“T hey will get free tissues to cry into at the Motel 6” is what bluecat — a reader of TravelBloggerBuzz — posted in response to how members of the President’s Club frequent guest loyalty program feel about the announcement of AccorHotels to acquire Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel by issuing 46.7 million new Accor shares and a cash payment of $840 million.
I have been seeing references around the Internet — such as aforementioned comment — which seem to imply that the Motel 6 lodging chain is still owned by AccorHotels.
Motel 6 is NOT Owned by AccorHotels
Although it is true that AccorHotels purchased the budget motel brand back in 1990, it had sold the Motel 6 and Studio 6 lodging chains to Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII in a transaction worth $1.9 billion; and that transaction was completed in October of 2012. As a result of the transaction, Accor reduced its net debt by approximately €330 million and its fixed-lease commitments by approximately €525 million — apparently priming it for its latest aforementioned acquisition.
Although Hilton Worldwide and LQ Management LLC — which is the La Quinta chain of inns and suites — are both already owned by Blackstone, Motel 6 operates on a stand-alone basis under G6 Hospitality LLC as the management company.
Memories of Staying at Motel 6
For me, Motel 6 was perfect when I was a college student who had just become 20 years old and spent two weeks driving my cousin’s 1979 Honda Civic CVCC with a five-speed manual transmission from the Seattle area to San Antonio via the west coast of the United States during the summer years ago. Although I traveled alone driving along the coast, around mountains and through deserts, I did visit many places and people along the way. I drove through a tree in the redwood forest; visited national parks such as Saguaro National Park; gave a female college student a ride from Los Angeles to the Cardiff area of California; and I also visited Tijuana for the first time.
Along the way, I stopped at a few Motel 6 properties. For example, I stayed at one in Tucson, where for dinner I purchased a sack full of McDonald’s hamburgers on sale for a quarter each and spent fewer than $20.00 — including all taxes and fees — for a stark dingy utilitarian room with bare white walls and illuminated with fluorescent lighting. Operating the television cost extra back then; but I did not pay it.
I only stopped because it was night time, and I wanted to see the entire trip during the daylight hours. I got a good night’s sleep; and when I awoke early the next morning, I promptly checked out — there was no free breakfast or dining facility of any kind on the property — and continued on my journey.
For a college student on a budget, Motel 6 served its purpose perfectly for me. However, I have not stayed at one since. Its amenities have vastly improved at some properties since I last stayed at a Motel 6 — hey, the television is now included in the room rate — but looking at the room rate at the property in Tucson at which I stayed, the room rate has at least doubled and the room was only marginally better than I remembered it when I watched the video showing the property.
Summary
Motel 6 is once again “on its own”, so to speak; and has not been a brand of AccorHotels for greater than three years.
As of now, I really have no desire to stay at a Motel 6 property. I had the opportunity some years ago to stay at one in Carlsbad, New Mexico, but the room rate was rather high — so I passed on it…
…but I would so do that road trip again. I really enjoyed it.
I hope they did not leave the light on for me, as it would have burned out a long time ago…
Source: Motel 6.
