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Updated RecentlyAmerica's Best Inns & Suites vs Red Lion Hotels and Inns Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of America's Best Inns & Suites vs Red Lion Hotels and Inns including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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| Investment | $109,250 - $5,836,500 | $8,431,750 - $36,598,000 |
| Franchise Fee | $15,000 | $40,000 - $75,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 17.50 -$22.50/room/mo. | 5% |
| Advertising Fee | - | 3.5% |
| Year Founded | 1970 | 1959 |
| Year Franchised | 1982 | 1999 |
| Term Of Agreement | - | - |
| Term Of Agreement | - | - |
| Renewal Fee | 50% of then-current fran. fee | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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| Experience | - | - |
Financing Options |
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| In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
| Franchise Fees | No/No | -/- |
| Start-up Costs | No/No | -/- |
| Equipment | No/No | Yes/- |
| Inventory | No/No | -/- |
| Receivables | No/No | -/- |
| Payroll | No/No | -/- |
Training & Support |
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| Training | - | On-The-Job Training: Optional Classroom Training: Optional |
| Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform |
| Marketing | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising | Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app |
| Operations |
Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6 - 12
Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. | - |
Expansion Plans |
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| US Expansion | - | Yes |
| Canada Expansion | No | - |
| International Expansion | No | Yes |
Company Overviews
About America's Best Inns & Suites
America's Best Inns & Suites is a high quality mid-level limited service hotel brand with locations throughout the United States. With 102 hotels open and 5 under development as of September 1, 2004, America's Best Inns & Suites continues to expand around the country. America's Best Inns & Suites is primarily a conversion brand for existing hotel owners looking for a better way to do business. America's Best Inns & Suites offers a solution to independent hotel owners looking for a franchise brand or for current franchise hotel owners looking to reposition their property in the market place. Multi-unit operators disenchanted with the direction of their current brand should also consider America's Best Inns & Suites, subject to the requirements of their existing franchise agreement. US Franchise Systems, franchisor for the brand, is a recognized leader in the hotel industry, with 3 growing hotel brands and a reputation for treating our franchisees fairly. Noted for our strong relationships with and support for our franchisees, US Franchise Systems was founded on the principle that franchisees are our partners and they are in business for themselves, not by themselves.
About Red Lion Hotels and Inns
Results Oriented. Growth Driven.
With over 50 properties open or under development, Red Lion has positioned itself for sustainable growth. Important to the chain's lasting success is the redefinition of brand segmentation and strengthened brand identity for both Red Lion Hotels and Red Lion Inns & Suites, along with the addition of the Leo Hotel Collection, a collection of unique, boutique, historic and/or destination hotels.
Publicly traded on the NYSE (RLH), Red Lion is an owner, operator and franchisor. Red Lion grew out of the Pacific Northwest with historic roots dating back more than 50 years and is showing hotel owners how they can tap into their deep experience.
More hoteliers are finding that franchise partners with skin in the game truly have their franchisees' return on investment in mind. As owners, Red Lion never asks their franchisees to do anything that as a company they would not do for their own properties. The biggest benefit for hotel owners is the ability to plug their properties into a finely tuned franchise system that offers franchisees the highest level of support including access to industry leading technology, business intelligence and revenue management systems.
With a keen eye on the market, Red Lion's new consumer website creates direct interaction with guests, offers local experiences and provides an improved booking engine. The locally inspired experience carries through to the service culture at the property and brings the website's local focus full circle, creating a impactful point of differentiation that helps build guest loyalty.
The total investment necessary to begin operation of a 250-room full service Red Lion Hotel, including meeting space and catering service, is estimated to range between $28,594,750 to $36,598,000 for new development and $1,091,500 to $4,562,000 for conversion hotels. These amounts include $105,500 to $129,500 that must be paid to the franchisor. These amounts do not include the cost of purchasing or leasing land or any real estate taxes.