ATLANTA (Blue MauMau) - Mr. Fred Schwartz, president of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, sat down with Blue MauMau for a chat about franchising.

PKF Research predicts that boutique hotels in the next few years will continue to enjoy high premiums without the wild cyclical oscillations of the past.

SAN ANTONIO (Blue MauMau) - The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) released a report last week that measures franchisor practices, franchise disclosure documents and agreements according to standards of fair franchising.

CARROLLTON, Tex. (Blue MauMau) - The Chief Executive Officer of Accor North America, Olivier Poirot, discusses the future of the hotel conglomerate, its famous close relationships with franchise owners, and last year's selling of Red Roof Inn.

CARROLLTON, Tex. (Blue MauMau) - Motel 6 has announced a new hotel prototype that is its first face-lift in twelve years.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Blue MauMau) – New research shows that if a franchisor follows the right model, corporate units and franchised units can result in the same unit revenues.

ATLANTA (Blue MauMau) - A hospitality research firm predicts strong growth for the U.S. hotel industry.

Franchisee Group Warns, Comply or We Will Pursue Legal Remedies

MINNEAPOLIS (Blue MauMau) - J. Michael Dady, Dady & Garner, didn't pull any punches in his February 13 letter to Super 8 Motels president John Valletta. "Over the past month, we have become aware of derogatory statements you have made about O8A [Owners 8 Association] and its leadership."

Owners 8 Association to Focus on Diminishing Profits, Lack of Control 

STATESVILLE, North Carolina (Blue MauMau) - In an effort to challenge a shift in the balance of power between Super 8 Motel franchisees and its franchisor Wyndham Hotels, a publicly traded company, the Owners 8 Association has been formed. Jay Patel, interim president, said this is a bold move of more than 570 owners because it is the first independent owners association in the company's 33 year history. "We understand that the goals of our franchisor . . . and their franchisees inherently differ. But in our opinion the company's drive for profitability at the expense of its franchisees has gotten out of hand and will result in a deterioration of the Super 8 brand." 

Research Institute Predicts Extended-stay Revenues and Profits To Remain Strong

An analysis of supply change within the extended-stay lodging segment certainly illustrates the appeal of this property type among hotel developers. According to Smith Travel Research, the overall industry has averaged annual changes in supply of 0.9 percent from 2000 to 2006, while the number of new extended-stay rooms has been growing at a 5.1 percent annual pace.

The reasons for this attraction are many. Historically, this segment has achieved occupancy premiums and high profit margins. In addition, consumer acceptance has been high, and they are relatively easy operations to manage.