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| Company type | Economy motel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hotelfranchising |
| Founded | 1969; 57 years ago (1969) (as Econo-Travel) Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
| Founders |
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Number of locations | 698 (as of December 31, 2024) |
Area served | U.S. and Canada[1] |
| Parent | Choice Hotels |
| Website | www |
Econo Lodge is an economymotel chain based in theUnited States andCanada. It is one of the larger franchises ofChoice 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[update], 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.
The company began inNorfolk, Virginia by developer Vernon Myers and his son, Vernon Jr. in 1969 asEcono-Travel and they were joined by Lloyd Tarbutton, a local businessman. Tarbutton took on the project, finding investors and money, as well as doing extensivemarket 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 itsmascot was "Sandy", a girl in a short Scotch skirt andtam.[5]
The first hotel, still operating at 865North 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-defunctFriendship 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 toChoice 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.
