La Quinta Inn Franchise News

La Quinta Wins Industrywide Award for Use of Cloud Technology to Improve Efficiency and Reduce Costs
Dallas, TX (PRWEB) May 03, 2012 - La Quinta Inns & Suites was named a 2012 Hospitality Visionary by Hospitality Technology (HT) magazine for its use of cloud technology to improve infrastructure and back office operations, an initiative that saved the 820-hotel chain money and improved efficiency in the delivery of services. The is the first time La Quinta has been recognized with a Hospitality Visionary Award; other winners for 2012 include Hilton Worldwide, Gaylord Entertainment and the Flamingo Las Vegas.
“We are proud and grateful to receive this recognition,” said Vivek Shaiva, La Quinta’s Chief Information Officer...

DALLAS, April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- La Quinta Inns & Suites recently announced a hotel industry-first and unique feature called LQ-Instant Hold that allows users to instantly reserve a room for up to four hours using only their mobile phone number without having to provide a lengthy credit card entry or address.  Now LQ-Instant Hold is also available on La Quinta's newly launched smartphone app that complements the brand's mobile site by providing additional fast and hassle-free features to help make travel easier.  The new app is free and available thru the iTunes Store for iPhone and Google Play for Android. 
It allows users to: 

See hotels on an interactive map with enhanced driving directions
Instantly reserve a room and hold it for up to 4-hours by entering just a cell phone number
Check TripAdvisor® ratings and reviews for each hotel without leaving the site
Find local restaurants and attraction information from Yelp®
Easily access special packages, weekend deals and destination guides
Redeem La Quinta Returns® points for gift cards and certificates

"Since 2009 hundreds of thousands of travelers have downloaded our initial iPhone app," said Ted Schweitzer, SVP Ecommerce for La Quinta...

Hospitality Development Executive Joins the Hotel Industry’s Premier Franchise Sales Team to Lead La Quinta’s Expansion in the Heartland
Dallas, TX (PRWEB) April 30, 2012 - La Quinta Inns & Suites, the fastest-growing select service brand in the hotel industry over the past decade, announced that industry veteran Tom Busch has been appointed to the position of Director of Development for the Midwest. Mr. Busch has hotel development and senior management experience in the industry dating to 1996. He joins La Quinta after holding development positions at IHG and Wyndham Hotel Group. Mr. Busch will be based in Chicago and will report to David Wilner, La Quinta’s Senior Vice President of Development in Dallas.
Wilner said, “We are delighted to welcome Tom to the La Quinta family, as we continue La Quinta’s rapid expansion across all of North America and around the world...

From Colombia to Canada, Coast-to-Coast in the U.S. La Quinta Executes Nine Agreements, Opens Seven New Locations and Has 169 Hotels in the Pipeline
Dallas, TX (PRWEB) April 19, 2012 - La Quinta Inns & Suites announced first quarter 2012 results which include the announcement of the company’s expansion into Colombia, a renewed push in Canada, the opening of seven hotels in six states and the signing of nine new franchise agreements. The brand now has more than 820 hotels in the system and more than 169 in the new opening pipeline.
The seven new La Quinta Inns & Suites hotels opened in the first quarter are:

Ormond Beach, Florida – 69 Rooms
Idaho Falls, Idaho – 84 Rooms
Manchester, New Hampshire – 109 Rooms
Minot, North Dakota – 90 Rooms
Marshall, Texas – 61 Rooms
Pearsall, Texas – 65 Rooms
Doswell, Virginia – 72 Rooms

Rajiv Trivedi, La Quinta’s Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer said, “We are happy to announce our first quarter results which include nine new agreements and seven openings...

La Quinta's New Mobile Website is first to include ratings and reviews plus Yelp! Content
March 05, 2012 // Franchising.com // DALLAS - La Quinta Inns & Suites announces the launch of a hotel industry first, LQ-Instant Hold, on its new mobile website. The LQ-Instant Hold smartphone feature allows travelers to reserve a room instantly for up to four hours using only their mobile phone number, with no lengthy credit card entry or address required. La Quinta's new mobile website is accessible via LQ.com from virtually any smartphone browser. LQ.com is also the first hotel mobile website featuring travelers' ratings and reviews from a highly trusted travel website.
Simulating an app-like experience, the company's new mobile website allows travelers to easily search for the closest La Quinta hotel, check availability and rates, and book a room instantly...

La Quinta Partners with Local Hotel Operator, Grupo TAO Three New Hotels - The First in Medellin
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- La Quinta Inns & Suites announced its expansion into Colombia, its fourth country outside the United States and second in South America, in a continuation of its aggressive international growth strategy. The announcement was made with Grupo TAO, an experienced hotel owner and operator based in Medellin, at the 2012 La Quinta Conference here. The first La Quinta in Colombia is expected to break ground in Medellin in the coming months, with two additional locations planned in the near future.
Rajiv Trivedi, La Quinta's Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer said, "We are happy to announce this agreement and even more delighted to do so with our franchise partner Group TAO by our side here at the 2012 La Quinta Conference...

