Welcome to The EV Evolution Venue superior hotel experience smart way
EV HOTEL LEADERSHIP
KEN PATEL - FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN
I'm a visionary leader in the hospitality industry, often called the "Elon Musk of Hospitality." Recognized as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Hospitality leaders globally in the 2021 Hospitality Power Index TM, I aim to revolutionize the industry through technology innovations that create exceptional experiences for guests and employees. With an MBA in International Hospitality Management from a top-ranked school, I have dedicated myself to hospitality since my teenage years. Originally from NYC, I now reside in Atlanta, driven by the belief that relentless pursuit leads to success. Over 25 years have created a network of athletes, celebrities, and world giants to understand business acumen. I tend to think you have to lead rather then follow.
Career Highlights:
- Developed over 40 hotels globally.
- Over 25 years in operations and development including senior level positions.
- Launched the world’s first AI Smart Hotel in 2021.
- Launched EV smart branded smart devices driven by AI and integrated AI app.
- Provided strategic guidance to brands on the implementation of Smart Connect rooms, resulting in the automation of guest experiences. Achieved an unprecedented perfect scorecard for monthly guest experiences.
- Led the leadership team in the first-ever rollout of Formula Blue design space worldwide.
- Served as an Advisor and Executive board member for Phase 4, which encompassed a 5-star hotel, a villa complex, restaurants, and commercial retail stores. Developed backend strategies to enhance Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) and Average Daily Rate (ADR), resulting in an impressive 18% increase in YoY hotel revenue and a 22% increase in RevPAR.
- Successfully implemented Quore software for IHG Worldwide, which has now become a widely adopted solution among hotel brands globally.
Executive Positions Held
CEO, CDO, COO, VP of Operations, Regional Director of Operations
NEETI DEWAN - CFO
Neeti Dewan, a globally renowned finance and tax leader, is a successful serial entrepreneur with over two decades of experience working for top corporations like KPMG, Ryan, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Arthur Anderson, and Aramark Corporation. She is also an author and valued for her insights on increasing productivity and profitability in the business world. Neeti has served on prestigious boards and has leveraged her deep understanding of accounting, finance, and strategic planning to drive the success and growth of companies. She obtained masters in taxation from Villanova University and a BA in Economics from California State University-Northridge, and has received numerous awards for her leadership.
Executive Positions Held
-Directors & Boards Magazine, “Directors to Watch”
-“Most Successful Businesswoman to Watch 2021”
NANCY PATEL - EVP
Nancy Nayana Patel is a successful female business entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the industry. She is known for her innovative approach to business and her ability to turn ideas into profitable ventures.
With a strong background in business, finance and marketing, Nancy has a keen eye for identifying market trends and opportunities. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated her ability to lead teams, build relationships with clients, and drive growth in a variety of industries.
Her passion for entrepreneurship and commitment to excellence have made her a respected leader in the business community. Whether she is developing new products, expanding into new markets, or implementing new strategies, Nancy is dedicated to helping her companies succeed and making a positive impact on the world.
With her drive, passion, and expertise, Nancy is an inspiration to women in business and a shining example of what can be achieved with determination and hard work.
Executive Positions Held
VP of Operations EV Hotel, Head of Franchise Development EV Hotel, President/CEO Nishita Investments LLC,
Corporate Relations/Stakeholder Triton Electric Vehicles, Vice President Kosmada LLC, President/CEO Your Future Financial Solutions LLC, Past President LPS of USA, Past Board of Director AAHOA,
Treasurer Corpus Christi Tourism Public Improvement District, Board of Director Noras Home, Trustee for Sri Sai Cardiac Hospital Bardoli India.
RAZ PATEL - Vice President of Brand Lifestyle & Sustainability
Raz Patel is the Vice President of Brand Lifestyle & Sustainability at EV Hotel, where she leads the brand’s transformation through curated lifestyle programming and sustainability-driven strategy. Her approach bridges operational integrity, modern design, and cultural relevance—positioning EV Hotel as a forward-facing destination for today’s evolving guest.
With over 25 years of experience in entrepreneurship, Raz has launched and led ventures at the intersection of healthcare, lifestyle, and brand development. She is a multi-property real estate investor with holdings across commercial and lifestyle sectors, and the owner of independent healthcare companies—where she successfully integrated sustainability and systems innovation into high-compliance, service-based models.
Her business leadership is backed by a strong foundation in operational efficiency, compliance, and risk-aware strategy. Hospitality also runs in her roots—her husband’s family brings a long-standing legacy in the hotel industry, grounding her in both the cultural and operational dimensions of service excellence.
Raz is the founder of Lumina Lifeworks Entertainment, a platform at the intersection of leadership, lifestyle, and media. She is the host of The Raz Patel Show, a digital series known for fearless conversations on identity, image, and reinvention. She also co-creates and co-hosts the upcoming reality TV series Hotel Reboot, filmed in partnership with EV Hotel’s founder, which offers an inside look at hospitality transformation through design, technology, and lifestyle innovation.
