More Than Just Hotels: SINA Hospitality’s Commitment to Community

SINA Hospitality recently had the honor of being featured on Showcase (WRIC ABC TV-8), with CEO and Co-founder Ravi Patel discussing the company’s significant achievements and deep-rooted commitment to community engagement. The conversation with host Melissa Chase highlighted not only SINA’s impressive industry recognition but also the philosophy that drives everything we do: hospitality means opening doors not just to travelers, but to the entire community.

A Rare and Prestigious Recognition

We are proud to announce that SINA Hospitality was named the 2026 Developer of the Year by Marriott International. This is a tremendous honor that recognizes excellence in hotel development, construction quality, and operational performance across Marriott’s global portfolio. As Ravi Patel noted during the interview, this is an achievement that many developers never reach in their entire careers.

The journey from 2012, when Ravi took over the company, to earning this prestigious award in 2026 represents years of dedication to excellence, innovation, and unwavering commitment to quality. For a family-owned business operating 35 premium-branded hotels across six states, this recognition from one of the world’s leading hospitality brands validates our approach: building relationships, delivering superior quality, and never compromising on our values.

Redefining Hospitality

What does hospitality mean to SINA Hospitality? As Ravi explained in the interview, for us it’s something bigger than just beautiful hotel rooms, fresh sheets, and a fancy lobby. True hospitality means opening doors not just to travelers, but to the community. This philosophy guides every decision we make and every property we develop.

While SINA Hospitality operates on a national level with properties across the Southeast and Midwest, supporting local causes remains central to our mission. We believe that businesses cannot truly grow without the communities they serve. This isn’t just a corporate slogan for us—it’s a fundamental operating principle that shapes how we invest our time, expertise, and resources.

Community Partnerships That Make a Difference

Supporting the Chesterfield Food Bank: SINA Hospitality has been a major contributor to the Chesterfield Food Bank Outreach Center and other local organizations. But our support goes beyond financial donations. We lend our specific skill sets—particularly in construction and permitting—to help the Food Bank improve its facilities so they can serve more families in need. This hands-on approach reflects our belief that being ingrained in the community means giving both time and expertise, not just writing checks.

Hosting the Walk for Peace: During the interview, Ravi shared a powerful story about hosting Buddhist monks who were performing the Walk for Peace at our Chester property. The event brought hundreds of people together—up to 400 in the ballroom—creating a moment of calming awareness for the community during a challenging time. Events like this demonstrate how our properties can serve as gathering places that strengthen community bonds and provide spaces for meaningful cultural exchanges.

Investing in the Future: Workforce Development

SINA Hospitality is dedicated to sharing our vision and fostering talent through our hospitality program partnership with Brightpoint Community College. This new program will address one of the industry’s most significant challenges: workforce development. By working directly with Brightpoint, we’re helping to create a pipeline of skilled hospitality professionals who understand both the technical and service aspects of the industry.

A Philosophy in Action

As Ravi emphasized in the Showcase interview, SINA Hospitality’s approach is fundamentally different from many developers in our industry. We’re not just a hotel company focused solely on business metrics. We’re committed to being ingrained in the communities where we operate and trying to help in whatever way we can.

This commitment manifests in multiple ways: serving on boards like the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce, Richmond Region Tourism, and Brightpoint Community College; lending our construction expertise to nonprofit organizations; creating spaces for community events; and investing in education programs that create career pathways for local residents.

Looking Forward

The 2026 Developer of the Year award from Marriott International represents both recognition of what we’ve accomplished and encouragement to continue this work. Every property we develop, every employee we hire, and every community partnership we forge represents an opportunity to demonstrate that hospitality—true hospitality—extends far beyond the walls of our hotels.

We’re grateful to WRIC ABC TV-8 and Melissa Chase for the opportunity to share our story and our philosophy with the broader Richmond community. And we remain committed to the principle that has guided us from the beginning: hospitality means opening doors for everyone.