Dr. Jay S. Patel is a hospitality developer of multiple hotels across Florida. As one of the initial members of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association he and his network have brought thousands of Asian Hoteliers together to speak with one voice and lead AAHOA to evolve to become the world’s largest Hotel Group of 26,000 hotels. He served two terms as Chairman of the Franchise & Industry Relations Committee and the Franchise Standards Committee that continues to undertake crucial Industry issues such as franchising, good faith and fair dealing practices, the introduction of the famous AAHOA 12 points of Fair Franchising, the four pillars of franchise advocacy, which continues to lead to the significant change in the industry’s business practices.

Mr. Patel is the author of Franchising Is It Fair? How to Negotiate an Equitable Franchise Agreement! He is a recognized expert of the Hospitality Franchised Industry. Mr. Patel has donated over 10,000 copies of his book to educate franchisees and hospitality students all over the country. FranchisingIsItFair.com

His service to the State of Florida for a decade has led to three gubernatorial appointments as a Trustee to UWF and as the Governor to the Florida State University Systems Board of Governors (BOG). He also serves as the BOG's Representative to the Institute of Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC) and had served on the Higher Education Coordinating Council. (HECC). It’s primary function was to advise & recommend policy to the Florida Senate, the House, the Governor, the Florida’s Education Commission, the Board of Governors & the State College System.

He also co-founded the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operator and Developers (NABHOOD) which successfully helped many African Americans to acquire over 2600 Hotels and become a major player in diversity within the Hospitality Industry.

H.E. Dr. Patel was recently designated to the United Nations, (UN) now serving the highest international body as a UN Peace Ambassador through an NGO special consultive status at the International Consulting Cabinet (ICC) to recommend, promote and carry out the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) polices, as assigned.

Now he is facilitating the transition of the hospitality industry to the 21st century by testing, promoting and using smart contracts and various blockchain technologies through complex reservation and payment smart systems. It’s core mission is to digitally monetize the hospitality Industries’ Underperforming Assets.