LEASING, LEARNING AND LIVING BEYOND 9/11:

IN THE U.S., MORE THAN ONE third of hotels and motels are Indian-owned. Regardless of an Indian’s religious or business influences, a Hindu maxim that has held true throughout the loosely-knit Indian-American hospitality community for more than two decades is simple, if not bold: The guest is God.

Fine for the guest, but on the tail end of one of the worst times in U.S. travel and leisure history, what about the owner?

For 52-year-old Mahesh Saraswat, A Knight’s Inn franchise owner in southern Georgia, divine intervention did come – in the form of assistance from GCR Capital.

TIMELY EXPERIENCE

A few years back, after the events of 9/11 all but shut down travel and tourism, and stirred more than a few jittery non-Indian owners to plant signs of patriotism (“American Owned”) on their lawns, times were tight for Mahesh. Then he had heart surgery.

“I was in need of some money,” says Mahesh, “so I called GCR Capital. And John [Grant, of GCR Capital] is a really supportive man. Very good, he is. Very positive thinking, and in a difficult time, he helped me out.” For Mahesh, who has been in the industry for more than a decade, his experience was not just an uplifting one; GCR Capital had delivered on a challenge.

“They are business professionals and they have kept up their promises within the time frame,” says Mahesh. “I had some deadlines and they did it prior to the deadline. Obviously, the economy and the market were bad. We decided on GCR Capital in part because they got equipment from good companies.” Also, as Mahesh would learn, GCR Capital did their homework to get “the best possible rates and helped us get all of the equipment we needed – from machines to furniture,” he says.

A FAMILIAR STORY

Mahesh may represent something of a stereotypical image these days: Out of 52,000 small and mid-sized motels and hotels in the U.S., more than 18,000 are Indian-owned, according to the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, an advocacy group that’s been in existence since 1989.

With so many Indians in the business, it’s a familiar story, but for Mahesh, it’s his own: In the early 1990’s he followed his brother, a heart surgeon, over to the U.S. and began in the hotel industry as a convenient way to earn income while having a place to stay and raise a family. (Incidentally, his brother consulted on but didn’t actually carry out Mahesh’s angioplasty procedure.)

In fact, Indians often come to the U.S. following a sibling, and many of these are professionals with higher education degrees, often doctors and engineers. Like so many first-generation Indian hotel owners, it is Mahesh’s son, Mahet, 30, that will carry on the family business.

“There are two routes of consciousness,” says Mahesh, when prompted to share his business philosophy. “Listen to the one that helps you survive better for the long term. One may not be as wise,” but he emphasizes, “Follow the route that will bring you greater results for the longer term.”

While Mahesh sounds like he could be waxing philosophic in passing on the family business, he says he is specifically referring to his decision to go the GCR Capital way, which didn’t get such greater results by mere chance.

PERSONALIZED SERVICE

“There is a definite advantage to having personalized service,” says Mahesh. “In this business, people care about your credibility, just as they would care for their own.” GCR Capital’s assistance has provided Mahesh with such credibility, and proved to be a smart financing decision. His business now has a better foundation, he says. “For our patrons we have increased our efficiency and workability. From my experience, I recommend GCR Capital because they provide excellent possibilities for the businessman.”

According to Mahesh, GCR Capital excels in three key areas:

Time. “A finance company’s time sensitivity is vital in order that you get the financing that will bring you the right equipment at the right time, in alignment with your plan,” says Mahesh.

Interest Rates. “Next, it’s important that you get best rate of interest.” GCR Capital did that, he says.

Personalized Service. For Mahesh, this includes personal attention and trust.“Trust is everything in business and if your trust is then kept by someone, this eases the heart and mind. GCR Capital proved good for me,” he says.“

Besides having financing,” says Mahesh, “we have found a new experience and learned new things.”

Interestingly, Mahesh’s last name is Saraswat; the Indian Goddess of Learning is Saraswati. True to his name, he continues to expand his knowledge and business along the way.

And these days, Mahesh is wiser, his heart is lighter, and he has every reason to believe: “GCR Capital has helped us build a future,” he smiles. “I wish them good luck; God bless America and God bless GCR Capital.”

CONTACT INFO:
Mahesh Saraswat
Owner/Operator
Satyan Shivam Associates Inc.
A Knight's Inn Motel, Georgia
www.knightsinn.com
(904) 538-0138