San Francisco’s Tenderloin Museum is set to debut an exhibit dedicated to Indo-American hoteliers.
By AAHOA Staff
The Tenderloin Museum in San Francisco will soon open the first permanent Indo-American Hotelier History Exhibition, paying tribute to the generations of Indian American hoteliers whose contributions have helped shape today’s hospitality workforce.
Part of the museum’s expansion into a newly acquired 6,850-square-foot space, the exhibit is being developed in collaboration with the Indo-American Hotelier Exhibition Funds Development Committee. It traces the journey of Indian American hoteliers from managing single room occupancy (SRO) buildings in the Tenderloin to leading hotel ownership and operations across the country, sharing a story of entrepreneurship and the labor, sacrifice, and determination that built an industry.
“Used to long hours of hard work, our hospitality legacy founders and their families persevered, sacrificed, supported each other, and risked everything to find success in America,” said Ramesh Gokal, a committee member. “All these qualities have steadfastly remained with the Indo-American hotelier community and are evident in our continued growth and progress in the hospitality industry.”
The exhibition will feature artifacts, first-person narratives, and key research from Surat to San Francisco: How the Patels from Gujarat Established the Hotel Business in California 1942–1960, a foundational text by Mahendra K. Doshi. Drawing on over 150 interviews, the book documents the early struggles and achievements of Indian immigrants in the hotel sector and how their family-run business model became central to workforce success and industry expansion.
“We’re honored to host the first-ever Indo-American Hotelier History Exhibit at the Tenderloin Museum,” said Katie Conry, the museum’s executive director. “This is a landmark project that aligns with our mission to uplift place-based history, immigrant narratives, and urban cultural legacy. In July, we will break ground on the first phase of our capital expansion, connecting our current museum to the historic space next door, once home to Newman’s Gym – where Muhammad Ali and other boxing legends trained – and the former grand ballroom of the Cadillac Hotel. We invite continued partnership as we advance through the next phases of construction and bring this vital story, among others, into a permanent, dedicated home.”
The Indo-American Hotelier Exhibition Funds Development Committee includes leaders from AAHOA and AHLA, with full support from AHLA and endorsement from the AAHOA and AAHOA Charitable Foundation Boards. Members include AAHOA Chairman Kamalesh (KP) Patel; former AAHOA Chairmen Mahesh (Mike) Amin (20022003) and Hitesh Bhakta (2003–2004); former AAHOA President Fred Schwartz; and Mike Leven, a founding member of AAHOA.
In a joint statement, the committee noted: “To celebrate our remarkable achievements in realizing the American Dream and our well-earned leadership in the American lodging industry, we, the Indian American Hotelier Committee, in collaboration with the Tenderloin Museum, present this exhibit. It is dedicated to recognizing, honoring, and revering the pioneers and foundational figures of Indian American hotel history.”
The exhibition celebrates and reflects on how work ethic, community, and resilience have shaped not only individual hotelier success stories but also the broader hospitality workforce in America today.
Help Preserve This Legacy
Your support is essential to bringing this important story to life. Every contribution helps ensure that the sacrifices, achievements, and enduring workforce legacy of Indo-American hoteliers are honored and shared with future generations.
View the Digital Hotel Exhibit Expansion Brochure.
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