Thinking about buying or operating a hotel, but not sure where to start?

Sujay Mehta built a $187M hospitality portfolio by betting on himself, starting lean, and learning through execution. In this episode, he breaks down what most people get wrong about hotel investing and how you can start smarter.

You’ll learn:

• How to determine which hotel brand fits a deal best
• How the “Mamba Mentality” shaped his risk tolerance and execution
• What he learned by making his first deal a ground-up development
• Whether a boutique hotel can compete with Hilton in your market
• How to add real value to a flagged hotel without a massive reno
• Why throwing away bacon could cost you $1M+ at exit
• The case for self-management vs hiring a third-party operator

Whether you're analyzing your first hotel deal or looking to scale your portfolio, this one’s packed with tactical insights and real-world lessons.

About Sujay

Sujay Mehta is a hotel entrepreneur and real estate investor who built a $187M+ hospitality portfolio before turning 30. A former cancer researcher turned founder, Sujay leads Bloom Ventures—a Columbus-based investment firm focused on boutique and branded hotel development, ground-up builds, and value-add repositioning. He’s known for his creative capital strategies, operational insight, and commitment to hospitality with purpose. Through content, syndications, and strategic partnerships, Sujay helps others scale in the hotel space while staying grounded in family and mission.

Connect with Sujay

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sujay-mehta-b80411142/

Website: https://bloom.ventures/ & https://www.kafafinancial.com/

Instagram: @sujmehta , @kafafinancial & @hotelinvestoracademy

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Connect with Mike and Nate:

Invest with Mike & Nate: malama-capital.com/invest

Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook

Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Today’s guest bought a roadside motel in a town of 900 people and turned it into a thriving hospitality brand.

In this episode of the Hotel Investor Playbook, Mike and Nate sit down with Austin Phippen, a 26‑year‑old owner of Chama Trails Motel, a portfolio of 12 short-term rentals and a scenic wedding venue in Chama, New Mexico.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• The “Motel Hack” mindset: How Austin got in with seller financing and turned the motel into both home and business
• Scaling without overbuilding: Why he ran it “as-is” in year one and focused on reviews before renovations
• Bundling to build a team: How combining the motel, STRs, and a venue created enough revenue for full staffing
• Remote operations, done right: What you must know before investing in a rural town you don’t live in
• Marketing that works: Why Google reviews and great operations now drive over 85% of bookings directly

If you’re serious about hospitality investing, especially in rural or seasonal markets, this episode is a must-listen masterclass in bootstrapping, brand-building, and sustainable growth.

About Austin

Austin and Karlee Phippen are the powerhouse couple behind Turquoise Antler Hospitality, a growing portfolio of boutique rentals, a 16-room motel, and a stunning wedding venue in Chama, New Mexico. Since launching in 2019, they've transformed a small-town motel into a thriving hospitality brand with a team of 20 and over a dozen co-hosted properties. With Austin’s background in construction and Karlee’s roots in hospitality, they’ve created unique stays that blend rustic charm with modern comfort. In this episode, they share how they scaled their business, built community partnerships, and navigated the wild world of rural hospitality.

Connect with Austin

Email: austin@turquoiseantler.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-phippen-730569124/

Instagram: @chamavacationrentals and @phippenout

Website: https://chamavacationrentals.com/

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Invest with Mike & Nate: malama-capital.com/invest

Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook

Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com