With over 20 years in the hospitality industry, Montu has learned the business from the ground up – working in housekeeping, maintenance, General Manager, Developer and VP of Sales and Operations. His expertise in strategic development and asset repositioning has led to purchasing underperforming assets and driving results to the bottom line. He has a proven track record which is attributable to creating a culture of constant improvement and focus on bottom line results. There is a direct correlation between Montu’s ability to treat employees like part of the family and the business thriving and achieving strong shareholder results.
Following his undergraduate work at Vassar Montu pursued a Master’s Degree in Asset Management from NYU. Presently, he is responsible for the strategic growth and day-to-day operations of Innovative Hospitality Management (IHM). IHM currently owns and operates 6 hotel properties (700 rooms) throughout the northeast. Prior to joining IHM in 2008, Montu worked at American Express for ten years and was one of the youngest Director’s in American Express history. His responsibilities included managing 26 travel locations with over 250 employees and over $100 million in revenue. He has been featured in the New York Times and has been recognized at American Express, Tompkins Financial, Choice Hotels, IHG and Hilton hotels.
By combining his hands-on hotel experience, education background and Fortune 500 management style, he is able to bring a unique focus and vision to achieve IHM’s mission statement. Montu has served as the Director for Region 5 Choice Hotels Owners Council and currently serves as an AAHOA Ambassador.
In his spare time Montu enjoys cooking, playing tennis, entertaining his family and friends. In addition, he enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, kayaking, and camping with his wife and 3 children. Montu’s philanthropy includes, cooking every Wednesday at local soup kitchen, donating resources to help children further their education in India, and help build a non- profit hospital in India.
Sarjit is co-owner of a medical distribution company, Capella Medical Group. Sarjit has spent 20+ years in the medical industry as either sales representative or in a management role. His sales/management roles have been with Johnson and Johnson, Boston Scientific, and Astra Zeneca. His ability to source talented representatives, and create a culture of teamwork, has helped Capella Medical Group become one the leading distribution companies within the medical field.
Sarjit received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biochemistry in 1997 from the University of Georgia. Soon thereafter, he started to work for Astra Zeneca as a sales representative in Pittsburgh, PA. He then was recruited back to Atlanta to work for Johnson & Johnson as a senior hospital sales representative, where he was top 5 reps for three consecutive years, earning himself a position into the Presidents Circle. These skills allowed him to take on a District Manager position with Johnson and Johnson in the Atlanta area. There he was able to lead a team to be one of the top districts in the nation, growing revenues over 125%.
After working for Fortune 500 companies, Sarjit decided to start his own distributorship to pursue an opportunity within the pacing industry. Thereafter, Sarjit and his business partner started to license various products for their sales representative to distribute. Sarjit and his business partner now have successfully navigated FDA’s rigorous standards for approval; and now are distributing cardiac equipment to hospitals throughout the United States. Sarjit continues to educate himself within the complex rules and regulations of the FDA to ensure that their company is compliant and are exceeding the FDA’s safety standards.
Sarjit is the chief development officer for Lotus Park Senior Living. His duties include sourcing land, looking for suitable sites for senior living and overseeing Lotus Park’s current construction projects.
With over 18 years of experience in operations/renovations and then asset management, Nilesh will be focused on maximizing revenue potential for each Senior Living community with Lotus Park, monitoring management company performance, product quality, employee satisfaction and most importantly the resident satisfaction. He will also be involved in the development of each new community to maximize value, optimize plans for operational efficiencies and help control construction costs.
Nilesh graduated from De Montfort University in Leicester, England with a BSc (Hons) in Industrial Business Systems in 1997, a degree that focused on Business Management, Project Management and Mechanical Engineering. In 2000, Nilesh moved to Atlanta, GA where he completed his MBA in Leadership & Management at Mercer University graduating with a 3.89 GPA.
Nilesh’s hospitality career started with Hilton Hotels International with focus in operations at full-service hotels ranging from 362 all-suites hotels to the Hilton Atlanta Downtown, a 1224 room convention hotel. Nilesh’s tenure with Hilton Hotels lasted for 5 years.
In 2003, Nilesh joined Auro Hotels (formally, JHM Hotels) and became the General Manager at the Hampton Inn Atlanta N. Druid Hills, a 111 room select-service hotel. The hotel was distressed. Nilesh help facilitate a $2 million renovation and with his leadership and management he was able to increase the Revenue by 23% and increased GOP by 35% with a flow through of over 70%. Due to the success of the Hampton Inn, Nilesh was transferred to the Comfort Suites Perimeter Center (now Home2 Suites Perimeter Center), 121 all-suites hotel. This hotel had not been in positive cash flow for the company for over 7 years. He was able to generate revenues in access of $4.3 million, with a GOP of 51% with flow through of 67%. Due to Nilesh’s success he was able to acquire equity in the business. Shortly afterwards he was also able to acquire equity in the Spring Hill Suites Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
In 2010, Nilesh acquired the Motel 6 Atlanta Airport North (bank-owned) for $5 million, he was able to invest a further $5 million to renovate the hotel and convert it to a La Quinta Inn & Suites in 2016. The hotel had a record ramp up and also received the Hotel Conversion of the Year Award from La Quinta. Under Nilesh’s supervision the hotel has increased its revenue by over 400% since the peak revenues of the Motel 6 and the latest valuation of the hotel exceeded $20 million. Nilesh was also able to acquire equity in the Hampton Inn & Suites Augusta and helped oversee the development of that hotel.
In 2015, Nilesh was promoted within Auro Hotels as the Area General Manager overseeing 4 hotels. In 2016, Nilesh successfully completed Cornell University’s Hotel Real Estate & Asset Management program, he implemented several new initiatives at Auro and in 2017 Nilesh was promoted to Asset Manager overseeing assets in access of $100 million.
In 2017/18, Nilesh under took the renovation and rebranding project of the Comfort Suites Perimeter to Home2 Suites Perimeter Center which was an undertaking that cost over $5.7MM. This hotel opened in October of 2018 and has had the best ramp up and is achieving revenues in excess of 52% of Comfort Suites’s peak revenue. This represents the highest revenue jump from a brand conversion in the 40+ year history of Auro/JHM Hotels. With current performance trends this hotel is already being valued in excess of $18MM.
Nilesh has been serving on several hotel industry boards such as: Choice Hotels Owners’ Council as Chairman of the Fair Franchising Committee (representing over 6000 hotel owners), Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association as an executive board member and is currently their Treasurer & Georgia State University Hospitality Industry Board as a board member for over 10 years.
Nilesh has also served in the communities that his businesses have been in. Nilesh was on the board of the Camp Creek Improvement Association and focused on improvement of the Atlanta Airport Area communities and helped in the formation of the Atlanta Airport Area Community Improvement District. Adopted the Hapeville Elementary School and provided school supplies for the students and teachers. Has been involved in projects with Habitat for Humanity, Atlanta Food Bank, Clean the World, Atlanta Furniture Bank and several homeless shelters in and around Metro Atlanta.
Nilesh currently resides in Atlanta, GA with his wife Rita Patel and their 13 year old son Satya Patel.