For the second consecutive year, Americas Best Value Inn—Turlock Inn has been voted the  2012 Readers' Choice as the best hotel in the Turlock area.

Naresh and Amita Patel, a small family living on the actual premises, said their hotel has prospered over the years thanks to fellow community members and their ingenuity in providing services that welcome customers as family members.

“I always like people to know that I don’t have customers or clients, but guests,” said Naresh Patel. “You can’t just be putting heads in beds; you have to be doing more.”

Patel has been at Turlock Inn for 31 years, and said those years taught him many different aspects about the business — like going above and beyond the call of innkeeper.  Patel has provided a shuttle for hotel members to be picked up, taken guests grocery shopping, and has even given tours as far as Yosemite.

“Hotels and shuttles go together. I could buy a car that I could drive discreetly, but my guests are the ones making my family possible. I have a van, which still serves purpose as a family car, but now I can do more,” he said. “My guests are my priority.”

Quality is important to the Patels.  They professionally wash linens at 180 degrees; and Naresh said  that he doesn’t invest in feather pillows, but relies on cotton since it is a natural fiber and repels bacterial infection where feathers don’t.

Patel said he encourages his housekeepers to take their time, whereas most hotels have a time limit on each room. The Turlock Inn also has an air-flow system that replaces 40 cubic feet of air in each room every minute of the day.

The hotels are also stocked with free Wi-Fi, handicap rooms are available as are roll-in showers, tub benches, and wheelchairs if need. Free continental breakfasts are also made by the owners to prevent guests from burdening their morning.

Patel said he owes his success to joining the Business Network Organization. BNI helps build relationships with business owners, a few of which are located within the Turlock region.

“We get to know each other personally, and build a relationship with trust.  We like to endorse our fellow members. They know my product through me, and they don’t second guess my product,” he said.

Since joining the program six years ago, Patel has noticed that he is continuing to learn and grow in a positive manner. His involvement has helped increase customers by referral.

As a way to integrate the community into his hotel, Patel had a local artist paint a mural of a Valley agricultural scene with a windmill out front. Patel plans to extend the mural with touchable displays on the lawn to match the rural region.

America's Best Value Inn — Turlock Inn is located at 701 20th Century Blvd., Turlock. For more information, call 634-3111 or visit www.americasbestvalueinn.com/bestv.cfm?idp=1524.