t4 - MANCHESTER HERALD. Wednesday, Jan. 8. 19«6 No-frills motels become booming business SPORTS FOCUS U.S./WORLD services snd comforts without the Mark Feigner. “ It’s a relatively By Ruth Youngblood segment of the industry has been UConn Huskies Our green piants Researchers hail extras that traditionally accom­ recent pheiu^mena. We’re going in ;;K 3 vi United Press International basically located in rural areas,’’ i Fitzgerald said, “ but now we’re panied expense-account travel. that direction because the accom­ "Our industry is polarizing," modations are reliable and safe heip us breathe new cold remedy BOSTON — There are no bars, growing in urban areas as well.’’ Budget Lodgings bitten by Hoyas " I t ’s a building frenzy," said Ganje-Fischer added. “ That and cost less.” k restaurants, meeting rooms or “There have\ b(?en no com­ saunas, but hoardes of corporate Joan Ganje-Fischer, secretary- means the upscales are doing very Ijoomini) no Inll inoti l' to' .illnt' Imi) ... page 13 page 19 plaints” from anyone who pre­ ... page 9 customers are switching to econ­ treasurer of the council. Noting the well and the economy lodgings are viously stayed at more expensive ovi't/oni' liom I imilii”, In ( oipoi itioir. omy motels'with no frills attached. rapid expansion has taken its toll doing very well. For those caught in the middle, the market is very facilities, Fenner said, “ a reflec­ Officials say budget accommo­ on the moderate and upper-range shaky.” tion of the awareness of cost dations that once were the pro­ motels, Ganje-FIsher said those Betsy Bromberg, director of consciousness among employees.” vince of single property, Ma and feeling the brunt of the competition communications for the Hotel k GanJe-FJscher said savings for Pa operators have b ^ m e the are countering with their own Motel Association, said the rapid these firms are two-fold: in addi­ fastest growing and most lucrative lower cost facilities. growth of economy facilities Is one tion to budget room rates, the segment of the America’s $36 Holiday Corp., parent firm of aspect of the “ product marketing firms end up with “ considerably billion lodging industry. Holiday Inns, entered the market segmentation” that has enveloped reduced expenditures on food and By offering rooms anywhere with its Hampton Inn chain in beverages.” from 20 to 60 percent cheaper than August 1984. "The results have the industry. "Hotels used to try to be “ When employees stay at up­ their more upscale competitors, been dizzying,” Ganje-Fischer , Supor 8 everything for everyone. What has scale motels or hotels, they tend to the inexpensive chains have said, with the company selling happened is several major chains take advantage of the amenities jumped from 20,000 rooms in 1970 more than 100 franchises in one ' M ' V HanrhrBtfr) Manchester — A City of Village Charm Hrralft are going after a very particular which typically include restau­ to 300,000 today. And the boom isn't quarter alone. Molol 6 market niche design^ to attract rants and lounges,” Ganje-Fischer weakening. Marriott entered the low-cost "You won't find an abundance of market with its Marriott- specific customers.” said. Bromberg cited Holiday Corp. as “ But when they stay at economy amenities such as shampoo and Courtyards and Quality Inn has an example. In addition to Hamp­ chains, they usually dine at nearby 25 Cents shower caps, but there’s a private introduced Comfort Inns. Of the Thursday, Jan. 9,1986 ton Inns and Holiday Inns, the firm family restaurants where they pay Days Inns bath and shower, guest rooms of chains. Days Inns, the largest with ! La Quinta 45,725 rooms, are primarily lo­ also offers luxury accommoda­ from 35 to 40 percent less.” more than ample size, color I I television and direct dial tele­ cated in the Southeast, and h a tions in its Crown Plazas and Embassy Suites for families and FOR BUSINESSES where em­ phones." said A. Dennis Fitzge­ Quinta, No. 4 with 19,979 rooms, in the Southwest. business travelers who need more, ployees travel in bulk, the differ­ Disaster revisions arrive in wake of hurricane rald. chairman of the 2-year-old ence between paying $25 to $40 for a Economy Lodging Council. Red Roofs, the sixth largest with than the basics. 