Discover A Blueprint For Scaling From Side Hustle To A Thriving 10+ Hotel Portfolio with Neil Shah

03/31/25 • 54 min

In this episode of The Radical Hospitality Show, host Zeke Freeman sits down with Neil Shah, founder of Inntech Management and owner/operator of 13 hotels, including six in Sedona, Arizona. Neil shares his inspiring journey from immigrant electrical engineer to hospitality entrepreneur. He reveals how he got his start with just $20,000 saved from a side hustle building websites, and how that turned into a growing portfolio of boutique hotels.

Neil breaks down his investment strategy, partnership dynamics, operations philosophy, and what it really takes to succeed in the boutique hotel space—especially when transitioning from short-term rentals. This episode is packed with real-life lessons, tactical advice, and behind-the-scenes stories that are especially helpful for aspiring hoteliers, STR operators, and real estate entrepreneurs.

Key Topics Discussed:

Neil’s journey from India to owning 13 hotels in Arizona
How a side hustle funded his first hotel investment
The power of mentorship and long-term partnerships
What it takes to transition from STR to hotel ownership
Operational efficiencies, financing strategies, and building teams
Technology tools for hotel operations (Cloudbeds, DDL, Whistle)
Workforce housing challenges and solutions in high-cost areas
Advice for structuring GP/LP partnerships
What to consider before jumping into new hotel construction
How Neil turned around a 30% occupancy hotel into a thriving asset

02:15 Neil's Journey: From Electrical Engineer to Hotel Owner

03:04 First Steps in the Hotel Industry

04:09 The Big Realization: Loving the Hospitality Business

04:37 From College to Flagstaff: Building a Career

06:14 First Investment: The Best Western Deal

12:56 Scaling Up: The Tucson Property

17:24 Partnership Dynamics and Mentorship

21:44 Advice for Aspiring Hotel Entrepreneurs

27:00 Staffing Needs for Larger Properties

27:39 Transitioning from Airbnb to Boutique Hotels

28:13 Challenges in Hotel Management Systems

29:49 Common Mistakes by New Hoteliers

30:39 Defining Your Buy Box and Raising Capital

31:42 Current Portfolio and Management Strategies

34:23 Technology and Operations in Boutique Hotels

37:28 Dealing with Workforce Housing Challenges

38:54 Impact of Political Changes on Business

40:23 Advice for Limited and General Partners

43:41 Acquiring vs. New Construction

46:23 Case Study: Successful Repositioning in Sedona

53:15 Future Plans and Mentorship

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot
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Key Topics Discussed:

Neil’s journey from India to owning 13 hotels in Arizona
How a side hustle funded his first hotel investment
The power of mentorship and long-term partnerships
What it takes to transition from STR to hotel ownership
Operational efficiencies, financing strategies, and building teams
Technology tools for hotel operations (Cloudbeds, DDL, Whistle)
Workforce housing challenges and solutions in high-cost areas
Advice for structuring GP/LP partnerships
What to consider before jumping into new hotel construction
How Neil turned around a 30% occupancy hotel into a thriving asset

02:15 Neil's Journey: From Electrical Engineer to Hotel Owner

03:04 First Steps in the Hotel Industry

04:09 The Big Realization: Loving the Hospitality Business

04:37 From College to Flagstaff: Building a Career

06:14 First Investment: The Best Western Deal

12:56 Scaling Up: The Tucson Property

17:24 Partnership Dynamics and Mentorship

21:44 Advice for Aspiring Hotel Entrepreneurs

27:00 Staffing Needs for Larger Properties

27:39 Transitioning from Airbnb to Boutique Hotels

28:13 Challenges in Hotel Management Systems

29:49 Common Mistakes by New Hoteliers

30:39 Defining Your Buy Box and Raising Capital

31:42 Current Portfolio and Management Strategies

34:23 Technology and Operations in Boutique Hotels

37:28 Dealing with Workforce Housing Challenges

38:54 Impact of Political Changes on Business

40:23 Advice for Limited and General Partners

43:41 Acquiring vs. New Construction

46:23 Case Study: Successful Repositioning in Sedona

53:15 Future Plans and Mentorship

Previous Episode

Why Grit, Risk, and Vision Matter in Business and Climbing with Asa Firestone, CEO of A-Lodge

In this episode of The Radical Hospitality Show, host Zeke Freeman sits down with Asa Firestone—climber, adventurer, and CEO of A-Lodge—to unpack the wild journey from scaling granite walls in the Amazon to creating one of Colorado's most unique hospitality experiences.

Asa shares what it means to build a life around adventure, how near-death expeditions taught him tenacity, and the surprising lessons he carried from the big walls of El Capitan into building A-Lodge. Together, Zeke and Asa explore the parallels between entrepreneurship and exploration, the evolution of adventure hospitality, and why sometimes not knowing the full plan is a feature—not a bug.

Whether you’re a climber, a creative, or a business builder, this episode will challenge you to go all in—even when the summit seems far away.

What We Cover:

Growing up between D.C. and Colorado, and falling in love with the outdoors
Big wall climbing in Yosemite, Peru, and a wild National Geographic expedition to Venezuela
The uncomfortable lessons of solo climbing—and solo entrepreneurship
Building A-Lodge from scratch and reimagining what "adventure hospitality" means
Tips on seasonal hospitality, off-season strategy, and building for both climbers and families
How to commit to a path even if you don’t know the outcome

Quotes Worth Remembering:

“At a certain point, it’s easier to keep moving forward than to bail.”
“If you're not growing, you're dying—and that applies to people just as much as business.”
“Sometimes the climb you didn’t finish teaches you the most.”

🔗 Links & Resources:

A-Lodge Website
Learn more about Zeke Freeman & Root Architecture: root-ad.com

Next Episode

How Adventure Built a Hotel: Bobby Mikulas on Purposeful Hospitality

In this episode of the Radical Hospitality Show, host Zeke Freeman interviews Bobby Mikulas, co-founder of Kinship Landing, a boutique hotel in Colorado Springs.

Bobby shares his journey from a non-hospitality background to creating a community-centric hotel that emphasizes adventure and local experiences. The conversation delves into the importance of core values in building a strong team and navigating the challenges of starting a new hospitality venture, including the construction process and lessons learned along the way. In this conversation, Bobby from Kinship Landing shares insights on navigating the complexities of construction costs, hotel operations, and future visions for community engagement.

He discusses the importance of budgeting, contractor relationships, and the challenges faced during hotel development. Bobby emphasizes the significance of culture in hotel management and the need for strategic partnerships. He also outlines his vision for expanding Kinship Landing and engaging with local communities through various initiatives.

03:55 Building a Community-Centric Boutique Hotel

09:33 Core Values and Team Formation

15:38 From Concept to Construction

20:14 Navigating Construction Challenges

25:58 Navigating Construction Bids and Budgeting

26:36 Dealing with Budget Overruns and Bank Issues

28:57 Strategies for Contractor Agreements

32:19 Incentivizing Contractors for Better Results

33:07 Transitioning to Hotel Operations

34:23 DIY vs. Professional Hotel Management

36:18 Key Roles in Hospitality Management

41:00 Balancing Unique Experiences with Professional Management