Econo Lodge is an economy
motel
A motel, also known as a motor hotel, motor inn or motor lodge, is a hotel designed for motorists, usually having each room entered directly from the parking area for motor vehicles rather than through a central lobby. Entering dictionaries ...
chain based in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
and
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
. Econo Lodge is one of the larger brands in the
Choice Hotels system. It aims to provide affordable rooms to budget travelers. The properties contain a minimum of 40 guest rooms and are often located near highways or highway access. All hotels provide a free breakfast.
, there are 779 Econo Lodge hotels open with 46,992 rooms.
There are Econo Lodge motels in every US state and Canadian province.
History
![Lauderdale-Econolodge](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Lauderdale-Econolodge.jpg)
The company began in
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...
by developer Vernon Myers and his son, Vernon Jr. in 1969 as Econo-Travel and they were joined by Lloyd , a local businessman.
took on the project, finding investors and money, as well as doing extensive
market research
Market research is an organized effort to gather information about target markets and customers: know about them, starting with who they are. It is an important component of business strategy and a major factor in maintaining competitiveness. Mark ...
, to see if the concept would work. The chain's
mascot
A mascot is any human, animal, or object thought to bring luck, or anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name. Mascots are also used as fi ...
in the early days was "Sandy", a girl in a short Scotch skirt and
tam. 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.
sold the chain, which had 306 locations, in 1983 for $836 million. He had begun to change the name on all locations to Econo Lodge in the latter 1970s. The brand went through ups and downs and a number of owners after the founders sold out. It fell into the hands of investor Paul Wallace, whose fund bought the brand, refurbished it, mended relations with franchisees, and then sold it to what is now
Choice Hotels International in 1990. It is the more upscale of the group's economy brands; its sister brand,
Rodeway Inn
Rodeway Inn is a chain of economy-priced hotels in the United States and Canada. Founded by Michael Robinson in 1962, the franchise is now led by Choice Hotels corporation.
As of June 30, 2020, there are 578 Rodeway Inn locations in North Ameri ...
, usually has fewer amenities.
See also
*
List of motels
This is a list of motels. A motel is lodging designed for motorists, and usually has a parking area for motor vehicles. Entering dictionaries after World War II, the word motel, coined in 1925 as a portmanteau of ''motor'' and ''hotel'' or ''mot ...
*
References
External links
*
Econo-Travel Motor Hotel Directory – Fall, Winter 1974/1975
{{Hotel chains
Motels in the United States
Motels in Canada
Companies based in Norfolk, Virginia
Hotels established in 1969
Choice Hotels brands
American companies established in 1969
1969 establishments in Virginia