Hotel & Motel Management - October 15, 2007 - (Page 46)

46 News H&MM October 15, 2007 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition Red Roof Continued from page 1 a goal of national distribution. Westbridge is a partnership between Westmont Hospitality Group and several Canadian pension fund managers. Accor sold the economy brand for $1.313 billion in early September. The brand has approximately 325 properties. Joe Wheeling, who retained his title of c.e.o., said it’s too early for speciﬁcs, but the plan is to grow from a regional brand into a national brand primarily through franchising. “On a company level, we have a lot going on right now,” he said. “We can quickly make an impact through franchising.” Wheeling said franchisees should ﬁnd the company to be more nimble. “We really understand franchising, local markets and their needs,” he said. Franchisees seem to be happy with the new arrangement. Bakul Patel, who owns Wheeling Red Roof Inn RED ROOF INNS HagerstownWilliamsport (Md.) and a Red Roof Inn and Suites in Wytheville, Va., and is on the brand’s franchi- see advisory council, said the outlook is positive. “As much as I know about [the owners], they have an intenDandapani APPLE CORE tion to move along quickly with some issues … such as renovating the rest of the corporateowned properties,” he said. “I like The Money Hotel investing in today’s nancial climate The Marketplace their positivity about being able to get things done.” Patel said he is pleased that ownership retained the existing franchise team. “It’s good to see the same faces,” he said. Vijay Dandapani, president and c.o.o. of Apple Core Hotels, which owns a 171-room Red Roof Inn in Manhattan, said the company’s history of hotel ownership bodes well for the brand. “I personally believe in having a franchisor who owns hotels,” he said. “Only the owner knows how the shoe ﬁts.” Dandapani, who also is on the franchisee advisory council, was pleased to hear about the growth plans. “That was spelled out at the first meeting [before the deal closed],” he said. “Accor did a lot of things, but they did not grow the brand.” We can quickly make an impact through franchising. –JOE WHEELING A Hotel Real Estate and Finance Conference Today’s Hotel Owners and Investors FOUNDERS Designed for PREMIER MEDIA SPONSOR: Hotel & Motel Management Magazine ADVISORY BOARD: Atlantic Hospitality Advisors | Carlson Hotels Worldwide Daly Gray Public Relations | GE Real Estate | The Highland Group Hostmark Hospitality Group | International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) La Quinta Inns & Suites | Marriott International, Inc. | McSam Hotel Group, LLC Noble Investment Group | Panther Hospitality | Pinkowski & Company PKF Consulting, Inc. | Shaner Hotel Group Save the Date & Register Now www.hotelinvestmentconference.com Bob Hunter, Conference Chair | Nancy Petenbrink, Conference Coordinator One Northside 75, Suite 102 | Atlanta, GA 30318 Phone: 404-355-0880 | Email: Nancy@HunterHotels.net CIRCLE NO. 114 Patel said the growth is a welcome change. “I’d like to see Red Roof Inn become a household name,” he said. “It’s been a stagnant, regional brand for many years. It’s heartening to know [growth] could become a reality. More properties means more exposure.” At press time, the location of the brand’s headquarters was still up in the air, Wheeling said. A former Accor regional ofﬁce in Columbus, Ohio, is serving as the temporary operations hub. “We are debating and discussing a lot of things, but it’s too early to discuss details,” he added. The company expects to have more news to announce by November, according to Wheeling. Dandapani said he would like to see a shift toward “a virtual world for the central reservation system.” Patel said he has heard discussions about the brand changing the property management system. “That is encouraging,” he said. “It’s a very important issue the Red Roof Inns brand/franchise is facing. PMS is becoming more automated.” shiggins@questex.com http://HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition http://www.hotelinvestmentconference.com http://www.hotelinvestmentconference.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hotel & Motel Management - October 15, 2007

Hotel & Motel Management - October 15, 2007 Contents Concord Sets Goal to Double Portfolio Leaders: Budgetel Brand Off and Running Pension Funds Put More Capital Into Hotels Perspective Letter to the Editor At Your Risk Consultant's Corner Sales Clinic On Finance Guest Column Trends & Stats Industry Leaders Say Healthy Times Will Continue Eco-Concious Hotels Looks for Certification Events Removing Chemicals, Suds from Housekeeping Products Handhelds Help Track Safe Activity People on The Move Awards Transactions Supplier News Ad/Editorial Index Bath Trends Marketplace Classifieds Checking Out

Hotel & Motel Management - October 15, 2007

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