Econo Lodge

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Econo Lodge
Company type Economy motel
Industry Hotel franchising
Founded1969;56 years ago (1969) (as Econo-Travel)
Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Founders
  • Vernon Myers Sr.
  • Vernon Myers Jr.
  • Lloyd Tarbutton
Number of locations
698 (as of December 31, 2024)
Area served
U.S. and Canada [1]
Parent Choice Hotels
Website www.choicehotels.com/econo-lodge

Econo Lodge is an economy motel chain based in the United States and Canada. It is one of the larger franchises of Choice Hotels operating in the Americas. [2] Econo Lodge properties contain a minimum of 40 guest rooms and are often located near highways or highway access. All hotels provide a free breakfast. As of December 31,2024, there are 698 Econo Lodge hotels open with 40,088 rooms. [3] [4] There are Econo Lodge motels in every U.S. state and Canadian province.

Contents

History

Econo Lodge in Fort Lauderdale Lauderdale-Econolodge.jpg
Econo Lodge in Fort Lauderdale

The company began in Norfolk, Virginia by developer Vernon Myers and his son, Vernon Jr. in 1969 as Econo-Travel and they were joined by Lloyd Tarbutton, a local businessman. Tarbutton took on the project, finding investors and money, as well as doing extensive market research, to see if the concept would work. [5] The chain's slogan in the early days was "Spend a night, not a fortune" [6] and its mascot was "Sandy", a girl in a short Scotch skirt and tam. [5]

The first hotel, still operating at 865 North Military Highway in Norfolk, was built for $275,000. Its daily rate for rooms was $7 single, $9 double, and $11 for four. [5] The original two-story plan for Econo Lodge had 48 two-bed rooms, designed for rapid cleaning and repair. [6]

In the 1980s, Econo Lodge adopted its current name, underwent a financial reorganization, and acquired the now-defunct Friendship Inn brand. [6] Lloyd Tarbutton sold the chain, which had 306 locations, in 1983 to real estate investor Ben Douglas for $836 million. [5] [6] The company continued to change hands over the next few years, passing to New Image Realty, Inc in 1986 and finally to Choice Hotels International in 1990. [6] Econo Lodge is the more upscale of the group's economy brands; its sister brand, Rodeway Inn, usually has fewer amenities.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "10-Q for 1Q2025". www.sec.gov. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  2. ↑ Trejos, Nancy (July 5, 2018). "The brands and rooms of Choice Hotels, by the numbers". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  3. ↑ "SEC: Choice Hotels International 10-K". www.sec.gov. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Hotel Franchise Opportunity, Development, Motel Franchises For Sale - Choice Hotels International - Accommodations, Inns, Lodgings, Suites". choicehotelsfranchise.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Pollard, Garland (February 12, 2009). "Birthplace of Budget". Issuu. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Jakle, John A.; Sculle, Keith A.; Rogers, Jefferson S. (1996). The Motel in America. Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 170–171. ISBN   0-8018-5383-4.
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