Athena Hospitality Group is a full turnkey hotel management company with a focus on mid-tier and upper-tier branded hotels. The principals of Athena collectively have over seventy-five years of hospitality experience in all aspects of the hospitality industry involving construction, operations, branding and finance. These individuals, Jayesh Patel, Devesh Patel, Vimal Patel and Nisarg Desai, decided to create a company called “ATHENA HOSPITALITY GROUP”.
By creating Athena Hospitality Group, the company has more experience, knowledge and dedication to grow at a faster pace than individually. Currently Athena has ownership stake or sole ownership in 25 hotels across various states around the country. The company has an aggressive growth path and is entering the full service hospitality sector. Our achievements are based on relationships. Therefore, Athena Hospitality’s motto is “ It’s all about relationship ”
To Achieve Trust, Honesty, and Excellence by Networking within the hospitality industry, and to provide the highest level of Accommodations to our guests, employees, friends, colleagues, and our community.
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Investment Officer
Chief Construction Officer
Vice President, Operations
Vice President, Marketing & Revenue Strategies
Corporate Controller
Director of Human Resource
Director of Revenue Management
Financial Analyst
Office Manager
Jayesh (Jay) D. Patel originally founded Athena Companies in 2002 which evolved to Athena Hospitality Group. Under his leadership as President and CEO. Jay has been involved in the hotel business since the age of 8. As a little boy, he helped his father and mother at their independent motel in Shelbyville, TN. The essence of customer service was embedded in him at an young age through his father. Jay continued to help his parents as they grew their business from an independent motel to four budget franchised motel portfolio.
In 2001, after the loss of Jay’s father, he decided to take over the family business and grow it to his best ability. Today Jay has ownership in 19 hotels and manages 11 of them. His portfolio includes brands as Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Choice, Best Western and others.
Jay Patel has received many awards from Choice Hotels International and was also awarded the Choice Hotels Premier Legacy Award in 2012. He is also very active in the hospitality industry and community and social organizations including AAHOA and Trustee at the local Gujarat Cultural Community Association of Middle Tennessee.
Jay graduated from University of Cincinnati and holds a dual Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Business Finance and Business Management.
Devesh was raised in a family embedded in hospitality. He began his experience in the hospitality industry at a young age as he grew up with his family in a 24-unit independent motel in Cookeville, TN. He witnessed the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices of owning a small business. At the age of 14, his family moved to Florence, KY, and built Best Western – Florence Inn, his family’s first franchise hotel. He would help his parents on weekends and summers throughout his youth at Best Western.
After college, Devesh returned to the family business and started working at one of his family’s hotels. He oversaw all aspects of management while increasing guest experiences, revenues, and streamlining processes. Devesh has always been an entrepreneur from a young age. He wanted to venture outside of the family business and started a successful online company in 2010 called OneStopParking.com. After several years, his passion was still in the hospitality industry. He teamed with Jayesh Patel, Vimal Patel, and Nash Desai and formed Athena Hospitality Group, working with management, development, and acquisitions of hotels.
Devesh currently resides in Union, KY, where he enjoys traveling with his wife and two boys, golfing and cheering on his Cincinnati Bengals & Reds!
As a third generation hotelier, Vimal has gained a wealth of knowledge in hotel operations from his predecessors over the span of several decades . The roots of the hospitality industry were instilled at a very young age for Vimal as his family moved numerous times during his childhood in hopes of finding a hotel that they could call their own. That day finally came in 1991 when Vimal’s parents were asked to manage and take a minor ownership in a Best Western Hotel in Starkville, MS. At this very hotel is where Vimal witnessed the dedication and sacrifices that his parents overcame to successfully operate a hotel. This is also where he got his first taste of hotel work as he constantly helped his family complete small tasks around the hotel such as folding laundry and refilling the vending machines.
But as Vimal continued his education into high school, he began to excel in the math and science fields, and his interest shifted towards a career in pharmacy. He attended the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy where he received a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2005 and Doctorate of Pharmacy Degree in 2007. Vimal continued to work at his parent’s hotel as a front desk agent throughout his college years, when he would come home for the holidays or the summer. That is when he decided that one of his lifelong goals was that he wanted to go into business together with his father. After completing college, Vimal worked for a chain pharmacy for 7 years as a staff pharmacist and 3 years as pharmacy manager, all the while, he continued to help his father run the Best Western in Louisiana on his off days from the pharmacy. In 2014, Vimal fulfilled that lifelong goal when he went into a partnership with his father at the Best Western. After 10 years of pharmacy work, Vimal knew deep down he ultimately belonged in the hospitality industry and his passion for growing the family business was now stronger more than ever. At that point, he left his position in the pharmacy to fully focus on growth and development of his family’s hotel portfolio. In the short 4 years since taking ownership in his first hotel, Vimal has developed and fully opened 3 additional hotels in Louisiana. In 2017, Vimal Patel partnered with Jayesh Patel, Devesh Patel, and Nash Desai to form Athena Hospitality Group as all four partners carried the same vision of aggressively developing successful hotels while maintaining the highest standards in the hotel industry.
