About Us
Our History
Image Hotel Management’s story began in 1982, when founder and CEO Neil Patel purchased his first business—an independent 20-room motel. This modest start laid the foundation for a legacy built on vision, determination, and a passion for hospitality.
In 1985, Neil expanded into ground-up development, completing a series of successful hotel projects, including his first Holiday Inn Express in 1992, his first Hampton Inn in 1993, and becoming one of Hilton’s earliest franchisees for the Hilton Garden Inn brand in 1998.
With a growing portfolio and a commitment to excellence, Neil established Image Hotel Management, Inc. in 1999 to lead the acquisition, development, and management of multi-branded properties across the United States and Canada.
In 2009 and 2010, Neil’s children, Karen and Hiran Patel, officially joined the company—marking the beginning of Image as a multi-generational enterprise. Having grown up immersed in the hospitality industry, both Karen and Hiran bring lifelong experience and a deep-rooted passion for the business.
Since then, Image has continued to grow, developing its first extended-stay hotel in 2014 and building a robust infrastructure to support a dynamic and fast-growing pipeline of new projects.
Today, Image Hotel Management is expanding beyond hotels into new ventures, including residential and retail development—continuing to build on our legacy of innovation, growth, and excellence.