Karim Merali BiographyKarim Merali was born 7/17/57 in Kinshasa, The Republic of Congo, Africa. His parents, Pandju and Shirin Merali, had the foresight to educate their three children, Azim, Yasmin and Karim in the French system. They attended the French Lycee in Kinshasa, Brussels and London. The family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1971. Karim finished High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Frazer University, Vancouver, B.C, Canada in 1980. Eager to work, he moved to Montreal in 1980 to manage an apartment and shopping complex. In 1983, shortly after the property was sold, Karim was involved in a serious car accident and moved to El Paso, to join his father and beloved mother. He regained his health and after a brief stint in Cleveland, Ohio and a short time in Denver, Colorado, he moved to Miami. He met Batool in November of 1984. They got married and settled in Miami in 1985. He started an apprenticeship in the hospitality industry and quickly came to realize this industry fit his character perfectly. Karim gained a wealth of experience from 1985 to 1989 working with different franchised chains such as Holiday Inn, Sheraton and Doubletree. In 1989, with the guidance and help from his father, they purchased the three times bankrupt Red Apple Inn in Dallas, Texas. It was converted to the Best Western franchise. Experience, love of the work, and luck made this property the highest occupancy in Texas from 1991 through 1994. In late 1994, the Best Western was bought by a REIT. On April 1st, 1995, the bankrupt Rapid City Inn was purchased with the intent to make it a Radisson Hotel. Karim wishes to express his gratitude for the trust, guidance and financial commitment of his father, the support of his wife at his side throughout the difficult times, and the collective contributions of an engaged team of staff members and employees. He is proud of the success of the Radisson Hotel - Rapid City/Mount Rushmore. Some of his other ventures include a partnership in an office building in Dallas, a warehouse-office complex in Rapid City, South Dakota, and other real estate in Miami and Rapid City. Karim Merali Photographs
Karim Merali
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