Comfort Inn vs Le Meridien Franchise Comparison

The leading midscale, limited-service brand in the world.

The total investment necessary to convert an existing hotel and begin operation of an 80-room COMFORT hotel franchise is between $307,125-$1,967,495. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a newly constructed 80-room COMFORT INN or COMFORT INN & SUITES hotel franchise is between $4,638,625-$8,393,895, and the total investment necessary to begin operation of a newly constructed 86-room COMFORT SUITES hotel franchise is between $5,119,845-$9,243,275. This includes the following fees that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates as follows: an affiliation fee of $500 per room for new franchises, $750 per room for transfers and renewals ($50,000 minimum for new franchises, $65,000 minimum for transfers and renewals); a property management system software license and systems training fee of between $10,750 and $14,750; and orientation and hospitality training fees of between $0 and $3,245 per person. These sums do not include the cost of purchasing or leasing land or any real estate taxes.

Le Méridien, the Paris-born hotel brand currently represented by nearly 100 properties in more than 40 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005. With more than 80 of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Le Méridien provided a strong international complement to Starwood’s then primarily North American holdings at the time of purchase. Since then, Le Méridien has gone through a brand re-launch, which included a large scale hotels product consolidation as well as redefining its brand strategy. Through creation of the LM100 artist community, Le Méridien has transformed numerous guest touch points, thus bringing unique, interactive and curated experiences to its guests. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien Hotels and Resorts , concentrating on markets in Asia-Pacific and the Americas.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a newly-constructed Le Méridien hotel, excluding the cost of real estate and related costs (building permit, tap, and impact fees), ranges from $61,886,490 to $96,761,490 for a 250-guestroom hotel. This includes approximately $317,000 to
$399,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.