Family-Owned Hotel Developer Honored at The Ordinary Awards for Leadership and Impact Across Virginia’s Hospitality Industry
RICHMOND, VA – SINA Hospitality, Virginia’s premier family-owned hotel developer, has been named the 2026 Hotelier of the Year by the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association (VRLTA). The award was presented at The Ordinary Awards, which celebrate and honor Virginia’s restaurants, lodging establishments and hotels, destination marketing organizations, attractions, and more.
The Hotelier of the Year distinction recognizes an individual whose leadership has made a lasting impact on Virginia’s lodging industry. For SINA Hospitality CEO Ravi Patel, the honor truly reflects the collective effort of his family and the team behind that growth.
“When we established SINA Hospitality, Richmond was already home to several large and successful hotel companies,” Patel said in his acceptance speech. “No one was paying much attention to a father-and-son team trying to build one Marriott. We did not have a large organization or a long list of accomplishments. But Marriott took a chance on us when no one else would.”
“Hotelier of the Year may sound like an individual award, but nothing meaningful in hospitality is accomplished by one individual,” Patel continued. “To my family and every member of the SINA team: your work built our reputation and allowed this company to become far more than we ever imagined.”
The award adds to a milestone year for SINA Hospitality, which was also named Marriott International’s 2026 Developer of the Year, recognizing the company’s performance, innovation, and strategic partnership in growing Marriott’s portfolio, as well as the announcement of the $180 million SINA Sports Complex in Colonial Heights, Virginia, a multi-use sports and tourism hub featuring sports fields, housing, premium hotels, dining, and retail spaces.
About SINA Hospitality
Founded in 1997, SINA Hospitality owns and operates 36 premium-branded hotels totaling more than 3,600 guest rooms across six states. The family-owned company partners with Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Carlson, and Best Western brands. The company serves on multiple hospitality industry advisory committees, including Marriott International’s Capital Asset Planning & Execution Committee and the Fairfield Inn & Suites Franchise Advisory Committee.
