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Premiering at the Tribeca Festival in June 2025, a new short film, The Patel Motel Story, reveals how Indian immigrants, primarily Gujaratis named Patel, build an Empire. Despite representing only 1% of the population, this group owns more than 60% of American hotels. Narrated by Amar Shah, who grew up as a “counter kid” at his parents’ Florida gas station, the film explores family scenes at motels, including graduations, weddings, and birthdays.
Shah, once embarrassed by the “rough” work, now views it as empire-building. Co-produced with Milan Chakraborty and Rahul Rohatgi, it answers the question: “How did this begin?” through interviews and historical research.
Desai’s Advice Triggers Motels
The story starts with Kanji Manchhu Desai, an undocumented immigrant from Trinidad who arrived in 1934. After completing his fieldwork in California, Desai managed a Japanese American hotel during World War II internment, and then leased his own in San Francisco in 1942. He advised Gujaratis: “Lease a hotel.” Desai provided housing, loans, and guidance, helping families establish businesses. Taking from Mahendra K. Doshi’s book, “Surat to San Francisco,” the movie shows Desai as the godfather of Indian hotels.
Family Experiences and Growth
Jyoti Sarolia’s family followed Desai’s lead. Her great-uncles arrived in 1952, motivated by his letters. Sarolia answered phones at 9, cleaned rooms at 11, and ran hotels by 14. She said it was our play area, remembering hide-and-seek in hallways. Named for Ellis Island, her Ellis Hospitality Group now runs eight hotels spanning four generations. According to its reports, the AAHOA, with 20,000 members, produces billions of dollars in income and jobs. Hotel youngsters built resilience that resulted in success by juggling tasks and play.
Film Director’s Failed Stories
Shah, once a producer for ESPN, reconnected with his roots. He said that our parents’ generation is aging and stressed the need to maintain their fortitude. At AAHOACON, the Super Bowl of hospitality, they encountered owners with accounts of sacrifice. Although the movie corrects the narrative, not all Patels have to be related. Hasan Minhaj jokingly stated they own every motel. Plans for a docuseries or feature film include clips of diverse Patels, showcasing American dreams. On X, TribecaFilm praised the premiere on June 15, 2025, as “eye-opening.”
The film refers to it as “the greatest immigration story never told,” one that has been overlooked in history books. Patels’ dominance stems from their community ties and the opportunities that arose after World War II. Families made empires out of leases from Sacramento to Florida. Shah thought, They were creating real estate empires, not trapped. The story inspires, noting stability from counter children to corporate titans.
