Rodeway Inn - Good Nite Inn

Rodeway Inn is a chain of economy-priced hotels in the United States and Canada. Founded by Michael Robinson in 1962, the franchise is now led by Choice Hotels corporation.

As of January 2015, there are 516 Rodeway Inn locations in North America, with approximately 26,351 rooms across the continent, and 35 new hotels under construction in the United States. Each hotel is a franchise, managed by a private investor. The hotel chain advertises standard guest amenities such as free local calls, long distance access, free premium channels, such as HBO, free wifi, and free morning coffee.

History

The chain was established in Phoenix, Arizona in 1962. Michael Robinson and his son-in-law Joe Simmons opened the chain under the name Rodeway Inns of America. In 1971, the Vantage Company of Dallas, Texas acquired the hotel chain. Prudential Life Insurance partnered with Rodeway Inns to finance the company-owned inns with the goal of becoming a franchise. In 1976, the company began focusing exclusively on franchising. In 1985, Ladbrokes purchased the brand and two years later, sold the chain to Ramada.

In 1990, the brand became a part of the Choice Hotels corporate group, along with Friendship Inn and Econo Lodge. The Friendship Inn chain was absorbed by the Rodeway Inn and Econo Lodge brands at this time.

In 2005, Rodeway Inn reorganized its franchise structure to attract franchisees to the hotel chain. In 2007, Rodeway Inn was named the fastest growing chain in the hotel industry by Lodging Magazine. As of 2016, Rodeway Inn is still a part of Choice Hotels.

Franchise structure

From 1990 to 2005, the franchise used a revenue percentage fee structure; after that it charged an anuual fee per room. It costs approximately $500,000 in liquid revenue to invest in a Rodeway Inn franchise.

Notable hotels

The Rodeway Inn Las Vegas Convention Center has a casino, bowling and billiards.

The franchise's hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is called Rodeway Inn and Suites - Fort Lauderdale Airport and Cruise Port. The branch has day-rooms for cruise and airline travelers with long layovers in Port Everglades. In 2016, Rodeway Inn and Suites, Fort Lauderdale Airport and Port Everglades Cruise Port was A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau. In 2015, a study by Port Everglades mentioned Rodeway Inn & Suites as being one of the most popular hotels, hosting 11% of all passengers surveyed.

The Rodeway Inn Historic, in Williamsburg, Virginia, blends in with the local architecture. It deviates from the typical style with historic furniture and brick, colonial design similar to the surrounding city.

In 2009, the Rodeway Inn of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, was featured in the book Don’t Go There! The Travel Detective’s Essential Guide to the Must-Miss Places of the World by NBC’s Peter Greenberg for its F rating by the Better Business Bureau.

In 2011, Rodeway Inn of Williamsville, New York, was named #7 on Trip Advisor’s top 10 list of “America’s Dirtiest Hotels”.