Vinay Patel, head of Fairbrook Hotels, owns 11 hotels around Virginia. Amar Patel/Courtesy of Vinay Patel
Amar Patel/Courtesy of Vinay Patel
Midday is quiet at a Hampton Inn & Suites near Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia. Staff restock the snacks. A young dad bounces a baby among the grays, browns and teals of the lobby. Eventually, a couple of new arrivals roll a suitcase to the front desk, asking to check in early.
The hotel’s owner, Vinay Patel, has noticed this interaction waning.
“People are now literally not wanting to