Microtel Enhances Franchisee Support With New Appointments

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. October 14, 2008

FEBRUARY 1, 2007. Microtel Inns & Suites - which continues to demonstrate its leadership position in the economy lodging segment with increased levels of development activity - has announced several new hires in the Franchise Services and Operations department to augment its extensive franchise support and provide expedited management of new projects through the critical pre-construction, ground break and opening phases. Microtel is the award-winning chain of all new-constructed, interior corridor economy/budget hotels.

During 2006, Microtel executed over 100 new license agreements. Its pipeline closed the year with a backlog of 164 executed franchise agreements and an additional 70 approved in-house applications pending execution. At year-end, there were 271 Microtel hotels open worldwide and 31 under construction.

"With our increased development activity, we are committed to ensuring that hotels open faster and better trained and equipped, and that franchisees receive the ongoing individual attention that they require throughout the life of our relationship with them," said Roy E. Flora, Chief Operating Officer for US Franchise Systems, Inc. (USFS), parent company of the franchisor of the Microtel Inns & Suites hotel brand.

The Franchise Services and Operations department, under the direction of Neil Morris, CHA, Vice President, provides franchisees with extensive on-site assistance for all their operational and training needs. These include everything from 24-hour response time to any question or request for assistance, and a toll-free support hotline, to a Franchise Resource Center that provides purchasing guidance, training opportunities, guest service assistance, and marketing and sales support.

The new hires include:

Jaynie Boothe, Regional Operations Manager Boothe was formerly owner of Brady Ellis Boothe (BEB), an Austin, TX-based hotel sales and marketing company. She has worked for Comfort Suites, Clarion and Quality Inn brands, as well as for Mr. Gatti's Pizza, where she was responsible for local store marketing in four states and for developing Spell*Bound, a spelling incentive program to create awareness and establish brand loyalty among young children.

Linda Farrell, CHA, LCTP, Regional Operations Manager Farrell was most recently General Manager of the Microtel Inn & Suites in Sulphur, LA and held that position since 1999. She has been Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President and President of the Southwest Louisiana Lodging Association, and is on the board for Louisiana Travel Promotion Association (LTPA) and the Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Tyrone Shannon, Franchise Services Manager Shannon was most recently General Manager of the Holiday Inn & Suites Express Emory Center in Atlanta, GA. He has worked as Operations Manager for Hotel Equities (Sivica Hospitality), and held positions with Holiday Inn, Marriott, Radisson, Ritz-Carlton and Westin. He was also a consultant for > Intercontinental Hotels and Lodgian.

In related news, several other promotions within the department include:

• Yvette Colbert to Manager of Franchise Services/Communications & Graphic Design * Kathy Gottlob to Director of FF&E/Capital Planning

• Dana Lodridge to Manager of Franchise Services/Administration & Marketing Co-Op Support

• Stephanie Newell to Director of Field Operations-New Hotel Openings

• Nathan Stacks to Director of Field Operations-Open Hotel Support