Ed Brock is an award-winning journalist who has worked for various U.S. newspapers and magazines, including with American City & County magazine, a national publication based in Atlanta focused on city and county government issues. He is currently assistant editor at Asian Hospitality magazine, the top U.S. publication for Asian American hoteliers.
Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Ed began his career in journalism in the early 1990s as a reporter for a chain of weekly newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama. After a stint teaching English in Japan, Ed returned to the U.S. and moved to the Atlanta area where he returned to journalism, coming to work at Asian Hospitality in 2016.
WITH THE TENNESSEE River winding through downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, as a backdrop, Mitch Patel, president and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group, welcomed nearly 300 guests to a formal gala recognizing his company’s 25th anniversary on Thursday. Among the guests were local officials, brand leaders, some of Patel’s fellow hoteliers and the VHG employees who he said made it all possible.
“I know many of you are tired and have early flights tomorrow, so I'll do my best to keep this short but I have a lot of people to thank, I'm sorry,” Patel said in his speech near the end of the gala, following many presentations and a full dinner on the terrace at the Hunter Museum of American Art.
The museum is next door to The Edwin Hotel, one of VHG’s several boutique hotels in Chattanooga alone. Some guests for the gala also enjoyed complimentary housing at The Edwin for the special anniversary event, which was announced in March.
Founded in 1997, Vision Hospitality began with a Homewood Suites by Hilton, Chattanooga/Hamilton Place Patel developed in Chattanooga, where the company is still headquartered. Then, as the U.S. economy struggled to overcome the 9/11 attacks of 2001, Patel went on to develop 10 more hotels.
“Our story started 25 years ago, this week,” Patel said. “One small hotel, but one very big dream. It's been an incredible journey. From these humble beginnings to where we are today, this journey would not be possible without these amazing men and women in this room this evening. So please bear with me, I have a lot of people to thank.”
Presentations for the evening began with a proclamation from Tim Kelly, mayor of the Chattanooga, and Jim Coppinger, mayor of surrounding Hamilton County, declaring April 21 as Vision Hospitality Group Day.
“From small bakeries to logistics to paving machines, we've always kind of figured things out in Chattanooga, and Mitch is a perfect example,” Kelly said. “He started Vision Hospitality when he was just 27 with his first hotel here, and it has grown that to about 16 hotels just in the Chattanooga area, $350 million of investment here and tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue.”
Tim Kelly, mayor of the Chattanooga, left, and Jim Coppinger, mayor of surrounding Hamilton County, right, present a proclamation declaring April 21 as Vision Hospitality Group Day to Mitch Patel, center.
Coppinger said Patel and VHG did much to help the county make it through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Mitch served on the task force that we put together and was an integral part,” Coppinger said. “They called in every week, we did all this virtually, but Mitch played a big part in that, sharing what the vision was for the community, not only is as an entrepreneur of hotels but also for the tourism industry. It was really important to have his insight.”
Other VIPs at the gala included Liam Brown, group president of the Americas for Marriott International; Danny Hughes, president of the Americas for Hilton Hotels; and Chip Rogers, president and CEO at the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Other hoteliers present included Al Patel, president and CEO of Baywood Hotels in Columbia, Maryland; D.J. Rama, president and CEO of Auro Hotels in Greenville, South Carolina; and former AAHOA Chairwoman Jagruti Panwala who also is president and CEO of Wealth Protection Services in New Hope, Pennsylvania.
Mitch Patel’s family, wife Parul and children Aleyna, Arjun and Ishani, also attended the gala.
“There is no more important role, no more important role in my life than those of a son, husband and a father,” Patel told his family. “I hope I can be the same role model for you as my parents have been for me.”
As VHG’s market cap approaches $1 billion, Patel plans to expand the company’s footprint through strategic investments, acquisitions, and repositioning opportunities. He also aims to continue working with current partners as well as building new relationships in targeted markets.
“This milestone is a great opportunity to pause to reflect on the past gratitude, and also look out into the future. Together we've accomplished a lot these past 25 years,” Patel said in conclusion. “But our journey is not over. Even though our industry just went through an unprecedented crisis, I've learned that you can never bet against the American spirit. There's an African proverb says smooth seas have never made a skilled sailor. We're stronger, smarter, more efficient, more resilient than ever. This is a sustainable industry with tremendous opportunities.”
