Our History

Hersha Means Happy

Hersha means happy when translated from an ancient language rooted in sanskrit and, not coincidentally, is the name of co-founder Hersha Shah, who is also the wife of co-founder Hasu P. Shah.

We seek to give back to the community and our employees the opportunity to live the american dream.

Like many in the hospitality industry, our company has humble beginnings. Our founders started the business in Harrisburg, PA and, at our first hotels, were operators at the core — in fact, they were our earliest front desk agents, room attendants, and outside sales team.

Our founders realized early-on the value of our associates and the importance of providing personal growth, respecting other’s views, and investing in their employees. Hersha and Hasu recognized the bigger picture and consistently made decisions that would enable long term growth. They had a keen understanding that entrepreneurship alone would not be enough to fulfill the vision of HHM. Building a team and believing in the skills of others would be the only way to build a best-in-class operating company. Growth and scalability required investing in technology and developing process systems early. Strategic and calculated risks empowered our leaders to enter high barrier markets like New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington D.C., which they knew would lead to higher returns for the company.

The Starlite Motel was the first property Hersha and Hasu had purchased.

The company’s core values have not changed since Hersha and Hasu ran their first hotel. The balance of professional pursuits and steady focus on community remain key tenets of the company. The Company’s success is shared with associates through continued investment in the business, enabling growth and providing career advancement. We train associates to develop transferable skills and attract people who want to grow with the Company. We demonstrate respect for all individuals and our associates understand that we are more than an investment company; and that serving the guest is what working in hospitality is all about.

Community, in its many forms, remains at the center of Hersha’s mission: creating an internal community for associates, giving back to the local communities in which hotels operate, and positively impacting communities thousands of miles away through EarthView and other outreach programs.

In these pivotal years of rapid growth, HHM has been able to realize the vision that Hersha and Hasu had nearly a quarter of a century ago while implementing similar measures to ensure continued growth in the future.