America's Best Inns & Suites vs Aloft hotels Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of America's Best Inns & Suites vs Aloft hotels including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
America's Best Inns & Suites Franchise
Aloft hotels Franchise
Investment $109,250 - $5,836,500$10,358,360 - $26,620,860
Franchise Fee $15,000$185,050 - $258,650
Royalty Fee 17.50 -$22.50/room/mo.5.5%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 1970-
Year Franchised 1982-
Term Of Agreement --
Term Of Agreement --
Renewal Fee 50% of then-current fran. fee-


Business Experience Requirements
 
America's Best Inns & Suites Franchise
Aloft hotels Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options
 
America's Best Inns & Suites Franchise
Aloft hotels Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/No-/-
Start-up Costs No/No-/-
Equipment No/No-/-
Inventory No/No-/-
Receivables No/No-/-
Payroll No/No-/-

Training & Support
 
America's Best Inns & Suites Franchise
Aloft hotels Franchise
Training --
Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives-
Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising-
Operations

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6 - 12

Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

-

Expansion Plans
 
America's Best Inns & Suites Franchise
Aloft hotels Franchise
US Expansion -Yes
Canada Expansion No-
International Expansion NoYes

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 Aloft hotels

Aloft Hotels caters to today’s modern traveler who craves jet-setting style and a vibrant social scene at an affordable price. Urban-inspired design, accessible technology and innovative programing centering on music and F&B make Aloft unique to the traditional hotel landscape.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a newly-constructed prototypical Aloft Hotel, excluding the cost of real estate and related costs (building permit, tap, and impact fees), ranges from $10,358,360 to $21,797,660 for an 80 to 110-guestroom Aloft Hotel to $13,906,160 to $26,620,860 for a 120 to 150-guestroom Aloft Hotel. This includes approximately $185,050 to $258,650 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.