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Red Roof Inn

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Red Roof Inns Inc.
IndustryHospitality Hotel
Founded1973 (1973)
FounderJim Trueman
Headquarters,
Number of locations
400+
Key people
Andrew Alexander, President
OwnerWestbridge Hospitality Fund
Citigroup
Number of employees
4,500+
ParentAccorHotels
(1999–2007)
Citi Global Situations Group (2007–present)
Websitewww.redroof.com

Red Roof Inn is an economy hotel chain in the United States. Red Roof Inn properties are distinguished by the large dark-red shingle roof that gives them their name. Red Roof has over 400 properties in the United States, primarily in the Midwest, Southern, and Eastern United States. Red Roof Inn is a pet-friendly hotel chain.[1]

History

Former logo
An older Red Roof Inn in Manassas, Virginia

The Red Roof Inn chain began in Columbus, Ohio. The company was founded by Jim Trueman in 1972 with the intention to provide guests with a clean, comfortable room at an affordable price. The oldest hotel (Inn #3) still operating as a Red Roof Inn is located on East Cork Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was built in 1973 and last renovated in 2004.

The original slogan was "Sleep Cheap". T-shirts were sold on property with this slogan, and they became popular.[citation needed] With the increase of prices due to inflation in 1987 and 1988, the prices of the chain, while still lower than most of its direct competitors like Budgetel (now Baymont) and Days Inn, were too high to be cheap. Thus, the slogan was changed to "Hit The Roof."

In the late 1990s, actor Martin Mull starred in a series of television and radio advertisements for Red Roof Inn.

AccorHotels acquired Red Roof Inns in 1999 for $1.115 billion,[2] adding 324 properties and 37,208 rooms.[3]

In April 2007, Accor announced the sale of Red Roof Inns to Citigroup Global Special Situations Group and Westbridge Hospitality Fund LP for $1.3 billion.[4] As part of the sale, some locations were to become part of Accor's then flagship North American brand, Motel 6, and Accor planned to focus exclusively on the North American market after the sale is complete.[citation needed]

Red Roof Inn, Ann Arbor, Michigan

NextGen Design

In 2012, Red Roof completed a $200 million renovation and upgrade to hotels nationwide with a sleek and modern NextGen redesign elements. The Red Roof NextGen hotels feature updated, stylish and home- like interior and exterior designs including all new furniture, spa-inspired bathrooms with modern vessel sinks, plush high-end bedding, wood-like flooring, and large high definition flat-screen TVs.

Red Roof Plus

Red Roof launched its brand extension, Red Roof Plus (corporately styled " Red Roof PLUS+") in early 2014. Red Roof Plus includes a new premium room type, red canopies at select properties, enhanced LED lighting, and outside signage. There are over 30 Red Roof Plus properties around the United States.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Pet Friendly Hotel & Motel Rooms, Pet Policy, Safety & Tips". Red Roof Inn website. Accessed November 7, 2007.
  2. ^ Whitford, Marty (August 9, 1999). "Red Roof purchase to propel Accor to No. 3 in guestrooms worldwide". Hotel & Motel Management. Accessed May 27, 2014.
  3. ^ Accor 1999 half year results presentation
  4. ^ Stoessel, Eric (April 13, 2010). "Foreclosures Reveal Red Roof Inn Distress". Lodging Hospitality. Accessed May 27, 2014.