Can your road-warrior stay at a chain motel be "Upscale" and "Economy" at the same time?
Red Roof Inn, the Columbus, Ohio-based motel chain that defaulted on its loans in the 2008 financial freeze, says it's updated its Philadelphia and Wilmington hotels and a few dozen more across its 360 locations into "Plus+" property status, spending $10,000 per room (mixing new construction and renovations) on flatscreens, wood floors, granite counters, upgraded outlets, smoking bans, more LED lighting, free popcorn/OJ/trailmix/granola bars/coffee, and other "Upscale Economy" improvements.
In a statement, Red Roof boss Andrew Alexander says the chain has boosted occupancy by more than 10% to above 70% at the improved motels, and increased average daily room revenues by $3.50 a day vs. before the new status.