APT announced today that La Quinta Inns & Suites, one of the largest operators of limited-service hotels in the United States, has signed an agreement to license APT's Test & Learn Management System.
Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) February 28, 2012 - Applied Predictive Technologies (APT) announced today that La Quinta Inns & Suites, one of the largest operators of limited-service hotels in the United States, has signed an agreement to license APT's Test & Learn Management System. La Quinta will use APT’s solution to test strategic and tactical initiatives across more than 800 hotels.
With this agreement, La Quinta joins industry-leading companies, such as InterContinental Hotels Group, Choice Hotels, Lowe’s, and Publix – who use APT’s Test & Learn solution to evaluate a wide range of ideas regarding media, marketing, labor and capital investment...

Garin brings more than 25 years of hospitality management and sales experience to La Quinta.
Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) December 01, 2011 - La Quinta Inns & Suites announces the appointment of Edgar Garin, as Director of Franchise Development for Central and South America. Garin brings more than 25 years of hospitality management and sales experience to La Quinta. He most recently served as Vice President of Development for Radisson Hotels & Resorts Latin America. He will report to David Wilner, La Quinta’s Senior Vice President of Development.
“We are pleased to welcome Edgar Garin to our management team for Central and South America,” said Rajiv Trivedi, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer for La Quinta...

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regus, the world’s largest provider of flexible workplaces, today announced a partnership with La Quinta Inns & Suites that will provide La Quinta business travelers access to a professional workspace while on the road. The alliance also offers Regus clients special promotional rates when making a reservation at any La Quinta property in the U.S., Canada or Mexico.
“Having access to Regus’ business centers is a great way for La Quinta Returns Members to improve their productivity during any business trip. The size of our portfolio and wide range of on-site business services is an asset for any road warrior.”
When La Quinta Returns members sign up for Regus’ Businessworld Gold membership program they will have immediate access to Regus’ 1,200 professional business lounges, which can be found in more than 550 cities globally...

Brand Adds 50,000 HD Flat Panels, 30-High Definition Channels and Plug & Play Feature
DALLAS, Oct. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Old clunky TVs are a thing of the past at La Quinta Inns & Suites. Setting a new industry standard in hotel room entertainment, guests can now plug their laptops, tablets, smartphones, gaming systems, cameras and other electronic devices directly into one of La Quinta's new 32" Samsung flat panel TVs. La Quinta has recently invested over $50 million in this new entertainment platform, which included the installation of more than 50,000 HD flat panel TVs in the majority of its hotel rooms across the country. With the latest in HD technology, this new platform provides 37 free-to-guest channels, 30 of which are delivered in high definition, along with the Showtime premium television network...

Agreement with Fast-Growing AmeriTel Inns, Brings La Quinta Brand to Boise, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls with Additional Hotels Expected July 27, 2011 // Franchising.com // DALLAS - La Quinta Inns & Suites, the fastest-growing select service brand in the hotel industry, has reached an agreement with Idaho-based AmeriTel Inns Inc., to convert three AmeriTel Inn & Suites, representing more than 300 rooms, to the La Quinta flag. The first hotel, located in Twin Falls, will begin operating as a La Quinta Inn & Suites within 90-120 days, followed by hotels in Boise and Idaho Falls. Additional agreements between La Quinta and AmeriTel are expected in the near future.

"We are delighted to welcome AmeriTel to the La Quinta franchise system, as we announce the first in a series of agreements that will further accelerate our franchise growth," said Rajiv Trivedi, La Quinta's Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer...

Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car Added to La Quinta Returns®; Exclusive Opportunity for Members to Earn Points From Car Rentals PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(Marketwire - February 1, 2011) - Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAR) has joined with La Quinta Inns & Suites, one of the fastest-growing select service brands in the hotel industry, to provide more than a million La Quinta Returns® members with special savings on Avis and Budget rentals and the ability to earn points when renting from Avis and Budget. The new agreement makes Avis Budget Group the only partner to offer La Quinta Returns members the opportunity to earn points for car rentals.

Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car will showcase products, services as well as money-saving and bonus rewards offers on La Quinta Inns & Suites' web site www...

DALLAS, Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- La Quinta Inns & Suites has united with the Slurpee® Unity Tour as a convoy embarked on a 14-day road trip to the nation's capitol to promote unity and bringing people together. La Quinta will be providing the Unity Tour hotel accommodations each night to help ensure they start their day refreshed and full of optimism.

"We reached out to La Quinta to host this ground-breaking tour because we like their optimism," said Laura Gordon, Senior Brand Director, Slurpee and Big Gulp. "As we unite people across the country, we look forward to 'waking up on the bright side' at La Quinta."

"La Quinta supports 7-Eleven in its efforts to promote unity and hope our guests will join in by following the tour on La Quinta's Facebook page," said Julie Cary, La Quinta's CMO...

