December 12, 2008 // Franchising.com // Dallas, Texas – Motel 6 held groundbreaking ceremonies Monday in Northlake, Texas, for the first corporately-built and owned property to feature the newly-redesigned Motel 6 building and room design. The property, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, will showcase the "Phoenix" prototype, named after the mythical birth of rebirth and renewal. The new design is a revolution in the economy lodging experience, featuring rooms with a modern, Euro-chic design.
"With all the environmentally aware features and the sleek new design, this is truly our greenest motel ever," said Olivier Poirot, CEO for Accor North America, Motel 6 and Studio 6. "This is the first look at how Motel 6 is growing and will take the industry lead in being a good steward of the environment while still offering travelers a great room at the best price of any national chain."
In addition to its modern styling, the design incorporates a number of green and environmentally friendly features, such as wood-effect laminate flooring made of 80% pre-consumer recycled material, and the building is designed to house a system of thermal solar panels for water heating purposes. The property will also adhere to the company's ongoing earth-friendly initiatives like the fluorescent light bulb and battery recycling program, the use of technologically advanced heating and cooling systems, the Honeywell Cool Control Plus program, and water conservation measures.
The efficient, no-frills and modern design of the new Motel 6 look will set a new standard in both appearance and environmentally-conscious practices. It will change the way travelers look at economy lodging – offering guests both style and the low price they come to expect of Motel 6.
The "Phoenix" prototype was first unveiled by Motel 6 in March of 2008. Major features include a new building exterior designed by BOKA Powell, a spacious lobby with a new 24-hour food and beverage vending market place, and a modern guestroom design that features bright accent colors. In addition to the wood-effect laminate flooring, the room also includes a 32-inch flat-screen TV, ambient lighting, a multi-media panel for mp3 players, CD players and laptop computers, Wi-Fi internet access, and a settee/banquette seating area.
The Northlake property is scheduled to open during the second half of 2009. In addition, Motel 6 has already begun renovating corporate properties in Texas with the new room design and at select properties across the country.
Motel 6 offers the lowest price of any national chain at nearly 1,000 company-owned and franchised locations throughout the United States and Canada. For 21 years Motel 6 has used the tagline, "We'll leave the light on for you," earning the chain the highest brand recognition in the economy lodging segment. Motel 6 was the first national pet friendly chain, welcoming pets since 1962. Standard amenities include free local phone calls, no long distance access charges, free morning coffee, data ports, Wi-Fi Internet access and cable channel line-up with premium channels including HBO, ESPN/ESPN2, and CNN. Most locations offer swimming pools and guest laundry facilities.
Headquartered in Dallas (Carrollton), Texas, Accor North America operates more than 1,000 upscale and economy properties including nationwide economy leaders Studio 6 and Motel 6 and the upper-upscale Sofitel and upscale Novotel hotel locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Accor, the European leader and a major global group in hotels, the global leader in services to corporate clients and public institutions, operates in nearly 100 countries with 170,000 employees. It offers to its clients over 40 years of expertise in its two core businesses:
Motel 6 helps travelers save more for what they travel for at its more than 1,400 company owned and franchised locations throughout the United States and Canada.