Featured in national publications, broadcast outlets, and fashion runways, Raz Patel is recognized as a visible voice in human-centric leadership. Also an actress, author, and speaker, she brings a multidimensional lens to EV Hotel—bridging insight and innovation to shape the future of hospitality with purpose and presence.
Executive Positions Held
Founder- Raz Patel Show
Founder- Lumina Lifeworks Entertainment
Co Founder- Hotel Reboot
Senior Executive- Healthcare
Nick Weigel- Senior Crypto Advisor
Nick comes to us with 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry. His day-to-day expertise lies in helping franchisees revamp their outdated select service hotel assets, transforming them into modern, brand-aligned spaces that meet the high standards of today’s market. His team has been working with the top brands for over 40 years. Nick brings unmatched experience and knowledge in branding, renovations, and contractual agreements to EV Hotel and the hospitality industry.
Outside of his professional life, Nick is a devoted husband and father of four, balancing the demands of family life with his thriving career. Though his love for fishing and hunting remains a passion, his schedule is typically filled with the hustle of school runs and sporting events for his kids. Despite his busy day-to-day, Nick is always focused on creating lasting impact, both in his work and for his family.
He has been immersed in the world of NFTs and crypto since 2020, started his journey by learning about the Ethereum & Bitcoin blockchains. His initial dive into web3 was using Ethereum cryptocurrency to purchase NFTs, which opened his eyes to their power as access passes to unique communities, exclusive experiences, and the overall appeal to collectors of all types.
Over the years, he has gained hands-on experience in all aspects of this evolving industry. Nick traded NFTs, created his own, launched 6 meme tokens on the Base blockchain, and simply vibed in multiple communities. Along the way, he has managed and moderated many different projects and is still actively working in @Horde_Ai and @MooncatzNFT, guiding them through growth and challenges persevering when others fail.
One of his most pivotal roles was as the COO of a promising TradFi startup. Although the company ultimately failed due to an untrustworthy CEO, that experience provided invaluable lessons in leadership, adaptability, and the high stakes of building a web3 product and community from the ground up.
Today, he is incredibly proud of how far he’s come in both Web3 and life. Nick’s diverse experiences have shaped his understanding and love of the space. He is grateful for the growth, both personally and professionally, and is excited to continue pushing boundaries and contributing to the next wave of innovation here at EV Hotel.
Executive Positions Held
Senior Level- Crypto
Senior Level- NFT
Founder- 6 Crypto Projects
Project Manager- Horde AI and Mooncatz
Advisory Board EV Hotel
JEFF DRISKEL
Jeff Driskel is a versatile NFL player who excels in both quarterback and tight end positions. He has played for multiple teams throughout his career, including the Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, and San Francisco 49ers. Off the field, Driskel has received several awards, such as the 2018 Ed Block Courage Award for his resilience in overcoming adversity and the Houston Texans Impact Team Newcomer of the Year for his commitment to community service. Prior to his NFL career, Driskel achieved success at the University of Florida and Louisiana Tech, and he was recognized for his leadership and community service. He is also actively involved in the Orlando Health Foundation as a board member.
EXECUTIVE POSITIONS HELD
NFL PLAYER
MARLENA BUKSH
Marlena is a licensed broker based in California, boasting an extensive background in the real estate industry spanning over two decades. With a focus on commercial real estate consultancy, Marlena and her team have a proven track record in various sectors, including hospitality, multi-family, data centers, office spaces, retail, land development, student housing, NNN properties, value-add projects, and ground-up developments. Their client base encompasses a diverse range of individuals and institutional organizations across the US, India, Korea, Singapore, and the MENA region. This network comprises individual investors, family offices, equity fund groups, real estate investment trusts (REITs), hedge funds, 1031 exchange placement, commercial investment groups, builders, and developers. Marlena's team excels in assisting clients with nationally branded hotels, resorts, condotels, privately owned boutique hotels and motels, as well as large multifamily portfolios. Leveraging their extensive experience and professional capabilities, Marlena and her team provide exceptional services through their global network.
STEFAN SCHULZ
Stefan Schulz is a highly accomplished CEO and co-founder of Bitfury Surround, boasting an impressive track record of more than 25 years in the music industry. Throughout his career, Stefan has consistently been at the forefront of leveraging technology to empower artists. Notably, he played a pivotal role in driving the digital business initiatives of Universal Mobile and Universal Music, spearheading major deals with prominent technology players. Additionally, Stefan co-founded Vivendi's Watchever and collaborated with Simon Fuller on the innovative Now United project. His contributions extend to designing digital live entertainment rights and championing the progress of the music and entertainment industry through groundbreaking concepts like decentralization, tokenization, and AI technology. Stefan holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and has established collaborative partnerships with renowned artists and management teams across Europe and the United States.
EV HOTEL DEVELOPMENT ARM Coming Soon