Peachtree Hotel to Open in Summer 2026 with 117 Extended-Stay Rooms
PEACHTREE GROUP HELD a “topping out” for its Residence Inn by Marriott in downtown San Antonio, Texas, marking completion of the structural phase of the 10-story, 117-room hotel. The property, co-developed with Austin-based Merritt Development Group, is scheduled to open in summer 2026.
The extended-stay hotel will be owned by Peachtree and managed by its hospitality management division, the company said in a statement.
“Reaching the topping out stage is a meaningful moment for any development,” said Greg Friedman, Peachtree’s managing principal and CEO. “This Residence Inn reflects our commitment to delivering purpose-built hotels in markets where we see long-term demand. San Antonio’s mix of tourism, education, and business activity makes it a suitable location for extended-stay lodging.”
Atlanta-based Peachtree is led by Friedman, Jatin Desai as managing principal and CFO, and Mitul Patel as principal. Merritt Development is led by Jeremy David Merritt, president.
The Residence Inn is near the Riverwalk, the University of Texas at San Antonio’s downtown campus, and corporate and government offices, the statement said. It will include a fitness center, meeting rooms, and outdoor spaces.
The property is being developed in a Qualified Opportunity Zone, aligning with Peachtree’s strategy to invest in underserved areas, the statement said. The firm is an active hotel developer in QOZs, with nine hotels opened and five, including this Residence Inn, under construction.
“This project combines strong market fundamentals with community impact,” Friedman said. “We’re proud to deliver an extended-stay hotel to a growing urban market while advancing our commitment to long-term economic growth in underserved areas.”
In May, Peachtree opened an office in Austin, Texas, its first outside Atlanta. The move supports its strategy focused on the Texas economy and commercial real estate. The company said the office aligns with its long-term plan, with investments in Dallas, San Antonio and Austin.
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AIR INDIA WILL reduce international service on widebody aircraft by 15 percent through at least mid-July, according to media reports. The decision comes less than a week after the June 12 crash of an Air India airliner carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members in Ahmedabad, India, that killed 246 but left one survivor among the passengers.
The airline said the reduced service due to the safety inspection of aircraft and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have disrupted operations, resulting in 83 flight cancellations over the past six days, according to ABC News. Passengers can either reschedule their flights at no additional cost or receive a full refund.
“The reductions arise from the decision to voluntary undertake enhanced pre-flight safety checks, as well as accommodate additional flight durations arising from airspace closures in the Middle East,” the airline said in a press release. “The objective is to restore schedule stability and minimizing last-minute inconvenience to passengers."
Air India also said 26 out of the 33 Dreamliners in its fleet have now been returned to service following the required safety inspections by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, according to ABC. The airline also is performing "enhanced safety checks" on its Boeing 777 fleet as a precaution and is cooperating with authorities.
Air India flight AI171 went down in a crowded area near the airport shortly after takeoff. While the causes of the Ahmedabad crash are still under investigation, Reuters reported that India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said spot checks in May on three Air India Airbus planes found that they were operated despite mandatory inspections being overdue on the "critical emergency equipment" of escape slides.
In one case, DGCA found that the inspection of an Airbus A320 jet was delayed by more than a month before being carried out on May 15, but data shows that during the delay the plane flew to several international destinations. Another case, involving an Airbus A319 used on domestic routes, according to Reuters, showed checks were over three months late, while a third showed an inspection was two days late.
"The above cases indicate that aircraft were operated with expired or unverified emergency equipment, which is a violation of standard airworthiness and safety requirements," the DGCA report said.
EIGHT LEADERS OF hihotels by Hospitality International, Inc. are being recognized by the company for their combined 121 years of service. The company was established in 1982 as an alternative to other, established brands.
“This kind of long-term commitment is rare in today’s business world, and it’s a testament to the type of culture we’ve built at hihotels,” Guimbellot said. “Our leadership team is deeply invested in the company’s mission and the success of our franchisees. We empower each other to lead with integrity, innovate with confidence, and serve with heart. That’s the foundation of our long-standing stability.”
