Best Value Inn owner speaks out after hotel takes heat
This has been the most difficult year in her professional life, Kala Patel says.
It started in November 2014 when police broke up a prostitution ring that used one of her rooms at Americas Best Value Inn on North Salisbury Boulevard. Then came the shooting last August that killed a teenager who had just left a party at the hotel's banquet hall.
Tears welled in her eyes at times the other day as she told the story from her perspective.
"I work long hours, but I take pride. I love my business," said Patel, who goes by the name "Kelly."
Patel has been the general manager since 2000, when it was still a Howard Johnson. She and her husband, Ben, also own the 123-room hotel.
The hotel, though, increasingly finds itself at the center of unwanted attention.
This is the pariah of Salisbury hotels
Police have visited the property an average of once every five days since the beginning of 2014, a Daily Times and DelmarvaNow.com investigation found earlier this month. The calls have been so frequent that the Salisbury Police Department has started sending special patrols by the hotel as part of a new initiative that uses computer software to predict where crimes may occur.
Then there were the complaints raised during this past summer's United States Specialty Sports Association's Eastern World Series, traditionally Wicomico County's most lucrative tourism event of the year.
Several families complained to county tourism officials that the hotel refused to cancel the last night of their bookings when they were no longer needed. Some also raised concerns about noise and the cleanliness of their rooms.
The newspaper's attempts to reach the hotel's management for that story were unsuccessful.
Patel reached out afterward, sitting down with a reporter in the hotel's lobby at a table beside a gleaming Christmas tree:
One of the things Mayor Jake Day said, relaying something Chief Barbara Duncan had said, was you don’t want to be part of the crime problem. What was your response to that?
It was very sad that it (the murder) happened. I myself couldn’t eat right for days. I’m a parent, too, and it’s somebody’s son. It wasn’t our fault because we know we’re always on top of things, and we hope God helps us and it doesn’t happen anywhere.
How did the party happen and how did it lead to violence?
I was away for three days, and when I came (back) I noticed there was a booking for a party. I talked to my staff, saying "Who booked this and does this person know we’re not booking any wild parties at all?"
He (the organizer) came before the party, and I said, "OK you know our rules and regulations. You have to have your own security." He said it’s a regular birthday party. My front desk also told me he had a party before and never had a problem.
Did he keep those promises?
The party was over. There were people arguing between the mattress place and our parking lot. That’s what I found out the next day. Somehow, somebody got mad or whatever happened and they just (started shooting).
Has this led to any changes in the way you do things?
I told my front desk no banquets. If I do any baby showers or church-type events, I will do the booking. I want to handle it myself.
We are more careful now, even though we were careful. We don’t allow any parties after 10 o’clock.
Why were police calls averaging once every five days?
Especially after this shooting happened, we are more nervous. We try not to take a chance. We want to call to make sure nothing could go on. We didn’t know it was going against us (in the crime reports).
We want to call the police if they really are troublemakers. We’d rather just not take a chance. That’s why we keep on calling. Even if it’s just a boyfriend-girlfriend argument. That doesn’t mean we’re a bad place. We are here to help the community.
Switching gears, what led to the troubles with the USSSA softball teams?
It was a mess this year from the beginning. Our rate is the best rate. Our hotel is a two-star hotel, not a five-star hotel. We gave a price and also our cancellation policy. We have given them (the guests) an outline. If you have any cancellations or changes, you have to let us know seven days prior.
What happened this year, even though there are three days left or five days left, people are asking to cancel. We were like "Oh, no! Again this problem?"
That’s why they were upset. We did it for everybody who called prior, but it’s too late when they had already showed up. We didn’t want to do it because when you do it for one, you have to do it for everybody.
(Note: The hotel eventually refunded the bills for the canceled nights to all those who contacted the county, Patel said.)
What do you say about the concerns they raised about cleanliness?
Every single day our housekeeper serviced those room. Every single day, we do those rooms as a checkout room. We strip those beds of sheets and make sure to disinfect the bathrooms and make sure the linens are changed. But if they find anything wrong, we are 24 hours (maid service). If anyone asks, we would ask the maid to go back and do it.
What about the rumors about the hotel being for sale?
Me, as an owner, have tried so many different ideas. I’ve thought this place is too big. I’m never going to open the bar or restaurant. I’m wasting the place right now.
So what I’m trying to do — 60 rooms in the back might be the best idea. And maybe sell the front desk and make a strip mall or something my guests might have access to.
Maybe I’ll sell the place. Maybe I won’t sell the place. Now, what’s happening with this (Note: She holds up a copy of the newspaper article at this point), I know I’m a good businessperson. I’m not after some profit only.
If I sell the place and run away, people are going to think I’m scared and I’m the one who did wrong. But I haven’t done wrong and I will never do wrong. If I’m broke and I don’t have any business, that’s OK.
For me, it’s my reputation, my name. It’s the first thing. If I ever leave, I want to leave at a good time.
On Twitter @Jeremy_Cox
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