Mr. Dilipkumar “Danny” Patel is a highly accomplished hotel developer, builder, manager and owner. Born and educated in India, Danny arrived in the US in 1987 equipped with a humble upbringing and a formidable determination to participate in the American Dream. Danny exemplifies the power of persistence, determination and hard but smart work and family values. As founder and CEO of PeachState Hospitality, he has built the company that currently boasts management of multiple Marriott and IHG branded hotels with a vision of more than doubling its portfolio over the next 5 years. No stranger to personal and business challenges, Danny has actively participated in and led the founding of a regional community bank. In addition, he has worked tirelessly in civic commitments by serving on the Boards and Chairs of the non-profit Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and Best Western International. He has also served on the Board of Leuva Patidar Samaj of USA (www.LPSofUSA.com), a non-profit social organization.

Danny’s expertise extends to:

• Class A Hotel Developments
• Hotel Construction
• Hotel Asset Management
• Hotel Operations Management
• Association Leadership
• Banking Operations

Professional Accomplishments

Starting in 1989 with the acquisition of a 16 room independent motel, Danny has developed in excess of 35 franchised and independent hotels throughout the southeastern United States. Currently, his ownership and management includes 10 Middle Georgia hotels, seven of which are branded by Marriott International and the remaining three are IHG branded. PeachState’s current development portfolio includes 9 additional hotels.

The American Pride Bank that Danny founded is headquartered in Macon, Georgia, with branches in Macon and Warner Robins. An avid proponent of community banking, Danny is a well-respected, household name on the Boards of most community banks in middle and south Georgia.

Danny has actively participated in the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association, and serves on the Design & Construction Advisory Council for Fairfield Inns by Marriott. He has written many papers and articles on management and social issues, spoken at several prestigious high profile hospitality events and been an active partner in local and national political and community service fund raising initiatives.

Danny’s Professional Accomplishments include:

• Founder & CEO, PeachState Hospitality, LLC
• Founder & Chairman, American Pride Bank
• Chairman, Asian American Hotel Owners Association – AAHOA (2007)
• Chairman, Best Western International (2014)
• Secretary, LPS of USA

Personal Profile

Danny, his wife and two children live in Warner Robins, Georgia. Danny is passionate about maintaining a high level of honesty, integrity and accountability in everything he pursues.

Bobby Patel is responsible for the construction, asset maintenance and capital expenditure functions of PeachState Hospitality and Divine Development. Bobby is an engineering major with 20+ years of hospitality experience. Over the last several years Bobby has managed profitability and been instrumental in setting standards at the PeachState hotels. He has ensured a high quality of operation and challenged the management team to take a critical look at how business is conducted, thereby maintaining a focused operation and meeting the needs of the customers. Bobby Patel is now exclusively responsible for the management of construction and opening of all new hotels.

Ricky Raman is the Chief Operating Officer for PeachState Hospitality, where he is responsible for overall strategy and execution of the management, asset management, and development divisions of the company. Most recently, Ricky served as Vice President of Growth Management for PeachState Hospitality where he was responsible for creating and executing change management strategies to ensure their growth is aligned with the company’s vision, mission, and culture. Prior to joining PeachState Hospitality, Ricky was with Marriott International for 5 and a half years in the Americas division, on the Owner & Franchise Services team focusing on Marriott Select and Longer Stay Brands. Ricky is a member of the Atlanta Hospitality Alliance and the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association and is a routine speaker at various conferences within the hospitality industry.  He holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration and Finance from Mercer University and an MBA from The Terry College of Business of the University of Georgia with a focus on Real Estate Investment.