DALLAS - A year after it launched its franchising program, Motel 6 has reached major milestones in this effort. By targeting growing tertiary markets, the leading budget brand now has 50 approved franchise contracts and 109 approved sites. There are currently 15 franchised properties open and operating, with six more openings shortly planned. With 760 properties open, Motel 6 expects to have 800 properties open by the end of this year.

"Through selective franchising, with a goal of 80 percent new construction, Motel 6 has continued its growth track without sacrificing its quality standards," said David O'Shaughnessy, executive vice president of franchising and quality. Motel 6 is opening properties in small markets that are suitable for properties of less than 100 rooms, particularly in the East and Midwest.

"Although Motel 6's franchising efforts began in 1996, the roots for the movement date back to 1993," O'Shaughnessy noted. This was when the brand launched its quality assurance program, with clearly-established quality guidelines, a customer-driven approach and an overall change in corporate culture. Once these forces were operating successfully, Motel 6 then knew it was the right time to launch its complementary strategy of franchising. It began seeking out the best franchisees to enhance this new focus on quality.

"At Motel 6, our quality standards come first as we expand throughout the nation," O'Shaughnessy said. "We are working with some of the lodging industry's best franchisees. These dedicated business people recognize our product improvement efforts and share in our vision of quality."

In fact, Motel 6's commitment to quality is reflected in its plans to devote more than $600 million to renovating the entire system by the year 2000. Within the past 24 months, $300 million has been spent to renovate half of the system. Another $300 million will be spent by the end of the decade. And, Motel 6 continues to build its interior corridor prototype properties. Six of these are currently open in Dallas; Lewisville, Texas; Houston; Ft. Lupton, Colo.; Johnstown, Pa.; and Cedar City, Utah.

Motel 6 properties offer free local phone calls and long distance access, 24-hour-a-day faxing at the front desk, free morning coffee, free ESPN/HBO, washers/dryers, and pools. Motel 6 offers the best price of any major national lodging chain in the budget segment. The brand is in the 11th year of its award-winning advertising campaign, featuring Tom Bodett and the famous tagline, "We'll leave the light on for you."