
1:05
The video explains how a small group of Patel immigrants who arrived in the United States in the early 1970s built a motel empire that now controls about 70% of the country's motels. Their strategy began with buying tiny, low‑cost motels where the family lived on‑site and performed all operational tasks, allowing them to undercut competitors and achieve near‑full occupancy. This family‑run, cost‑free model was replicated across generations as nephews and children bought their own properties, eventually scaling up to own major hotel chains such as Hilton, Marriott, and Westin. The Patel entrepreneurs have also diversified beyond lodging into retail, notably acquiring and operating 7‑Eleven stores.