Mark T. Wasiak’s 35+ year career includes multi-property oversight and Regional Vice President experience. His career includes diverse property management of convention, airport, boutique, and commercial property spanning both coasts and throughout the South and Midwest in union and non- union operations. In addition to multiple property types, he has had the extraordinary opportunity to work within a wealth of corporate brands, Renaissance, Marriott Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Hilton Hotel, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Sheraton, Cambria, Radisson, and Holiday Inn. Found great success in the General Manager role in both Hilton and Marriott properties. Developed operational systems that have become the standard by Corporate Teams in the following disciplines: Sales Team Deployment, Strategic Revenue Management, Budget & Forecasting, Labor & Cost Management, Team Member Development, Guest Relations, Capital Planning, Mechanical & Asset Management, Renovation Oversight.
Phill is responsible for developing our sales, marketing, and revenue management platforms, as well as overseeing and directing revenue generation and marketing strategies across all operating departments for Athena Hospitality. Phill has over 35 years of experience in the hotel industry, concentrating in sales, marketing, and revenue management at the hotel, regional, and senior leadership levels. Prior to joining Athena, Phill spent 14 years with John Q Hammons Hotels & Resorts as Vice President of Sales and Revenue Management. Prior to JQH, Phill held various executive and regional management positions at the brand level. He started his hotel career with Winegardner and Hammons after college graduation becoming a very successful General Manager and eventually transferring to JQH as an opening GM. He has served as a member of the Marriott Full-Service Sales and Marketing Advisory Council, and Hilton’s Embassy Suites Marketing Council. He is currently serving as the President of the Nashville Chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI).
Teresa has over 30 years of experience in the hospitality service industry. She is originally from Fort Defiance, Arizona but moved at a young age to El Paso, Texas to be closer to family. One of her first jobs was working for her father’s firm where she learned the value of hard work and commitment.
Teresa began her career in the hospitality industry with Residence Inn. She enjoyed meeting guests from near and far and listening to their stories. Inspired by her guests, Teresa worked diligently to move up the corporate ladder while putting herself through college. She received her master’s degree in Accounting from Northern Kentucky University.
Teresa currently lives in Burlington, Kentucky with her husband, two sons, and dog. She remains close to her grandmother in El Paso whom she loves dearly. She enjoys working with her Athena team members to seek practical working procedures and ensure operations run efficiently. In her free time, Teresa enjoys taking the road less traveled and learning more about the local tri-state areas and people.
Leslie Hoff joins Athena Hospitality Group as the Director of Human Resources and Talent Development with over 20 years of experience in various positions in HR. Along with her extensive experience, she possesses a bachelor’s degree in human resource management and master’s degree in Organizational Leadership with a specialization in HR. She is a member of the Society of Human Resources (SHRM). She enjoys all areas of human resources and takes pride in mentoring others in the field.
She has lived in Ohio for her entire life and is going to be relocating to the Northern Kentucky area with her son and cat to be close to her family. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, taking in live music, enjoying local restaurants and wineries, and is an avid fan of University of Michigan and supports all their sports teams.
Brigid has over 35 years od hospitality experience. Most of it has been in Reservations or Revenue Management. One of her first jobs out of high school was a grocery store working with the public. She is from Columbus, Ohio and is an avid Ohio State fan. In 1985 she moved to Atlanta, Georgia to start her career in reservations and Revenue Management. She spent 11 years with Marriott Corporation working in varies locations. One of her favorite locations was Scottsdale, Arizona.
Brigid began her hospitality career in the hotel in the Banquet Department. She enjoyed the Food & Beverage side and learned how to bartend and that would come in handy down the road. Brigid worked her way up the corporate ladder by working every position in Reservations and Revenue Management She went to The Ohio State University to study Business/Accounting.
Brigid currently lives in Florence, Kentucky with her soon to be husband Chris and cat Madison. Brigid has 1 sister and 3 nieces and 7 great nieces and nephews that she enjoys spending time with her family. Brigid is getting married to Chris on September 11, 2021. I have enjoyed my time working with The Athena Hospitality Group and being a part of there family. I looked for the great thing to come in the future at Athena and in my life.
A native of Brentwood, Tennessee, Karan brings several years of various experience to the Athena Hospitality Group. He began his hospitality career at a young age working with his family to learn and understand every aspect of the hotel industry. From housekeeping, maintenance to general managerial duties, Karan quickly excelled and worked his way to the corporate level and joined the Athena corporate finance team.
Karan graduated from UT Knoxville with a major in finance. Upon graduation, Karan pursued his TN Real Estate License and plans to get his MBA shortly. In his spare time, you can find Karan playing basketball or golfing with his friends, watching movies and sports, and spending time with his family back home.
Racheal brings over 20 years of exemplary customer service to Athena Hospitality Group. She comes to us from the finance and accounting industries where she has spent most of her business career. Teaming up with local small businesses in the Cincinnati area, it became her passion to assist these companies in reaching their optimal growth.
Racheal received her degree in Business Administration with a focus in Finance. She lives in Taylor Mill, KY with her son, two dogs and two cats. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking, fishing, camping and most outdoor activities. You may also catch her supporting her hometown sports teams and checking out local wineries.