Development Franchising
Branding Briefs
Accor A Motel 6 opened in Goodland, KS after a conversion from an Economy 9. Lloyd A. Thola owns and operates the property. Best Western Properties joining...
RED LION UPDATES LOYALTY SCHEME
Welcome to the Red Lion R&R Club, the West Coast chain's new loyalty program. Designed to reflect and facilitate Red Lion's stay comfortable brand promise,...
BRANDING BIEFS
Accor North America Motel 6 added locations in Urbana, IL; Stony Plain, Alberta; Sturbridge, MA; and Grand Prairie, TX, while Studio 6 added properties...
CAPITAL HILTON: 65 YEARS YOUNG
Brian Kelleher is proud of the staff of the Capital Hilton, the Washington, DC landmark he manages. He counts on 90 team members, each with more than...
10 Growth Chains
The pace of expansion among hotel brands appears to be slowing, as shown by the results of Lodging Hospitality's annual study of the fastest-growing chains...
BRANDS REINVENT THEMSELVES
Several chains are getting a brand-new look this year. Sheraton has launched a comprehensive new design of its lobbies and guestrooms, while Motel 6 and...
A Brand Transformed
It's rare that a company has the opportunity or ability to recast a core brand in an entirely new image. That's what Wyndham Worldwide has been able to...
Lodging's Lifestyle Landscape
Over the past several years, a gang of lifestyle hotel brands has surfaced, refreshing an industry that used to value predictability above all as key...
Carlson Readies for Global Leap
Carlson Hotels Worldwide President and CEO Jay Witzel opened the 2008 Global Business Conference by stressing Carlson was in a unique position to succeed...
Vista Inns' Better Idea
Ramesh Gokal thinks he has a better idea for hotel franchising. The one-time head of Knights Inn is now president and CEO of a reformulated Vista Inn...
Changing Times at Carlson
Marilyn Carlson Nelson introduced new president and chief executive officer Hubert Joly at Carlson's Global Business Meeting in Las Vegas in February. Joly took the reins of the company, becoming the first non-family member in that position....
Phoenix Rising for Motel 6
Economy brand Motel 6 announced its first new prototype in 12 years. Parent company Accor North America unveiled the "Phoenix" prototype, designed by London's Priestman Goode....
Westin Flies High
A little bit of heaven is headed to the friendly skies. Westin Hotels & Resorts is teaming up with United Airlines to give the carrier's customers some...
BRANDING BRIEFS
Accor Accor will assume the role as master franchisor for the Novotel hotel brand in Canada after an agreement between Accor Canada and Realstar Hospitality....
USFS GROWS DESPITE PENDING SALE
It may be up for sale, but US Franchise Systems continues to innovate with new products, services and marketing campaigns. Last month, at the company's...
Chain Leadership Awards
Independent hotels are great, and many of them are known for their creativity in operations, marketing and customer service. Yet, it's hard to beat the...
LA QUINTA RATCHETS UP
You should have seen Wayne Goldberg work a rope in Orlando, let alone shoot a flame-thrower. You wouldn't want to cross the president and chief executive...
BRANDING BRIEFS
Best Western Properties recently joining the membership organization include the Best Western Pinehurst (NC) Inn, the Best Western Norman (OK) Inn and...
ABVI Kickstarts Growth
Not content to rest on its laurels as one of the industry's fastest-growing lodging brands, Americas Best Value Inn recently launched a two-pronged initiative...
DEMOCRACY AT WORK
Vantage Hospitality and its brands, Americas Best Value Inn and The Lexington Collection, are the best examples of democracy at work in the lodging industry....
BRANDING BRIEFS
Best Western Properties recently joining the membership organization include the Best Western Teal Lake Inn in Mexico, MO and the Best Western Harbour...
Hilton Chief has World on his Mind
Change is the order of the day at the world's largest hotel organization, Hilton Hotels Corp. Only days after private equity giant The Blackstone Group...
Branding Briefs
AmericInn International A 61-room AmericInn Lodge & Suites opened in Waconia, MN. The property features an indoor recreation area with a pool, sauna and...
Wheeling and Dealing
Red Roof Inn's recent sale could be seen as a huge challenge for the newly independent company. Instead, CEO Joe Wheeling looks at it as an incredible...
Signing On
In 1951, Kemmons Wilson built the first Holiday Inn, a 120-room property, for $330,000. Now it will cost franchisees of Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express...
