About us

Founder & CEO

Roy Patel moved to the United States in July 1977. He began working with his in-laws at their hotel where he learned about the hotel business. He was eager to purchase his own place and make something of himself. In less than a year, he purchased his first hotel in Livingston, CA. He got some more hands on experience with this property before selling it a little over a year later. His next hotel was a slightly larger, but run down property in Redlands, CA. Here, he redeveloped the property and learned the basics of construction along the way. Two years later, the family decided to sell the hotel and pursue business in the South for a change. He moved to Yoakum, Texas and bought another closed property and began redeveloping it. Here he learned a lot about updating electrical and plumbing for a hotel. Once redeveloped, he sold it in 1982 and moved to Mississippi. He sought an opportunity with his cousin, who had land in a great location in Vicksburg, MS. In March 1983, after much speculation they decided to build their very first hotel. In December of the same year, they completed and opened their very first franchise hotel with 50 rooms.

From that point onwards, Roy has continued to develop new properties constantly seeking new opportunities. Along this journey, he has developed many relationships and partnerships. As the company was getting larger, there was a need for a better infrastructure for the future. In 2003, Roy and his partners founded Southern Hospitality Services, LLC to manage this growth. Through this management company, they were able to centralize operations and accounting. Later in 2010, Roy and his partners decided to integrate the construction process, cutting out the costs of general contractors in the process of development. This lead to the founding of SHS Development, Inc.

Currently, Roy Patel is still directly involved in the development and management of the company’s portfolio. Throughout his growth, his family has supported and immersed themselves as well. His wife, Gita, assisted in operations in any way that she could. In 2003 she took on the challenge of operating the company’s first Marriott franchise. She operated the property for nine years and is now retired, along the way winning Hotel of the Year. His son and daughter, Jignesh and Shetal, are also heavily involved in the business. He is also the proud grandfather of three boys. He enjoys playing golf, travelling, and has a passion for volunteering with BAPS, a socio-spiritual worldwide Hindu organization.

Chief Operating Officer (Southern Region)

Nash Patel came to the United States from England in 1979. After attending Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he earned a Bachelors of Science in Microbiology, he entered the hotel industry in 1987. He has developed over 13 hotels since then. In 2010, he obtained a contractor’s license in the state of Louisiana, and he continues to develop and run the operations in the region. He has become an integral part of the business community, previously serving as Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer of West Monroe Convention Visitors Bureau, previous Board member of the West Monroe Chamber, and has sat on the Hilton Advisory Board for Technology, and has served as past president of Monroe/West Monroe Hotel Association.

Nash’s family is also involved in SHS. His wife, Saroj ‘Sue’, overlooks the operation of several properties in North Louisiana.

His oldest daughter and son-in-law, Sonya and Ankit, operate the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Southaven, MS.

His son, Ross, currently serves as a VP of Development in the company and oversees construction in the southern states.

His younger daughter earned a master’s degree in PR and Corporate Communications from Georgetown University and is currently pursuing a successful career in the corporate world.

Chief Operating Officer (West Region)

BJ Patel came to America on December 1999 at the age of 23. Prior to this, he had obtained his Bachelors in Chemistry in India. Soon after he arrived in America, he began working at an independent motel in Jackson, MS and worked his way up. Within a year, he began training to operate a franchised property in Pearl, MS. In November 2001, he was moved to California to operate the Hampton Inn at San Francisco Airport. Since then he has assisted in the management of all the California properties. Upon the founding of our development company, BJ took on the role of the Chief Development Officer. Later his role shifted to Chief Operating Officer.

Currently, he sources and procures FF&E and building materials for all construction projects and is directly involved with operations and development in the west region.

He is married to Shetal Patel and has two boys. He also enjoys playing golf and traveling.

Chief Compliance Officer

Jignesh Patel was born and raised in Mississippi. He attended the University of Mississippi and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Human Resources in 2009. He is the son of Roy Patel and has been involved in the business at a very young age. After graduating from Ole Miss, he joined the company with his father. He trained in various positions and managed the Hampton Inn for a few years. He has helped open several hotels throughout his career as well. In 2013, he took on the Chief Compliance Officer position. He currently oversees all of the properties’ compliance with franchises, legal, company standards, & lenders.

In addition, Jignesh is married and father of two boys. His wife, Jessica, is also in the business and currently assists as Director of Sales in the company. He enjoys travelling and has a great passion for sports.

Chief Technology Officer

Vic Patel graduated from B.V.M. Engineering College at Vallabh Vidhyanagar in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Electronics. He came to America in 2002, and began working at the Comfort Inn in Pearl, MS. Afterwhich, he took on the role of General Manager at various properties and obtained his CHA. Later, he became a partner and currently he oversees the operations and development in Flowood, MS, along with maintaining and continuously enhancing the company’s technologies.

Vic is married to Bharati, who is also involved in the management of the Flowood properties. Their son & daughter currently work for Microsoft and both graduated from prestigious universities, Virginia Tech & Columbia, respectively.

Chief Marketing Officer

Lynn Foley is a 38 year veteran in the hospitality industry with an emphasis in hotel sales and marketing. Having graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1984 with a B.B.A. in Marketing, Ms. Foley began her hotel career in Vicksburg, MS.  She continued her career in Panama City Beach, FL, Memphis, TN, and New Orleans, LA.  She returned to Vicksburg, MS in 2003 and joined Southern Hospitality Services, LLC in 2009 as the Director of Sales & Marketing for four (4) Vicksburg hotels.

She became the Chief Marketing Officer for SHS in 2018 and oversees the sales and marketing efforts of all hotels in the Southern Region.  Ms. Foley is the mother of three (3) grown children and very active in her community.  She is Past-President for Vicksburg Warren County Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Vicksburg, and Vicksburg Association of Marketing Professionals.  She currently serves as the Board Chair for the United Way of West Central Mississippi.  Ms. Foley is passionate about the performing arts and enjoys participating in her church choir, the Vicksburg Chamber Choir, Vicksburg Theatre Guild, Westside Theatre Foundation, and tap dancing classes.  She has been recognized numerous times for her service to her community.

VP of Development

VP of Development

VP of Operations (Louisiana)

VP of Operations (California)

Regional Director (Louisiana)

Regional Director (North MS)

Regional Manager (North MS)

Regional Director (Southwest MS)