DALLAS /PRNewswire/ -- La Quinta Inns & Suites' Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Temple Weiss was named CFO of the Year by the Dallas Business Journal. Selected by a panel of independent judges, Mr. Weiss received the award in the Large Private Company category during the publication's annual CFO of the Year Awards program on October 14. Weiss was nominated for the award based on his professional achievements at La Quinta and community involvement.

"Temple's strategic leadership, financial expertise, uncompromising business ethics and active involvement in the community are key strengths that make him deserving of this honor," said Wayne Goldberg, La Quinta's President and CEO. "On behalf of the entire Executive team and everyone at La Quinta, we congratulate Temple on this well-deserved recognition and for always going above and beyond expectations and for truly living our company values...

Diamond Properties and Meyer Jabara Hotels announces the opening of the La Quinta Inn & Suites at 116 Newtown Road. Danbury, CT (PRWEB) It's a bright day for travelers looking for a hotel that offers value, comfort and convenience in the heart of Danbury, CT. Diamond Properties and Meyer Jabara Hotelsannounces the opening of the La Quinta Inn & Suites at 116 Newtown Road with easy access off Exit 8 on I-84. Following the complete renovation of the existing structure this hotel has a total of 135 guest rooms.

With a bright, fresh contemporary look, rates start at $89 per night and like all La Quinta hotels, Bright Side Breakfast™ and high speed Internet access are always free. The La Quinta Inn & Suites Danbury has meeting space to accommodate up to 100 guests, a business center, and a fitness center...

Brand Significantly Improves Overall Score from 2009 May 10, 2010 // Franchising.com // DALLAS - According to corporate traveler buyers, La Quinta Inns & Suites has earned the #2 ranking in the mid-price category of the "2010 U.S. Hotel Chain Survey" published in the March issue of Business Travel News magazine. The annual survey evaluates hotel chains on a number of criteria including "Physical Appearance of Hotels," "Helpful Courteous Staff," "Quality of In-Room Amenities," "Quality of Food," "Overall Price/Value Relationship" and more. This year, La Quinta significantly improved its overall ranking by moving up from #8 in 2009.

"Business travelers are a very important segment of our business. This ranking reinforces La Quinta's commitment to investing significant resources to improve the product and service we offer our guests," said Wayne Goldberg, La Quinta's President and CEO...

Brand Adds 81 New Hotels in 23 States, Executes Contracts Internationally and in the U.S. and Reports Significant Year over Year Guest Satisfaction Increases

DALLAS, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- La Quinta Inns & Suites, the fastest-growing select service brand in the hotel industry, opened 81 hotels in 23 states during 2009. La Quinta also executed 55 new franchise agreements, grew the brand internationally, continued to enjoy significant increases in guest satisfaction numbers and expects its strong pace of growth to continue and accelerate during 2010.

Here are highlights of La Quinta's 2009 growth: La Quinta opened 81 hotels in 23 states and now has close to 800 properties in 46 states across the country. All hotels opened in 2009 were franchised locations with the exception of one corporate-owned, Chicago Downtown and almost all were new construction...

Hotel to Participate in Chicago's Green Roof Program
DALLAS, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- It's a bright day for travelers looking for a hotel that offers value, comfort and convenience in the heart of Chicago's Financial District. La Quinta Inns & Suites announces the opening of its first hotel in downtown Chicago located inside the Loop at One South Franklin. Following the conversion of the existing structure, the Jewish Federation Building built in 1958, along with the addition of two newly constructed wings, this hotel has a total of 241 guest rooms.

With a bright, fresh contemporary look, rates start at $119 per night and like all La Quinta hotels, Bright Side Breakfast(TM) and high speed Internet access are always free...

DALLAS, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- La Quinta announces Temple H. Weiss has been selected as executive vice president and chief financial officer to succeed Robert Harshbarger, who retired in May. Mr. Weiss will report to Wayne Goldberg, La Quinta's president and chief executive officer.

Mr. Weiss, who has more than 15 years experience in the hospitality industry, joined La Quinta in 2001. Since then, he has held increasingly senior executive roles and has been significantly involved in the Company's financial activities. Previously, he served as vice president of finance and investor relations where he had responsibility for capital markets, corporate acquisitions, financial analysis and strategic planning. Most recently, he was executive vice president of acquisitions & development where he led the Company's $450 million expansion program...

Earning La Quinta Returns Points Has Never Been Easier

October 10, 2007 // Franchising.com // DALLAS – La Quinta Inns & Suites, one of the largest operators of limited-service hotels in the United States and Chase Card Services, a division of JPMorgan Chase & Co. [NYSE:JPM], are making it easier to earn points in the La Quinta Returns frequent guest program with the launch of the new La Quinta Visa® Rewards Card. Cardholders will enjoy earning five La Quinta Returns points for every dollar spent on the card when they stay at La Quinta Inns & Suites and one point for each dollar spent on the card everywhere else. Cardholders will also earn 6,000 La Quinta Returns bonus points with their first purchase, enough points for a free night's stay at many La Quinta hotels...