Dallas -- Motel 6, known to millions of travelers for its popular tagline, "We'll leave the light on for you, " has been cited by Advertising Age magazine as having one of the top 100 ad campaigns of the past century. The winners covered a wide range of products ranging from soda to tobacco. Motel 6 was the only winner in the lodging industry.

The editors of the recently released special issue of Ad Age selected what they felt were the most important and influential campaigns of the past 100 years. Among the other leading campaigns were McDonald's "You deserve a break today;" DeBeers "A diamond is forever;" and Nike's "Just do it."

"We're thrilled to be included among other American icons in Ad Age's Top 100 list," said Carol Kirby, Motel 6's executive vice president of marketing. "The other companies included in this prestigious list are among the most recognizable brand names almost anywhere you go. These leaders in their respective industries have created some of the world's most enduring and successful ad campaigns."

The Motel 6 advertisements, featuring spokesman Tom Bodett, were launched on radio in 1986. The lodging company, which is the national leader in the budget segment of the travel hospitality industry, added television ads to its successful radio campaign in 1996. Since the ad campaign began, it has won more than 150 awards, including eight prestigious CLIO awards.

Motel 6's more than 800 properties offer free local phone calls and no long distance access charges, free morning coffee, 24-hour-a-day faxing service at the front desk, free HBO and ESPN, and remote-control television sets. Most properties also have pools, guest laundries, electronic door locks, and phones with dataports. With both company-owned and franchised properties all across the country, Motel 6 offers the best price of any national lodging chain. Motel 6 is owned by Accor, a leader in lodging, travel, and business services.