@Halliwell
As with many things, a kin network is easier to recognise when you see one than it is to precisely define. I would say it's an informal social group that lies somewhere between an extended family and a common ethnicity. These connections may give members of the group a competitive advantage in terms of shared expertise, financing and other means of support.
I asked CoPilot about which ethnic groups were prominent in the American motel business:
Indian‑Americans of Gujarati origin—especially those with the surname Patel—are by far the most prominent ethnic group in the American motel business. This is not a stereotype but a well‑documented demographic and economic reality supported by multiple independent sources.
🏨 Dominant Group in the U.S. Motel Industry
Gujarati Patels — Members of the Gujarati Indian community, particularly those named Patel, own a striking share of American motels. Estimates indicate they control around 60% of the U.S. hospitality business, despite being less than 1% of the U.S. population.
This pattern is so widespread that the term “Patel Motel Cartel” is commonly used to describe their presence in the economy‑motel sector.
The Patel presence began in the mid‑20th century, with early pioneers like Kanji Manchhu Desai, whose success encouraged others from Gujarat to enter the industry.
By the 1960s and 1970s, waves of Gujarati immigrants—often connected through family networks—began purchasing small, affordable roadside motels, building a nationwide ownership network.
🧭 Why This Group Became So Prominent
Community financing networks (rotating credit associations) helped new arrivals buy motels.
Family‑run operations reduced labor costs and made small motels economically viable.
Willingness to relocate to rural or highway locations where motels were affordable.
Intergenerational continuity, with second‑ and third‑generation Indian‑Americans continuing in the business.
The Patels in Britain are more closely associated with running newsagents (paper shops, corner shops, Paki shops as we used to call them), although many of them reportedly came from Kenya and Uganda in the 1960s and 70s where their business skills seem to have been similarly underappreciated.
In certain parts of Britain, many petrol stations with their convenience stores seem to be run/staffed by Sri Lankans. I heard that a high proportion of these are Tamils, but I'm not sure.