Today we’d like to introduce you to Vishant Patel
Hi Vishant, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I moved to the United States in 2004, and moved to Knoxville TN to attend University of Tennessee 2005. Due to my migration, I had to wait a year to start school again, and was able to attend UT and get my Bachelors Degree in Logistics and International Business. I graduated in 2008. I was all school mode, and worked 60-80 Hours a Week while attending school full time. I finished my Course in 3 years. When we all graduated, we all met with tough times in our economy in 2008 so finding work was not easy. Despite the challenges, I loved Knoxville so much, I didn’t want to leave. I met some the best people here who, now I call Family.
I met my wife in Galax VA, close to us from here, and since she loved it here too, we decided this will be our forever hometown. We went through our usual struggles, I started working as Inventory Manager, and moved into the Retail store career and Worked for Food Lion till they shut their Doors.
When I closed those doors of Food Lion for one Final Time, I had made up my mind to open my mind into the Business World. I leased my first business which was a small Market and Deli in one of the smallest and oldest neighborhoods of Knoxville. I went from 1 store to 3 stores, and then was able to Get my first Motel with Family in Sevierville Area.
I have been in the Sevierville Area till date. I love the mountains as I grew up on mountains in a small boarding school in India Run by the settled Britishers in India.
Our Quality Inn Kodak Sevierville won the 2021 Readers Digest Nicest Place in America Award, and I am very Honored and Blessed to be recognized by the wonderful community around me who believed in us and voted for us. We still till date try to be an awesome supportive business in the community and we also thrive to do the best for our community, help people when in need, and also represent our community in the best manner possible.
We are a county which is heavily visited by tourists, and we are the front runners in making sure they have the best experience and so they can come back. We have 90% return guests, and we love our friends who visit us. I am proud and honored to call myself a Tennessean, and a member of Knoxville and Sevierville. I am definitely Blessed to call Knoxville Home.
I am an avid Motorcyclist, who loves collecting motorcycles and also riding. We gave a great riding community in East Tennessee. I also take part in large coast-to-coast and cross-country motorcycle journeys with Ride For Kids, with whom we raise donations for Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
To live and dwell in a Volunteer State is a Dream come true.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life is never a smooth road. I have seen my fair shares of troubles and struggles. From my migration to school, to the economy crash, job searches and business operations. It all looks great from outside, but only I know the battles it has taken to accomplish what I have today.
I can honestly say, that I have surrounded my self with great minds, who have not only motivated me from day 1, but have also helped me during my struggling times, and pushed me everyday. The road is never smooth, it’s always rough, but it sets you up and prepares you for the future.
Now I call my life an off-road obstacle challenge. You train hard, mentally prepare your self, and definitely enjoy the ride. If you have lived and seen the worst days, the rest of the days are always amazing to you. through my journey, I have learned to be a Humble person, and learned how to appreciate everything in life. I believe all these lessons and experiences come from a life and career with struggles.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a small Motel located at the gateway to the smokies off the Interstate. We are very simple, but we love our guests and treat them well. We are award winning property of Choice Hotels International. We also got awarded 2021 Readers Digest Nicest Place in America.
I love my staff, they are more Family than employees. We work as a team, and while we are not perfect, we strive everyday to help each other get the best out of us.
We are different, and we show it. We take pride in our service and offer the best to the guests within Franchise guidelines. Please let us know if we have to Host you or your family, we will do the best possible.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
We learned that Life is not guaranteed, and when we die, we do not take anything with us. So we learned to grow, and meet more people, maintain relationships, and also watch out for each other. Whether that person, is a vendor, employee, co-worker, supervisor, or even a guest. We protect everyone and stay strong together. The crisis did teach a few lessons, and I believe life always has a learning curve. We learned to appreciate everything around us, from the food we eat, the facilities we use, and we also learned to respect the key elements of Earth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.choicehotels.com/tennessee/kodak/quality-inn-hotels/tn418
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vish2ridemoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vish2ridemoto
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@Vish2RideMoto
