Summary:
- The BWH Hotels board elected Viral “Victor” Patel as chairperson for 2026.
- Patel became owner of the Best Western Corbin Inn in Corbin, Kentucky, at 26.
- He served as an ambassador for AAHOA.
The BWH Hotels board of directors elected Viral “Victor” Patel as chairperson for 2026. The board also elected Rajesh Patel as vice chairperson, Santosh Khanjee as secretary-treasurer and welcomed Rebecca Driggs as a new board member.
Patel became owner of the Best Western Corbin Inn in Corbin, Kentucky, at 26 and still owns the property, BWH said in a statement. He has more than 25 years of industry experience.
“Victor is a trusted leader whose guidance will be critical as BWH Hotels embarks on a transformational year,” said Larry Cuculic, BWH president and CEO.
Patel said he is honored to serve as chairman.
“Alongside our leadership team and fellow directors, I’m excited to help shape the future of our company—delivering hospitality that makes every guest feel welcome and creating lasting impact for our hoteliers and the communities we serve,” Patel said.
Patel has served as board chair of the Corbin Tourism & Convention Commission, was the first hotelier to chair the Kentucky Travel Industry Association and served as an AAHOA ambassador.
In 2024, BWH elected Steve Wahrlich as board chair for 2025, Viral “Victor” Patel as vice chair and Rajesh “Raj” Patel as secretary-treasurer.