Guimbellot also said the company’s longevity was due to its leadership team’s shared commitment to the same values and the hotel owners it serves. Their experience has allowed hihotels to navigate industry changes while delivering support to the company’s nationwide network of properties. Regular strategy sessions and open lines of communication also promoted forward-thinking solutions, the company said.
“It has been a privilege to be part of an organization where every voice matters,” Vakharia said. “Over 25 years, I’ve seen firsthand how our collaborative, family-like culture helps franchisees thrive. We don’t just build businesses—we build relationships.”
The company offers five economy brands: Scottish Inns, Red Carpet Inn, Master Hosts Inns, Downtowner Inns, and Passport Inn. It employs a lean, flexible structure to encourage initiative and independent decision-making within each department.
In April, hihotels marked the second anniversary of its franchisee advisory council, which supports policy development, new initiatives, and brand operations. The council includes five franchisee hotel owners, one vendor and Guimbellot.
ICE Reverses Decision to Pause Raids on Key Industries
U.S. IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS have reversed enforcement limits at hotels, farms, restaurants and food processing plants days after issuing them, following conflicting statements by President Donald Trump, according to Reuters. ICE leadership told field office heads on Monday it would withdraw last week's directive that paused raids on those businesses.
ICE officials were told a daily quota of 3,000 arrests—10 times the average last year under former President Joe Biden—would remain in effect, two former officials said in the report. ICE field office heads raised concerns they could not meet the quota without raids at the previously exempted businesses, Reuters reported, citing a source.
Some ICE officials left the call uncertain, and it appeared they would still need to proceed cautiously with raids at the previously exempted businesses, the former officials said.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said ICE would continue making arrests at worksites but did not respond to questions about the new guidance. "There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE’s efforts," she said in a statement Tuesday.
Trump took office in January aiming to deport large numbers of immigrants in the U.S. illegally. ICE doubled the pace of arrests under Trump compared with last year but remains below the level needed to deport millions.
Top White House aide Stephen Miller ordered ICE in late May to increase arrests to 3,000 per day, leading to raids that targeted some businesses.
Trump said in a Truth Social post on Thursday that farms and hotel businesses had been affected by the increased enforcement but also claimed, without evidence, that criminals were trying to fill those jobs. ICE issued guidance that day pausing most immigration enforcement at agricultural, hospitality and food processing businesses.
What is the Indo-American Hotelier Exhibit in San Francisco?
THE TENDERLOIN MUSEUM in San Francisco is launching the Indo-American Hotelier History Exhibit, the first permanent U.S. exhibition of its kind. The exhibit, opening in 2026 as part of the museum’s expansion, will document Indian immigrants’ role in the U.S. hospitality industry, beginning in San Francisco’s Tenderloin.
It will document the role of Indian immigrants in the U.S. hospitality industry, beginning in San Francisco’s Tenderloin, AAHOA said in a statement.
“To celebrate our achievements in realizing the American Dream and our leadership in the American lodging industry, we, the Indian American Hotelier Committee, in collaboration with the Tenderloin Museum, present this exhibit,” the committee said in a joint statement. “It is dedicated to recognizing, honoring and revering the pioneers and foundational figures of Indian American hotel history.”
The exhibition is supported by the Indo-American Hotelier Exhibition Funds Development Committee, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, AAHOA and the AAHOA Charitable Foundation.
It is developed with a committee of Indian American hoteliers connected to the Tenderloin and will trace the shift from managing single room occupancy hotels to building a national presence in the hospitality industry. It will document the work and experiences of multiple generations through first-person accounts, artifacts and historical records.
A central feature of the exhibit is the historic book “From Surat to San Francisco: How the Patels from Gujarat Established the Hotel Business in California 1942–1960” by Mahendra Doshi, AAHOA said. Based on eight years of interviews and research, the book details how three families created a network of Indian-owned hotels and helped establish a path for broader industry involvement.
As part of the museum’s 6,850-square-foot expansion, which includes a contemporary art gallery, a neon sign gallery and updated core exhibitions, the Indo-American Hotelier History Exhibit adds South Asian immigrant stories to the Tenderloin’s historical record.
The public is invited to support the museum’s expansion and the exhibit through contributions that will help document and preserve Indian American hotel history in San Francisco and beyond.