14,281 rooms, abound in the Nor­ "Obviously the businessman single per night or $40 to $75 “ Employers are becoming more town officials and the public were back much faster during the next theast and Econo Lodges, ranking with a computer requiring 24-hour amounts to a virtual bonanza in By John F. Kirch utilities handle emergencies such together to free blocked streets with other affected state agencies conscious of all expenditures and not given accurate information. emergency, but that better com­ third with 21,445 rooms, flourish in room service is not going to stay at savings. Herald Reporter as hurricanes or ice storms. and restore electricity to and the DPUC.” it's not unusual to find even top munications and coordinated the East. Motel 6s, No. 2 with 43,361 a budget property,” Bromberg Richard Pool, a branch manager Officials contacted today said residents. The committee, co-chaired by “ It’s the false information that’s executives who are not looking for emergency plans would make it rooms, thrive on the West Coast said, noting Marriott also has the of AccuCount, a nationwide inven­ Manchester residents may stand they felt the changes would lead to The report says that “ legislation state Sen. Carl A. Zinsser, R- so frustrating,” Town General a luxury image concept staying at more likely that people would and Super 8s, No. 5 with 19,139 more expensive Marquis and tory service, said he sends any­ a better chaiice of getting power better communications between is needed to require utilities to file Manchester, also said the DPUC Manager Robert B. Weiss said an economy chain," Fitzgerald spend less time in the dark. rooms, dominate the Midwest and Ramada the Renaissance. where from three to 80 employees back more quickly the next time the town and Northeast Utilities, emergency plans with the Depart­ should investigate ways to im­ today. said. Some area residents spent 10 West. Journey’s End, out of “ The industry has come to on jobs in the Missouri, Oklahoma, Hurricane Gloria or one of her one of the major problems that ment of Public Utility Control and prove communications between Mayor Barbara B. Weinberg realize there are many different -V:’ (V r ’ municipalities in their service the utilities and town officials. One said: “ If they are required to file days or more without power after THE R APID SPREAD of Sup^r Canada, is also expanding in the Arkansas and Iowa area. cousins sweeps through town. angered both residents and offi­ areas, to require the plans to be complaint in the aftermath of an (emergency) plan and we have Gloria swept through the state. NU 8s. Red Roofs. Days Inns, Econo Northeast. travelers, and they want different “ We’re interested in a good The Legislature’s Engergy and cials after Gloria struck Sept. 27. sleep,” Pool said, “ since we take regularly updated, and to require Hurricane Gloria, which brought the input to review them, then we reported over 500,000 of its custo­ Lodges, Motel 6s. La Quinta and things. So the companies are Public Utilities Committee issued The report, dated Dec. 17. cites inventories any time of the night or the EPUC (Energy and Public 75 mph winds to the Manchester could set priority areas.” mers without power — about 50,000 Imperial 400s reflects a major GANJE-FISCHER, vice presi­ tailoring the products to fit the a report Wednesday suggesting three areas where legislative need.” day. measures can be taken to ensure Utilities Committee) to review area and ripped down numerous She said it would be hard to tell change in the way businessmen dent of Super 8 based in Aberdeen, “ constructive changes” in the way Please tom to page 8 “ Although our people had been each updated plan in consultation trees and power poles, was that whether residents would get power and women are traveiing. It also S.D., said corporate custontfers town officials and the state’s three that towns and utilities work THE OBSERVATIONS of Ganje- staying at Holiday Inns and Best sparked the formation of the now constitute 75 percent of K: council as a division of the occupancy and without that pa­ Fischer and others in the Economy Westerns, our company is tryingto Lodging Council are substantiated save every dollar possible. We 9 8 tronage. the chain “ would proba­ American Hotel & Motel Association. bly be operating well under its by the stampede of companies found the rooms at the economy Donors “ With 90 chain and individual current level of 307 properties." anxious to cut costs by using the lodgings are just as nice and clean. Khadafy said owners, we needed a separate The upswing in business clien­ budget motels. In our type of business, we’re in the Super 8 has contracts with 300 of voice within the association,” said tele stems from the growing motels to rest.” Ganje-Fischer and Fitzgerald Fitzgerald, general manager of practice of tiering employee the Fortune 500 companies, includ­ worried Imperial 400 headquartered in accommodations. ing 3M, Boeing, Hughes and Coors acknowledged that just how long There are no bars, restaurants, meeting rooms or saunas, Arlington. Va. "Previously, all employees Beer. Also using the facilities are the rapid expansion continues set to freeze but plenty of corporate customers are switching to stayed at moderate to full-service executives from such establed depends on the long-term extent of Fitzgerald said the budget chain economy motels with no frills attached.