As the owner of seven hotels across multiple brands and the Women Hoteliers Director at the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), Shetal Zina Patel moves with practiced efficiency. But beneath her meticulous approach lies a revolutionary spirit quietly transforming an industry.
"As a woman of color, gaining a seat at the table often required working twice as hard to be heard and recognized," Shetal tells the Women of Color Power List 2025. Yet this challenge became the catalyst for her most significant work.
Shetal's journey to hospitality leadership followed an unexpected path. After earning her Bachelor's in Business Finance and Management Science Information Systems from California State University, Fullerton, she spent over a decade as CFO of a litigation law firm, managing a team of over 30 employees and overseeing complex financial operations.
While thriving in corporate law, the entrepreneurial spark that would define her career was quietly kindling. "My entrepreneurial spirit led me to the hospitality industry, where I transitioned into hotel ownership," says Shetal. This pivot wasn't merely a career change – it was the beginning of a mission.
Today, Shetal and her family members co-own seven properties ranging from 20-75 rooms each across Choice, Red Roof, Motel 6, and independent hotels. As Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Anaya Hospitality, her financial acumen has transformed operational efficiency while enhancing guest experiences.
The statistics speak volumes: only one woman has served as Secretary of AAHOA. This stark reality reflects the barriers Shetal confronts daily in an industry where, as she notes, "many men often value their own experiences over those of women."
Rather than accept this imbalance, Shetal has transformed it into her mandate for change. Elected as AAHOA Women Hoteliers Director for the Western Division in April 2024, she has dramatically expanded the HEROwnership initiative, serving as it chair, into a national platform with events across multiple cities.
"I have championed women's empowerment in hospitality through education, mentorship, and networking," Shetal explains. Her advocacy extends beyond gender to address industry-wide challenges, fighting for "fair franchising, cost-effective solutions, and greater industry representation for independent and franchise hoteliers."
Despite her demanding professional life, Shetal maintains a grounding balance through family. Married to her college sweetheart, she is mother to a 14-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son. With characteristic humor, she includes their "first baby," a 20-year-old mini dachshund, in her family portrait.
This family-centered perspective informs her leadership approach. Understanding the unique challenges women face in balancing professional ambitions with personal responsibilities, she creates structures that support rather than penalize this reality.
"My background in corporate finance and law has helped drive organizational accountability and financial efficiency, ensuring a stronger, more inclusive, and future-ready hospitality industry," she states with the conviction of someone who has repeatedly transformed limitations into launching pads.
