Red Roof Inn

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Red Roof Inn is a Columbus, Ohio-based hotel chain in the United States, owned by Accor. As a chain catering to budget-minded travelers, Red Roof properties are often distinguished by the large dark-red shingle roof that gave them their name. There are over 350 Red Roof locations in 48 states.[1] Typically, Red Roof Inns have approximately 123 rooms of about 300 square feet each. The rooms contain a full private bath, are carpeted, and are well lighted and furnished. The rooms are equipped with dataports and desks to satisfy the needs of business travelers. Red Roof Inn is the official hotel chain of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2006-2007 season.

[edit] History

The Red Roof Inn chain began in Columbus, Ohio. The company was founded by James Trueman in 1972 in Columbus, Ohio with the intention to provide guests with a clean, comforable room at an affordable price. The second hotel (the first Red Roof Inn is no longer part of the chain), built in 1974, is located on Renner Road in Columbus, Ohio.

At the beginning, all of its properties were newly-built and not rebranded from other chains. After the purchase by Accor, this policy was dropped, and some new Red Roof locations came about by rebranding existing motels.

Before it was bought by Accor Red Roof Inns were not franchised and run by the company. This provided a sameness and exact quality control that was lost when the franchising took over in late 1996.

The original slogan was "Sleep Cheap." T-Shirts were sold on property with this slogan and the public bought them up. In 1987-88 Red Roof Inn's prices were increased due to inflation and the prices of the chain, while still lower than most of its direct competitiors like Budgetel (now Baymont), and Days Inn, was 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.

A new 123 room, 3-story L-shaped prototype was introduced in 1996 in San Antonio, Texas off of I-410 (Inn #240). The lobby is centrally located and the first floor has exterior corridors while the second and third floors have interior corridors.

Since 2004, Red Roof Inn has been renovating its properties nationwide and these newly renovated hotels are said to be "redesigned, rededicated" Red Roof Inns. A list of the properties renovated so far can be found at the second link below.