A New Direction for Pathfinder Development in the New Decade

Pathfinder Development’s new developments shake everything up for the company’s future.

Welcome to the new Pathfinder Development! We are so excited to share and celebrate Pathfinder Development’s 2020 debut with all of you. With new branding, a new website, and an entirely new company direction, this is the future for our hospitality management company.

When COVID-19 shocked the world, Pathfinder Development chose to make lemonade out of lemons by not shying away from the seemingly difficult tasks that lay ahead. While keeping the doors open at ALL of our hotels, Pathfinder Development made use of the PPP loan to invest in the company’s new direction, and here we are. We are rebranded, rebuilt, and better than ever, and our new website is meant to take you on that new journey along with us.

Part of our new direction doesn’t just include visuals, but our internal goals, mission, and vision have also all evolved. Our mission is to provide the best in class hospitality by delivering memorable experiences, enriching the lives of others, investing in our teams, and creating high-value growth for all stakeholders. Our vision is to expand the reach of our unrivaled hospitality.

We also took the mission and vision beyond by making use of the PPP loan to bring in experts to consult on Senior Living projects, ramp up our Business Development efforts, and build our Marketing & PR measures from the ground up. We now have a marketing strategy for our corporate needs along with each hotel’s personal persona. Our social media pages have grown and we are so proud of the story that each one tells. Our Business Development team has shifted its focus and started thinking about new and innovative ways to reach new clients and investors. We also restructured our sales team and together, we are more aligned as a company than ever before.

“Above and Beyond” captures the sheer essence of what Pathfinder Development is all about. It is reflected in the hotels we develop and manage, in the memorable experiences we create for our guests through our commitment to Platinum Service, and in the extent of investment and support we provide to our properties to continue to stand out from our competitors. We also believe that that extends directly to our team members and this new way of Pathfinder Development is emphasizing recruitment, talent development, and training more than ever before. We understand that expanding our teams is a crucial investment in our future, and we couldn’t be more proud of what’s to come. 

The new site was built by Lyfenmotion Designs.

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Pathfinder Development was founded in 2005 and currently manages 6 hotels in Texas with a 7th in the works. These hotels include Residence Inn by Marriott in Southwest Austin, Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Austin Arboretum, Staybridge Suites in Humble/Houston, Staybridge Suites in NASA/Clearlake, Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Houston, and Hampton Inn in Port Arthur. Our 7th incoming hotel will be the Aloft in Southwest Austin.

Follow us on Social Media: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PathfinderDev

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pathfinderdev

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathfinderdev

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Chirag Patel

Founder and Managing Director

Chirag founded Pathfinder Development with his high school buddy, Rahul Bahl, in 2005 with the intention of leaving a true impression on the hospitality industry. Chirag’s love for architecture shines as he oversees various aspects of the portfolio including analysis and selection of future development opportunities, financial structuring and new construction/renovation management. Prior to founding Pathfinder, he was with the private equity firm American Securities Capital Partners and at the consultancy McKinsey & Co. in the Corporate Finance & Strategy practice. Chirag received a Bachelor of Science magna cum laude from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. When Chirag isn’t in a hard hat at our new developments, you can find him travelling the world with his wife and two kids.

Rahul Bahl

Founder and Managing Director

After founding Pathfinder Development with his high school friend, Chirag Patel, he quickly moved into the role of overseeing multiple aspects of the portfolio. Rahul’s passion for the team radiates as he focuses on revenue generation strategies, operational and HR processes, and he oversees interior design for new properties and properties undergoing renovations. Prior to founding Pathfinder, Rahul received a Masters in Professional Accounting from the University of Texas and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Trinity University.  When Rahul isn’t visiting all the properties with his dog, Bo, he loves spending as much time in nature as he can, particularly near the water. One day, he even hopes to learn how to swim!

Becky Lister

Vice President Sales & Business Development

Becky Lister is Vice President Sales and Business Development for Pathfinder Hospitality and Virtually Talent, with over 20 years of experience across Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt, and Choice Hotels. She leads growth initiatives spanning hotel management, owner and developer partnerships, talent solutions, and revenue focused strategy.

