‘I am happy to receive the award as it is one of the top awards the city gives. As a minority community member from the Caribbean, it is a great honour to represent our community.’ – Jay Patel
By Sue-Ann Wayow
MORE than three decades ago, a Trinidadian left his hometown of San Fernando to live in the United States of America.
But he has never forgotten his country of birth and has instead spent most of his professional life promoting Trinidad and Tobago through his involvement in tourism.
Not only has he been encouraging foreigners to visit the islands of sun, sea and sand but he has also been promoting his US hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jay ‘Trini’ Patel, franchise owner of four UPS Stores – the world’s largest franchisor of retail shipping, posting, printing, and business service centres- was awarded the city’s Local Champion award earlier this year.
In January, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) announced the winners of the 15th Annual Partners in Tourism Awards. Winners were nominated by CRVA employees and partners.
The Local Champion award is given to individuals who live and work in Charlotte or North Carolina and who have been instrumental in collaborating with CRVA’s sales and services teams to bring meetings and events to the city that generate an economic impact for the area.
The CRVA in a press release stated, “Despite the pandemic, which changed the landscape of the tourism industry globally, the region remained the top visitor destination in North Carolina. In summer 2021, as travel began to resume, Charlotte’s hospitality and tourism recovery surpassed not only 2020 levels, but also exceeded pre-pandemic levels in many instances, with leisure travel demand and food and beverage sales leading the charge.”
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Speaking recently to AZP News, Patel said, “As a hotel investor and also the UPS store franchise I have used my relationship to bring numerous conventions to Charlotte NC population, about 1.4 million.”
He said, “I am happy to receive the award as it is one of the top awards the city gives. As a minority community member from the Caribbean, it is a great honour to represent our community.”
Patel is a former North Carolina regional director of Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the world’s largest hotel owners’ association with approximately 20,000 members in the US alone and its members owning 60% of the US hotels.
He said, “With my relationship with AAHOA, we bought their convention in Charlotte in 2007. Also, we bought Best Western International in 2006 also in Charlotte. In July 2022 Charlotte with be hosting our national convention for its 5,000 locations nationwide and Canada. It’s all about relationship and giving back.”
The perfect ambassador
In a video highlighting his award, Patel was described as the perfect ambassador for the city and a connector.
CRVA’s Vice President of sales Mike Butts said of Patel, “People do business with people they know, like and trust. Jay is one of those people who is enthusiastic and they trust him so people just share information with him and he passes it along.”
He also said, “He (Patel) does not do this to get something beneficial back to him. He is really committed to the hospitality industry in Charlotte.”
In the April 2022 edition of AAHOA’s monthly magazine Today’s Hotelier, Patel was featured.
Connection with Trinidad
Having been in Charlotte for 35 years, Patel started a local association with other Trinidadian nationals called Caribbean Heritage Association of Trinidad and Tobago (CHATT).
During his duration in Charlotte, Patel has brought 700 visitors to Trinidad and Tobago mainly to see India vs West Indies cricket series.
He said, “It was a way for me to give back to Trinidad and Tobago. Hotels, airlines, restaurants, entertainment, coconut vendors all benefit.”
Other than cricket, tourists were also taken on tours to view historical places including the Temple in the Sea and the Indian Caribbean Musuem at Waterloo and the 85-foot-tall Hanuman statue in Carapichaima.
In an interview with a local community magazine, Ballantyne, where one his UPS store is located, Patel said “I support the West Indies Cricket Team. It comprises all the Caribbean Islands. Matches are exciting with lots of steel band music and entertainment.”
His favourite outdoor activity is golf and if he had to include members for a team at Ballantyne it would comprise of world-famous cricket Brian Lara and professional gold player Stephen Ames who are both from Trinidad.
When asked about his dream vacation Patel said, “Going back to meet friends and family in Trinidad. I enjoy the tropical beaches, rivers, diverse food and music, including steel pan, soca and calypso. There are coral reefs and a swimming pool (Nylon Pool) in the middle of the ocean in neighbouring Tobago.”
Due to Patel’s advocation for recognition of T&T, this country made its way into the North Carolina Senate upon its commemoration of its 50th Independence Day celebrations in 2012. The city of Charlotte also recognised the historic occasion.
A senatorial statement submitted by senator Bob Rucho stated, “We celebrate the establishment of a republic that has offered to the world, a rich cultural heritage and a wealth of diversity that affirms a people that have overcome obstacles and forged a path of self-determination.”
However, due to increasing criminal activities in recent times, Patel will be pausing on organising tours to Trinidad until crime can be better managed, he said.
He noted that that should be a top priority for Government as tourists would want to have a sense of security when they travel.
He did say that there were many opportunities for the T&T government to promote the country abroad especially through sport and even weddings and that he could assist with giving advice on target marketing.
Patel told AZP News, “Due to close proximity to the US there is huge opportunity. The Indian community especially as they dominate the hospitality industry in USA, medical and IT fields. Presently they are going to Mexico Cancun etc. There is huge demand for wedding destinations.”
