Settle Inn Franchise Program Highlights Flexibility

Here's evidence, albeit small, of a push towards more flexibility being offered in franchise agreements in the hotel sector. Settle Inn LLC of Aberdeen, SD started its franchising push by signing its first multiproject agreement for a dozen hotels in Wisconsin. This just in from Hotel & Motel Management.

New Hotel Franchiser Pushes Flexibility and Basics

Settle Inn's CEO Brendan Watters said, "We wanted to be at 20 franchises signed by the end of this year—the seven we've got, plus another 13 signed. It's looking pretty good that we're going to hit that target... Forty or 50 hotels in major corridors along Interstates 80 and 94 in the Midwest in the next two to three years will start to achieve guest awareness"

John Shaline, owner of Total Service Development, likes Settle Inn's flexibility.

"We liked the things they brought as far as being franchise friendly. They had a franchise agreement that I found much more suitable—if it was not successful, they didn't tie us up for a long time."

Other franchise services will include a central-reservation system, marketing and quality assurance.