storage rooms,” he says. “We cooked on hot plates behind the front desk. The whole family worked — children included.”
The model was simple but effective: buy underperforming motels, live frugally, and reinvest profits into additional properties. Through informal lending groups and community support, Patels shared resources and knowledge, establishing a cooperative ethos that fuelled their growth.
‘Patel Motel Cartel’
By the 1990s, the phenomenon was so widespread that travellers across the US began referring colloquially to the so-called “Patel Motel Cartel” — a term that, while never officially organised, captured the scale of their presence.
According to the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), nearly 70% of all Indian-American owned motels in the US are owned by Patels. It is estimated that over half of the country’s budget motels are run by Indian-Americans, the vast majority of whom trace their ancestry to Gujarat.
Dr Pawan Dhingra, professor of sociology at Amherst College and author of Life Behind the Lobby, explains that the Patels’ success came not only from hard work but also from recognising overlooked opportunities.
“These were properties many Americans didn’t want. They were rundown, remote, and needed constant maintenance,” he says. “But the Patels saw them as a way in — a way to build something, even if it meant doing every job themselves.”
The American Dream, Revisited
Over the years, successive generations of Patels have taken the reins of the family business. While some children of motel owners have pursued careers in medicine, law and technology, others have chosen to modernize the family trade.
Aarti Patel, whose parents owned a roadside inn in Fresno, studied hospitality at a leading US university before returning to manage the family’s growing portfolio of properties.
“We’ve introduced smart systems, data-driven pricing, and sustainable operations,” she says. “But the core is the same — it’s family, it’s service, and it’s sacrifice.”
The transition from mom-and-pop operations to professionally managed businesses is now well underway. Many Patel-owned properties are part of larger hotel chains or are operated under franchise agreements with major international brands.
Giving Back
As their influence has grown, so too has the community’s philanthropic reach. Many families continue to support development projects in Gujarat — funding schools, hospitals, and water infrastructure. In the United States, Patel organizations have supported disaster relief efforts, civic causes, and educational initiatives.
Temples, cultural centers, and community associations established by the diaspora now form a vital part of local life in cities like San Francisco, Dallas and Chicago.
For sociologist Vineeta Gupta, the Patel story reflects a broader pattern in the immigrant experience.
“They arrived with very little, adapted quickly, and built intergenerational wealth,” she says. “What sets them apart is the degree to which they’ve remained tightly networked and mutually supportive.”
Challenges Ahead
Despite their success, Patel motel owners face new challenges — rising real estate prices, increased competition from corporate chains, and shifts in travel patterns due to online booking platforms and the growth of short-term rentals like Airbnb.
There are also generational transitions to navigate. As younger Patels enter other industries, some families are questioning whether the motel business can or should remain central to their identity.
But for pioneers like Rameshbhai, the legacy is clear.
“I came here with $100 and no English,” he says. “Today, my grandchildren are studying in top universities. We built this life — one room, one guest, one day at a time.”
It is a quiet revolution — built not by headlines or handouts, but by determination, discipline, and a belief in the promise of hard work.
Surat to San Francisco – Untold Stories of Patel Hoteliers from Surat
Author and Historian Mahendra Doshi has captured a vital chapter of Indian-American history in his compelling book, Surat to San Francisco: How the Patels from Gujarat Established the Hotel Business in California 1942–1960. As the title suggests, the book traces the earliest journeys of the Patel community from southern Gujarat—particularly from the city of Surat—to the United States, where they laid the foundation for what would become a powerful legacy in the hospitality industry.
Through meticulous research and first-hand interviews, Doshi uncovers the untold stories of those who left behind their modest lives and undertook a long, uncertain journey in pursuit of the American Dream. Their paths were often far from direct—many passed through East Africa, the UK, or other parts of the world before landing in California. What binds them is a shared spirit of resilience, resourcefulness, and unwavering commitment to family and community.
Doshi’s work sheds light on how these early migrants overcame cultural and economic barriers to buy and run small motels, often living on-site and working tirelessly. It’s not just a business story—it’s a human story, one of survival, ingenuity, and transformation. Surat to San Francisco offers a rare and essential window into a community that reshaped America’s hotel landscape.
This feature explores the lesser-known, deeply personal journeys of Patel hoteliers who migrated from Surat, Gujarat to cities across California and beyond. It chronicles how ordinary families, driven by economic necessity and entrepreneurial ambition, left their homes in South Gujarat in the 1960s and 70s to seek a better future in the United States.
Through intimate stories of sacrifice, resilience, and cultural adaptation, the piece sheds light on how these pioneers brought run-down motels, often living and working in the same space, and gradually built a multibillion-dollar presence in the American hospitality industry.
Focusing on the voices and memories of first-generation migrants as well as their children, Surat to San Francisco reveals how this remarkable community shaped not only the business landscape but also redefined the American Dream — room by room, guest by guest, and generation by generation.
Learn More about the Book: Surat to San Francisco – Untold Stories Of Patel Hoteliers From Surat: https://patelhotelhistory.com/product/surat-to-san-francisco/
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