More than half the motels in the US owned by Patels - get to know the…

Sarah J · 2025-10-05T10:36:49.000Z

The Patel Motel Story is a powerful short documentary that uncovers one of America’s least-known immigrant success stories — how thousands of Indian families, mostly from the Gujarati Patel community, came to own and transform the country’s motel and hotel landscape. What began in the 1940s with a few determined immigrants purchasing small, struggling roadside motels grew into a nationwide legacy. Through grit, family labor, and an unshakable belief in community support, these early pioneers turned an unfamiliar industry into a pathway for stability and prosperity. Today, Indian Americans own more than half of all U.S. motels — a statistic that reveals both the scale and the quiet persistence of this achievement. Directed by Amar Shah and Rahul Rohatgi , the film blends archival footage, interviews, and personal narratives to tell the “greatest immigration story never told.” It captures the emotional depth behind the statistics — families living in motel backrooms, children balancing schoolwork with front-desk duties, and generations building wealth through sacrifice and shared effort. Beyond a story of business success, The Patel Motel Story is about resilience, belonging, and the reinvention of the American Dream. It highlights how one community’s determination reshaped an entire industry — and how their story continues to inspire new waves of entrepreneurs today. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/04/travel/patel-motel-story-hotel-history-cec

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More than half the motels in the US owned by Patels - get to know the… | SEINET