Aashay Patel, President

“My greatest strengths are knowing how to lead Sycamore Investment Group through good and bad times with an excellent feel for numbers and accounting and how to get difficult deals done that other hoteliers would shy away from…. I believe in leading by example and will never ask anyone to do something I am not prepared to do myself.” 

 

Aashay attended the University of South Carolina, and graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems. He joined Sycamore Investment Group immediately and assumed the position of General Manager of the Radisson Inn Florence, SC, where he guided the hotel to back-to-back President’s Awards in 1998 and 1999– the highest award attainable through Carlson Hotels.  In 2000, he decided to take the company to the next level, by re-assessing the hotels in the portfolio and starting the company in a new direction. He was actively involved in expanding the portfolio by developing two award-winning hotels.

Since then, Aashay has been instrumental in managing the company’s portfolio, and directing future growth efforts towards high-end brand partners such as Hilton and Marriott. His responsibilities include all facets of hotel operations. He oversees hotel development, construction, design and management, contract negotiations and develops strategy and vision to continue to grow the company.

Aashay lives in Johns Creek, GA with his wife and his twin boys. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling and exploring new destinations all over the world, and golfing.

Ronak Jasani, Executive Vice President

“The original hotel concept- the inn- has been around since biblical times, and not even today’s technology has replaced travelers’ timeless need for accommodations. Moreover, the global hospitality industry has consistently expanded over time, despite wars, economic crises, and politics. Like the industry itself, experience working in hospitality is equally enduring.” 

Ronak Jasani lives with his wife and son in Orlando. He is dedicated to his work and says, “I lead by example.” He places a major emphasis on delegating tasks to make others better. He has a talent for finding the team members’ talents and giving each employee the opportunity to use his strengths. Ronak explains, “I try to give everyone a chance to do what they’re best at and to create a common goal that delivers a result that’s greater than the sum of its parts.”In this way, he sees his staff as his secret weapon and values them highly.

When asked for the most proactive approach for meeting guests’ needs, Ronak responded, “Listening to our employees! They are the ones who have direct links to our customers. They are often aware of the frustrations our customers experience.” As a result, he advocates for empowering team members to maintain open communications with both guests and management.

Ronak believes that if employees can quickly assess and describe points of tension for guests, they can work together with management to resolve the issues effectively.

He aspires to make his employees “hospitality leaders of tomorrow” and plans to do so by fostering a work culture of belonging that gives team members a sense of pride over their responsibilities on the job.

He also strives to create maximum value and investment returns for every hotel property Sycamore Investment Group oversees. His greatest strength within the company is his ability to stay laser-focused on his work objectives as he “doesn’t get distracted easily.”

When he evaluates new property opportunities, he sets his sights on “Location, location, location,” noting, “nothing is more important than a hotel’s proximity to demand generators.”

• Graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration in 1999
• Joined Sycamore Investment group in 2001after working for two years in a managerial position at the renowned Charleston Place Hotel
• Served as Director of Operations and was instrumental in Sycamore Investment Group’s expansion into Florida
• Influenced decisions to dispose of assets from lower-tier brands and engage with top tier franchises
• Directs and manages the overall operations of the company’s portfolio in Florida
• Identifies new markets, sites, and brand partners for expansion in Florida

Neetu Patel, Vice President of Operations

“Proactively meeting guests’ needs is a core function of our operations which is defined as providing clean, fresh, and functional rooms. We also want them to have access to a great lobby and hospitable team members, so their stay is seamless, hassle-free, and happy.”

 

Neetu lives in Greenville, SC with his wife and two children. Logical, reason, and honesty, are the three strongest characteristics he contributes to Sycamore Investment Group. For Neetu, having the opportunity to serve guests well is the most satisfying aspect of working in the hospitality industry.

In fact, Neetu believes to his core in servitude leadership. He truly cares about all his team members and holds himself personally responsible to them, always making a point to recognize a job well done.

As cheesy as it sounds, his philosophy boils down to simply “being a good human.” This approach extends to Neetu’s involvement in his local community as he serves on Bon Secours Wellness Arena board, Greenville Tech Foundation board, and Greenville County Schools’ Diversity and Equity Inclusion Committee.

His vision for Sycamore Investment Group includes continuous growth for the hotel portfolio. Meanwhile, he sets his sights on all things operations to make sure current guests experience clean, safe, and friendly environments.

He is most proud of Sycamore Investment Group for the way it has dealt so resiliently with the challenges posed by COVID-19 and recent hiring shortages and is looking ahead to the future. When considering new business opportunities for Sycamore Investment Group, he evaluates location, demand, competition, and the available, local employee talent pool.

• Graduated with degrees in Finance, HR Management, and a Criminal Justice minor from the University of South Carolina in 2001
• Conducted seminars, reduced budgets, and managed catastrophic disaster resource plans to allocate resources between 16 departments as the Operations Officer for the Executive Vice President for the American Red Cross in Washington, DC
• Joined Sycamore Investment Group in 2008
• Works closely with the Corporate Director of Sales to outline and develop strategies for business and revenue growth
• Provides resources and empowerment to GMs, allowing them to better exceed hotel goals and meet guest needs
• Leadership Greenville Alumni

Rakesh Jasani, Regional Director of Operations

“Meeting new people has been a joy all my life. It has presented me with opportunities unimaginable. Making unforgettable memories for guests and families is what I take pride in.”

