Development

How a simple question about American hotels led to ‘the greatest immigration story never told’

The Patel Motel Story is a new short documentary co-directed and narrated by Amar Shah, exploring the extraordinary rise of Indian American motel owners in the United States. Premiering at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, the film traces how Indian immigrants—many from Gujarat and sharing the surname Patel—came to own more than 60% of the country’s hotels and motels, despite representing only 1% of the population.

Hotelier & Hospitality Pioneer, Jon Blanchard, Launches JB Hotel Group

Visionary hotelier and hospitality pioneer Jon Blanchard announces the launch of JB Hotel Group, a Los Angeles based, real estate development, investment, and asset management firm dedicated to creating exceptional destinations that blend luxury, comfort, and timeless design. Formerly known as BLVD Hospitality, JB Hotel Group builds on Blanchard’s acclaimed legacy of transforming culturally rich, often overlooked markets into globally recognized hospitality landmarks.

Marriott International and Noble Investment Group Break Ground on Their 10th StudioRes Hotel, Scaling New Extended Stay Brand

Noble Investment Group (“Noble”) and Marriott International, Inc. (“Marriott”) today announced their 10th groundbreaking together on a StudioRes hotel. A milestone for both companies, this groundbreaking marks the continued expansion of Marriott’s new extended stay brand and advances Noble’s leadership in branded long-term accommodations, an institutional asset class at the intersection of hospitality and flexible stays.