Ravi Patel, who served as AAHOA chairman from 1992-93, died on Jan. 21. Ravi was a founding member of the association as well as chairman of Charlotte, N.C.-based management and development group SREE Hotels.
AAHOA issued a statement extending condolences to Ravi Patel's family, friends and colleagues.
"The AAHOA family is deeply saddened by the loss of a true visionary and a foundational pillar of our association," AAHOA Chairman Kamalesh (KP) Patel said in the statement. "Ravi was not just a leader; he was an architect of this organization. During his tenure as Chairman, he took a formative idea and gave it a home—literally and figuratively—by drafting our bylaws and establishing our first headquarters. His transition from chemical engineering to hospitality is a testament to the American Dream, and his legacy lives on in the 30-plus hotels he built and the thousands of hoteliers he inspired."
Ravi Patel's journey in the hospitality industry began in 1980 with the acquisition of a roadside motel in Florence, S.C.. Drawing on his engineering background, he renovated and repositioned the property as an EconoLodge. He then founded SREE Hotels with Chandra Patel.
As AAHOA chairman from 1992-1993, Ravi Patel focused on providing hoteliers with the tools to gain professional expertise in ownership and management.
A native of Nadi, Fiji Islands, Ravi studied chemistry and physics at Saint Xavier's College before earning his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Auburn University. Before his career in hospitality, he was an engineer for Goodyear.
"Ravi's commitment to education and his 'do-it-yourself' work ethic defined the early spirit of AAHOA," said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake. "He believed that through knowledge and unity, our community could achieve anything. He was a mentor to so many and will be deeply missed. We extend our prayers and deepest condolences to his wife, his children and the entire SREE Hotels family."
Ravi lived in Charlotte, N.C., where he remained active as SREE's chairman.