 

 

Rakesh is well known and highly respected within his community of Aiken, SC. He is heavily involved in local affairs and believes that his participation is a vital part of Sycamore Investment Group’s success in the area. He values the interconnectedness of working in the hospitality industry and views his ability to build a positive corporate culture that extends outward into the community as one of his greatest strengths.

Sitting on multiple boards and councils in Aiken, Rakesh goes above and beyond to make an impact with the people he meets. He even coached the South Aiken High School men’s tennis team to a state championship in 2013. He also orchestrates Sycamore’s partnership with local charities such as United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and Senior Living.

He’s a hands-on leader, personally engaging with his guests and team members to make everyone feel welcome, comfortable, and happy at his properties. In the future, Rakesh says he would love for Sycamore Investment Group to expand its portfolio into new markets and possibly own a beautiful, luxury resort hotel.

When considering potential business opportunities, he focuses on costs and sustainable success. He’s a financially savvy professional with experience in commercial lending who is always evaluating new aspects of the hospitality industry that could help take Sycamore Investment Group to the next level.

When asked, “What does having a proactive approach to meeting guests’ needs look like to you?,” Rakesh considered the future of technology. He responded, “As we become a more digitalized world, there will be less interaction between team members and hotel guests, but I strongly believe in human-to-human interaction. We can learn so much from each other, and eventually, it will lead to more profitability in our business.” In his opinion, technology has its place, but engaging with guests should always be the top priority.

• Graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Finance, 2003
• Joined Sycamore Investments in 2007 as leader in operations for Aiken, SC
• Provides guidance, oversight, and support to GMs of Sycamore’s Aiken properties
• Ensures properties perform above market expectations and exceed guests expectations
• Works with the Corporate director of sales to direct revenue management to apply effective financial strategies
• Implements and coordinates brand mandated PIP and renovation projects

Jacqui Rose, Corporate Director of Sales & Marketing

“My greatest strength is my ability to make connections that others don’t see and to anticipate trends in time to avail Sycamore Investment Group to the advantages they may bring or mitigate against the disadvantages they may bring in a timely manner. From the beginning of my tenure, I have worked hard to develop leadership skills that attract top sales and marketing talent and skills that have allowed me to become an effective advocate for team members.” 

With twenty-eight years of progressive experience in the hospitality industry, Jacqui is an invaluable resource to Sycamore Investment Group. She values the hospitality industry for its versatility and enjoys the continuous challenge of each day’s work differing from the next.

As a leader, she is straightforward, direct, and generous with her time. Jacqui displays a willingness to help anyone within the company who is hungry to learn more about the business; she takes time to explain the reasoning behind her strategic moves and decisions. She manages all aspects of sales, marketing, revenue management, and strategic vision for each of the locations’ sales teams.

Her proactive approach to meeting guests’ needs includes using her team’s collective experience to be as prepared as possible to anticipate what will improve each guest’s stay. She explains, “Our goals at Sycamore Investment Group have always been to deliver outstanding experiences to all our guests. When we fail, our goal is to do everything in our power to make amends and guarantee a return visit to our property.”

Having overcome numerous supply chain issues, hiring shortages, and international travel deficits caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sycamore Investment Company’s resilience has made an impression on Jacqui as well as its commitment to community. She’s working closely with the Greer Chamber of Commerce to increase tourism to the area and has a passion for bringing the best out of local companies.

• Worked as the Director of Sales and Marketing at the Embassy Suites Golf Resort & Conference Center
• Joined Sycamore Investment Group in 2009
• Serves as Chief Customer Advocate, ensuring no opportunity to learn from a guest is missed
• Executes digital marketing strategies and word of mouth advertising based on analytics and strategic planning for all properties

Brett Sterbini, Regional Director of Operations

“I know what it means to roll up my sleeves and make a bed and at the same time lead a large and complex operation. I have always had boots on the ground and in the trenches when needed. I like to smell, taste, and touch what’s going on because I cannot be a successful operator by reading surveys and emails in an office all day.” 

 

Brett considers his ability to interact effectively with people of all backgrounds one of his greatest strengths. He grew up as the son of a typical “corporate American suit and tie kind of guy” and a single mom of color who worked in an hourly paid position. This family dynamic gave him perspective and empathy that serves his position in the hospitality industry well as he serves team members and guests from all walks of life. Brett’s ability to connect with a diverse base of people creates opportunities for him to learn about many places and cultures, something he finds greatly satisfying about his role in hospitality.

He also highly esteems his place as a team leader and describes the importance of developing new hires, saying, “Sycamore Investment Group strives to provide a welcoming and comfortable environment for our team members…. We want our team members to know they are joining a family that cares about their well-being and is invested in their success.”

He also recognizes the positive impact having happy team members can have on the guest experience by adding, “When we have team members that care about their work and others, that leads to higher service scores and ultimately higher revenue returns which we can continue to invest into our team members and hotel operations.”

While the challenges Brett faces in his daily routines are always changing, he sets his sights on recovering well from service failures. He realistically understands that mistakes are made and problems arise but states, “it’s all about how we handle negative situations and make things right for guests. How we recover is the determining factor between a guests’ returning or finding a different hotel for their next stay.” He adds a depth of value to Sycamore Investments through his resolve to quickly and intelligently address complex issues as they arise.

• Graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s of Science in Hotel Restaurant and Tourism Management in 2008
• Joined Sycamore Investment Group in 2016 and opened the Home 2 Suites Greenville Downtown property
• Serves on the board for Greenville Technical College’s Culinary and Hospitality Institute
• Helped develop Greenville Technical College’s Hospitality curriculum
• Leadership Greenville Alumni