Viral (Victor) Patel

Best Western Hotels & Resorts announced today that it has appointed Viral (Victor) Patel to its Board of Directors. Patel brings over two decades of hospitality experience and has been a member of Best Western Hotels & Resorts for more than 20 years. He has served in various leadership roles with Best Western Hotels & Resorts, including as a governor and as the chair of the Best Western Kentucky marketing co-op, where he liaised between the brand and hoteliers and led strategic input and direction on regional marketing efforts. Patel is currently the owner and operator of the Best Western Corbin Inn in Corbin, Kentucky.

In addition to Patel's various roles with Best Western Hotels & Resorts, he has also held a number of leadership positions at the national and local levels. Currently, Patel is the Chairman of the Board for the Corbin Tourism & Convention Commission in his hometown of Corbin, Kentucky and was the first hotelier to serve as Chairman of the Board for the Kentucky Travel Industry Association. Additionally, he has held leadership roles with the Chamber of Commerce and served as an ambassador for the Asian American Hotel Owners Association.

In addition to his passion for Best Western Hotels & Resorts, Patel is equally dedicated to community. He remains actively engaged in his local Hindu temple and is a contributing member of the Indian Cultural Society in Lexington, Kentucky. Patel was raised in India and has lived in the United States for more than 30 years. His lifelong hospitality career began at a motel in Baltimore, Maryland, before recognizing his dream of hotel ownership.

Patel will play an integral role for Best Western Hotels & Resorts as the company continues to grow in the new year.