Americas Best Value Inn? is proud to announce that one of its own, Bharat Patel, earned the highest honors in the second annual Procter & Gamble Professional “Family Hotelier of the Year” award competition. Patel, the director of operations at his family?s ABVI in?El Monte, CA, received the award at the recent Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) Annual Convention in Chicago.
The Family Hotelier of the Year Award recognizes AAHOA members who contribute to their communities and have the highest levels of skill, determination, and sacrifice necessary to run successful family hotel businesses. Patel was selected as a regional finalist and then, in the first year that the public was invited to have a say in the grand prize winner selection, received the greatest number of online votes.
Patel is active in his community, serving as chairman of the City Planning Commission, as a volunteer police reserve member, and as a Kiwanis Club member for more than 10 years. ?He remains committed to helping those less fortunate, delivering turkey baskets to needy families each year at?Thanksgiving. ?In addition, he is a co-founder of the El Monte Helping Hands Program, begun in January 2006, where hoteliers donate two room nights per month to families in need of lodging. ?To date, the program has donated more than 250 room nights valued at nearly $21,000.
?Bharat is truly deserving of this honor and I couldn?t be happier that he won,? said?Roger Bloss, the Founder, President and CEO of Vantage Hospitality, which also includes the Canadas Best Value Inn?, Chinas Best Value Inn?, Value Inn Worldwide? and Lexington Collection? brands. ?Bharat has been an exemplary ABVI member with a highly rated property and strong presence in the community. It?s very exciting to have someone from the Vantage family win such a prestigious award.?
Patel received $5,000 in prize money, a portion of which he donated to the San Gabriel Valley Hospitality Association’s Charity Golf Classic on Sept. 10 that will benefit City of Hope, Rebuilding Together, and the SGVHA Scholarship Fund. He also received up to $5,000 to cover the three-day, two-night trip for his family to attend the 2010 AAHOA Annual Convention.