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...
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...
BRANDING BRIEFS
Best Western Properties recently joining the membership organization include the Best Western Pinehurst (NC) Inn, the Best Western Norman (OK) Inn and...
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...
Best Western, Not Good Western
Bonjour, y'all, quipped Charlie Helm, greeting more than 2,000 Best Western International members at the opening of the membership chain's recent convention...
TOP BRANDS
RANK in 2005 U.S. BRAND AND PARENT COMPANY U.S. PROPERTIES STATUS OF PROPERTIES FOREIGN PROPERTIES RANK Rooms Number of Properties Company Owned Franchised/Licensed...
FRANCHISE Fact File
Name of Chain Minimum Rooms Initial Fee Royalty Fee Advertising/Marketing Fee Reservation Fee Ave. Per Room Construction Cost aloft hotelsCircle 90 N/A...
BRAND COMPANIES
Accor North AmericaMotel 6Studio 6245 Park Ave.New York, NY 10167800-233-9080www.accor-na.com America's Best Value Inn by Vantage860 Hampshire Road, Suite...
Branding Briefs
AKA The brand recently opened properties in Philadelphia and suburban Washington, DC. The AKA Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia features81 studios and...
Tom Bodett: A Legend Reflects
You want to hear Tom Bodett's voice like you have on the Motel 6 ads he's been doing on radio for 20 years. But business is pressing, so you have to settle...
Branding Briefs
Best Western Properties recently joining the membership organization include the Best Western Duncanville (TX) Inn and Suites; Best Western Locust Grove...
Brand Veteran Leads Starwood
After months of flux, Starwood Hotels & Resorts solidified its executive suite with the recent appointment of Coors Brewing executive Fritz van Paasschen...
Cambria Suites Clicks With Guests
Cambria Suites is up and running, and the early reviews have been very favorable. Choice Hotels' newest, and certainly its hippest, brand debuted in April...
Branding Briefs
Accor North America Accor recently opened 14 new franchise locations, including Motel 6 properties in Southgate, MI; Saginaw, MI; Grand Rapids, MI; Los...
Pulling Together
I'm in the spacious lobby of the La Quinta Inn & Suites DFW-Airport North in the booming Dallas suburb of Irving, about to interview La Quinta chiefs...
Shoney's Plans a Comeback
The Shoney's Inn brand is back almost. Settle Inns & Suites, which purchased the Shoney's lodging name and system as part of its late-2006 acquisition...
Conference Explores Investments
If you're thinking about developing, operating or investing in a vacation ownership product timeshare, fractionals or private residence clubs you should...
Extended-Stay Power Surge
It doesn't take a genius to grasp the worth of the extended-stay hotel segment. Just look at the value of Extended Stay Hotels. When The Blackstone Group...