Outside of work, Becky enjoys overseas travel with her husband and dreams of one day calling Paris home.

Caleb LarsEn-Torres

Director of Learning and Development

With over a decade of experience in the Learning & Development space, Caleb specializes in creating and delivering impactful training programs that empower employees and drive organizational growth. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of leading high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, and guiding them toward achieving their goals.

Currently based in Austin, TX, Caleb holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Outside of work, he is a proud dog parent to an English Bulldog and an Australian Shepherd. Caleb enjoys hiking, binge-watching Netflix, and indulging in any water-based activity.

Andrei Cherestes

Revenue Management and Business Development

Andrei Cheresteș is a versatile finance and data professional with a passion for driving growth and innovation in the hospitality industry. Based in Bucharest, Romania, Andrei holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Philosophy from King’s College London, where he developed a unique blend of analytical expertise and creative problem-solving skills.

As a Top-Rated Data Analyst on Upwork, Andrei has completed 26 successful projects, specializing in financial modeling, revenue optimization, and data-driven decision-making. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to found Sabaki Courses, an innovative educational platform that grew to 300+ paying customers and gained over 17,000 TikTok followers through engaging content and strategic marketing.

At Pathfinder Development, Andrei applies his expertise to optimize revenue strategies for leading hotel brands, including IHG, Marriott, and Hyatt. His ability to blend data analysis with financial insights drives profitability and aligns with Pathfinder’s vision for growth.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Andrei brings a global perspective shaped by extensive travel across Asia and South America, as well as a transformative volunteering experience at the Isha Yoga Center in India. His dedication to mindfulness, combined with his love for the ancient strategy game Go (ranked 2 dan), reflects his thoughtful and strategic approach to both work and life.

Gabriela Ayuch

Executive Assistant

After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism, Gabriela has had the opportunity to work across various areas of the industry, including customer service, sales, and administration. These experiences have allowed Gabriela to steadily build skills while adapting to the evolving challenges of hospitality management.

As an Executive Assistant, Gabriela collaborates closely with company leaders to support operational success and strategic growth. Her role involves coordinating initiatives, driving cross-departmental collaboration, and ensuring the seamless execution of company objectives.

Outside business hours, she can be found looking for the next binge-watch on a rainy day, enjoying the outdoors when it’s sunny, or planning the next trip anytime.

Nicole Potter

controller

Nicole Potter is an experienced Controller with a strong background in financial management, accounting, and internal controls. She is dedicated to improving financial operations and fostering growth through data-driven insights and efficient financial practices. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with family, including her cat Pepper.

Meyser MArcano

Sales Assistant

Meyser Marcano is a dynamic Sales Assistant from Venezuela, dedicated to streamlining the team’s workflow and enhancing efficiency in every process. Passionate about languages and continuous learning, he is always looking to improve his skills and add greater value to his team while delivering an exceptional experience to both clients and colleagues. His proactive approach and commitment to growth allow him to contribute effectively to the optimization of operations and the overall success of the team. Outside of work he enjoys singing and dreams of becoming a recognized singer.

Phil Francis

Accounting Assistant

A passionate Certified Tax Technician from the Philippines and a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, Phil has a deep understanding of tax laws and financial reporting.

Specializing in helping clients effectively manage their financial records, he ensures a clear and accurate picture of a business’s financial health. Phil’s goal is to empower businesses with the knowledge they need to make informed and confident decisions that drive growth and success.

Paola Martinez

L&D Specialist

Paola Martínez is a Learning & Development Specialist at Pathfinder Hospitality. In this role for the past year, she has contributed to the growth and development of others through impactful learning experiences. She holds a degree in International Studies and is based in Caracas, Venezuela.

Passionate about connecting with people, she firmly believes that education is the most powerful weapon to change the world. Her work in Learning & Development allows her to help others grow while actively embodying this principle.