written like an advertisement . please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view . october 2016 learn how and when to remove this template message this article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information . please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject s importance use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance . october 2016 learn how and when to remove this template message this article includes a list of references but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations . please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations . january 2012 learn how and when to remove this template message econo lodge type economy motel industry hotel founded 1969 in norfolk virginia founder vernon myers and lloyd tarbutton area served united states parent choice hotels website www.econolodge.com econo lodge is an economy motel chain based in the united states and canada . econo lodge is the second largest brand in the choice hotels system citation needed . it is one of the best known brands in its category and aims to provide affordable rooms to budget travelers . 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 . while most of the properties are conversions choice hotels plans to add more new construction properties to the econo lodge brand . as of december 2013 there are 830 econo lodge hotels open in the united states and 28 under development . internationally there are a further 84 hotels open and four under development . 1 there are econo lodge motels in every us state and canadian province . contents 1 history 2 see also 3 references 4 external links history edit an econo lodge in montpelier vermont circa 2004 the idea was begun by norfolk virginia developer vernon myers and his son vernon jr. in 1969 as econo travel . they were intent on creating a new business category the discount business hotel . they worked in the same office building as lloyd tarbutton a businessman who was also investigating the idea . myers jr. had drawn up a prototype for the motel and was intent on selling the plans for 2 000 . the first motel had 48 rooms a small lobby and a small manager s apartment . myers had been trying to get investors interested in this to no avail . old logo 1989 2008 tarbutton still took on the project finding investors and money as well as doing extensive market research to see if the concept would work . the company simplified the costs of a hotel room and created many innovations now standard in the industry . for instance most hotels at the time had beds on legs . they put the mattresses on boxes so maids would not have to clean underneath and customers wouldn t lose belongings . telephone switchboards were automatic maid closets were close to rooms and managers could shut off electricity to empty rooms . later tarbutton tried out a then extreme innovation a non smoking room . the chain s mascot in the early days was sandy a girl in a short scotch skirt and tam . the first hotel still operating at 865 north military highway in norfolk was built for 275 000 and was profitable within 21 days . it sold rooms for 7 single 9 double and 11 for four . today that hotel is owned by norfolk virginia based omaarav investment llc which owns one other econo lodge in norfolk virginia . lauderdale econolodge tarbutton sold the chain which had 306 locations in 1983 for 836 million . he had begun to change the name on all locations to econo lodge in the latter 1970s . the brand went through ups and downs and a number of owners after the founders sold out . between its founding and growth tensions grew between the company and franchisees . it fell into the hands of investor paul wallace whose fund bought the brand refurbished it mended relations with franchisees and then sold it to what is now choice hotels international in 1990 . it is the more upscale of choice hotels economy brands as its sister brand rodeway inn typically has fewer amenities and features at its properties . a new econo lodge logo was unveiled at the 2007 choice hotels international convention . it was created by kevin bradt division president of economy market brands at choice hotels . for nearly 40 years the econo lodge logo has served as a familiar beacon for travelers as they have driven our nation s highways said bradt econo lodge was born from innovation and by moving back to our roots through innovation and this new look better reflects today s nearly 900 econo lodge hotels and our bath breakfast and wireless internet offerings . 2 see also edit list of motels references edit hotel franchise opportunity development motel franchises for sale choice hotels international accommodations inns lodgings suites . choicehotelsfranchise.com . econo lodge gets new logo . hotel & motel management may 16 2007 accessed september 10 2007 . external links edit wikimedia commons has media related to econo lodge . official website the first econo lodge hotel v t e hotel chains accor adagio formule 1 f1 formula 1 ibis budget styles mama shelter mercure grand mercure mgallery novotel suite novotel pullman the sebel sofitel thalassa sea & spa carlson rezidor country inns & suites park inn park plaza quorvus collection radisson radisson blu choice hotels ascend collection cambria hotels & suites clarion comfort inn comfort suites econo lodge mainstay suites quality inn rodeway inn sleep inn suburban extended stay hotel frhi fairmont hotels raffles swiss tel hilton canopy by hilton conrad hotels curio collection doubletree embassy suites hampton by hilton hilton garden inn hilton grand vacations hilton hotels & resorts home2 suites homewood suites tru by hilton waldorf astoria home inn fairyland hotel home inn motel 168 yitel hospitality international downtowner inns master host inns passport inns red carpet inn scottish inns huazhu hotels hanting inns and hotels hi inn ji hotel joya hotel manxin hotels and resorts starway hotel hyatt andaz grand hyatt hyatt hyatt centric hyatt house hyatt place hyatt regency hyatt zilara hyatt ziva park hyatt intercontinental candlewood suites crowne plaza even hotels holiday inn holiday inn express hotel indigo intercontinental kimpton hotels staybridge suites marriott ac hotels aloft hotels autograph collection bulgari hotels & resorts courtyard delta hotels design hotels edition hotels element by westin execustay fairfield inn four points gaylord hotels grand residences jw marriott le m ridien the luxury collection marriott conference centers marriott executive apartments marriott golf marriott hotels & resorts marriott vacation club moxy hotels protea hotels renaissance hotels residence inn ritz carlton ritz carlton destination club st. regis sheraton springhill suites towneplace suites tribute portfolio w hotels westin pan pacific pan pacific parkroyal red lion hotel rl red lion hotels red lion inn & suites guesthouse settle inn taj hotels gateway ginger taj vivanta vantage 3 palms hotels & resorts america s best inns americas best value inns canadas best value inns country hearth inns & suites jameson inn lexington hotels & inns wyndham baymont inn & suites days inn dolce hotels and resorts hawthorn suites howard johnson knights inn microtel ramada super 8 travelodge tryp by wyndham wingate by wyndham wyndham grand wyndham hotels & resorts other 7 days inn ace aerowisata aman resorts americinn apex aqua archipelago best western boscolo budget host canad inns canalta center parcs club med club quarters coast cobblestone dan drury easy hotel extended stay america fiesta inn four seasons hoshino iberostar intown suites isrotel itc hotels jumeirah kempinski la quinta leading hotels of the world loews lotte magnuson mandarin oriental marco polo masters inn meli mgm resorts millennium & copthorne morgans motel 6 m venpick my place hotels nh nikko oberoi omni outrigger paradores peninsula pestana premier inn prince pueblo bonito red roof inn riu sandman santika indonesia scandic shangri la standard steigenberger swiss belhotel thistle toyoko inn trident trump value place vienna virgin defunct adam s mark alamo plaza hotel courts amerihost inn amerisuites crest hotels cross country inn denizen hotels esso motor hotel exel inn forte fred harvey friendship inn hiway house imperial 400 jack tar hotels nickelodeon resorts by marriott the real hotel company roundtowner inn shoney s inn statler hotels summerfield suites susse chalet tage inn united hotels company of america wilson world hotels lists hotels chained brand largest united states motels category commons retrieved from https en.wikipedia.org w index.php title econo lodge & oldid 744019125 categories motels in the united statesmotels in 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