UGA SBDC helps hotel entrepreneur build his dream in rural Georgia

Two people stand together in the lobby of a hotel, positioned in front of a stone-textured wall with a large “Quality by Choice Hotels” sign. Behind They are standing near a granite-topped front desk, and one person is wearing a light-colored sweater while the other is wearing a zip-up jacket with the hotel logo.

Big growth often starts with the right partner. For hotel owner Neil Patel, the UGA SBDC provided the insights and financial expertise that allowed him to secure funding, renovate aging properties and expand across Georgia. Discover the full story behind his remarkable journey.