A Legacy of Excellence
in Hospitality
Jivan Hospitality Group began in November 1982 when our founder, Jay Bhakta, along with his brothers Arun and Mahesh, purchased a small motel in Panama City, FL. Jay and his wife, Harshita, managed every aspect of the operation—front desk, housekeeping, and maintenance—gaining firsthand experience in what it takes to succeed in the hospitality industry. Building on the success of their first motel, the brothers acquired a second property in Fort Myers, FL. By applying the core values they developed from their first venture, they achieved continued success.
In 1990, the brothers expanded into hotel development, partnering with like-minded individuals to build their first ground-up project. This marked a pivotal moment—not only was it their first development, but it was also their first affiliation with a national brand, Best Western. Jay led the development and, once opened, he and Harshita managed the hotel.
Their sons, Akshat and Akhil, then just 8 and 5 years old, were introduced to the business at an early age, gaining experience in operations. Building on the success of their first development, Jay embarked on an ambitious expansion, developing over 15 hotels from the ground up with renowned brands such as Best Western, Wyndham, Choice, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Hilton, and Marriott.
Over the years, he has owned and operated more than 20 hotels. Committed to fostering the next generation, Jay actively involved his sons in the business, allowing them to attend meetings with lenders, architects, contractors, and hotel brand representatives, equipping them with invaluable industry insights from an early age. Now, with Akshat and Akhil leading the company, they have rebranded as Jivan Hospitality Group—a name that carries deep personal and symbolic significance. Jivan, the name of their grandfather (Jay’s father), also means the essence of life or the journey of living. This rebranding represents both a tribute to their family legacy and a commitment to creating vibrant, high-quality hospitality experiences that enrich the lives of guests and associates alike.
