The owner's magazine that answers back.
For 26 years Hotel Vikas has carried news, CEO conversations and recognition to America's hotel owners. Now our HotelKnowledge desk answers your questions on rates, brands, PIPs, reviews and AI search, in English, Gujarati or Hindi, any hour.
This week, and what it means for your hotel
Every story ends with one owner move. Summaries are written by Hotel Vikas; tap the source to read the original report. The desk refreshes every Monday and Thursday.
Pick your desk. We'll take it from there.
Owners, advertisers, nominators, speakers and event organizers each reach the right person at Hotel Vikas. Your note opens in WhatsApp, already written, so one tap sends it.
Nominations are open for 2027.
Hotel Vikas honors the owners, leaders and frontline teams who build America's hotel industry. Self-nominations are welcome; a panel of hospitality experts selects the honorees.
- Nilesh PatelNashville
- Milan PatelMemphis
- David Kongthen CEO, Best Western
- CEOs of leading hotel brandsearlier years
Full history at americanhotelhero.com. Sponsors can present a category; see the Advertise desk.
Where owners meet next
Running an event for hotel owners?
Invite Hotel Vikas for media coverage, an award presentation, or publisher Hiten Bhuta as a speaker on AI and the future of hotels.
26 years on the owner's side of the desk
Hotel Vikas began as a short-format print magazine for senior hotel decision-makers, mailed to owners' homes, with no more than 25 screened advertisers in an issue. It gave the Asian-Indian owner community a voice with the CEOs who shaped the franchise era. Today the same desk runs on AI.
Recognition begins
The Hotel Hero program starts honoring excellence in hotel ownership.
Magazine launches
A concise monthly for hotel CEOs and owners, read in all 50 states.
hotelvikas.com
Domain registered April 8, 2008, bringing the magazine online.
16 issues, 28,000 readers
By June 2011: 9,583 mailing subscribers, 28,000 newsletter readers and 38 published interviews.
The conversations
25 interviews with leaders of Choice, Marriott, Wyndham, Best Western, Carlson, ITC, Oberoi and more.
OpenStayOS
Hotel Vikas hosts a working draft of a vendor-neutral global hotel operating standard for industry review.
AI edition
HotelKnowledge launches: news, answers and recognition through AI, in three languages.
Your story
Nominate a hero, share an idea, or invite us to your event.
Conversations on record · titles at the time of interview
The news finds the leak. Cyberweb fixes it.
Hotel Vikas is a Cyberweb Hotels company. When a story on this page touches your hotel, Cyberweb's team has a service built for independent and franchised owners.
AI agents & AEO
Answer Engine Optimization so ChatGPT and other assistants cite your hotel, not only the OTAs. Plus custom AI agents and staff training.
Check my AI visibility →All Review Management
We track and answer guest reviews on Google, Booking.com, Expedia, TripAdvisor and more within 72 hours.
Review my reviews →SmartSELL book-direct site
Your own website, SEO, social and Google Business Profile, so more guests book you directly.
Plan my website →Multi-channel PPC
Search and metasearch campaigns that win back guests already typing your hotel's name.
Protect my name →AskTery chatbot
An AI concierge on WhatsApp, Facebook, SMS and your website that answers guests and helps them book.
Add a chatbot →Google Travel listing
Optimize your inventory on Google's hotel results so travelers book through you.
List me on Google →30 years in hotel technology. 2,000+ U.S. hotels.
IP built by our Mumbai engineering team, with sales, support and billing from Tampa. Two U.S. software patents in gamification and online reviews.
Read, watch and go deeper
Hiten Bhuta
Founder & CEO, Cyberweb Hotels and CGS Infotech
- 30 years in hospitality technology and digital marketing
- Two U.S. software patents, in gamification and online reviews
- IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Bombay (SJMSOM) executive alumnus
- Indo-US Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award, 2025
- Author of 30+ books; foresight series since 1997 at OpenClearFuture