Meet the Jalaram Hotels Management and Leadership Team

Kanti Patel CEO & President

Kanti Patel began his career in the hospitality industry in 1975 when he first managed and later purchased a small hotel in San Francisco. After selling the property in 1978, he moved on to Medford, Oregon where he purchased and operated another hotel. In 1979, he moved to St. Augustine, Florida with a vision. This astute businessman began building his organization with the purchase of his first motel in December 1979. Over the next 20 years, he expanded his company through buying and selling hotels in the North Florida area. Today, Jalaram Hotels Inc. owns and operates eight highly successful hotel properties with two more under construction: The Hampton Inn & Suites at Jacksonville Airport and the Fairfield Inn & Suites at Southside in Jacksonville. The newest hotel, The Hilton Inn-St. Augustine Historic Bayfront is an exciting concept in the creation of a comfortable, elegant hotel integrated into the historic area of the nation's oldest city. Future plans include construction and renovation of properties at the rate of at least one per year, for the next ten years.

Robert Bechtinger Vice President

Robert Bechtinger began his career in the hotel industry over 15 years ago. He is highly experienced in all aspects of hotel business development, operations, marketing and sales management. Owning a highly successful management firm as well as his involvement in the hotel industry has developed Mr. Bechtingers's strong entrepreneurial skills. As a management specialist, he focused on market and financial analysis for mid-size companies. Among the services provided for over 120 client companies were SWOT analysis, capital budgeting, revenue forecasting, break-even analysis, impact studies and efficiency/capacity research related to successful business operations. Before joining Jalaram Hotels, he worked as Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for a highly successful and rapidly growing hotel management group in the western part of the United States. He completed his undergraduate studies in business and science at Nova Southeast University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and earned his Master of Business Administration with Honors at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. He relocated to Jacksonville, Florida in 2000 and joined Jalaram Hotels, where his expertise, energy and enthusiasm are a constant motivation for all who work with him.

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