Budgetel Inn & Suites San Antonio, TX
2635 N. E. Loop 410
San Antonio, TX 78217
Phone: 210 637 5700
Fax: 210 637 5701
General Manager: David Williams
Rooms: 132
Owned by: OMNI HOSPITALITY GROUP LLC

Today, there are eleven Budgetel Inns & Suites with 1,012 rooms in operation, including a Budgetel in Yiwu, Zhejiang China. Another two properties are scheduled to open within the next sixty days.

“We had strong expectations for Budgetel when we acquired exclusive licensing rights for the brand, but the marketplace has been even more enthusiastic than anticipated,” explains Doug Collins, President and CEO of America’s Best Franchising, Inc.

Budgetel, first introduced in 1974, went dormant before being acquired in 2007 by Budgetel Franchise System, which signed a Licensing Agreement in November of 2008 that made America’s Best Franchising, Inc. the sole world-wide franchiser and management
firm for the brand. The Licensing Agreement consists of an initial five year term, followed by four additional periods of five years each.

“The Budgetel name represents an exceptional value, especially in today’s economic environment – for travelers, it means quality accommodations at affordable prices while for hoteliers, it means a great investment backed up with proven marketing and
administrative services,” added Collins. “We expect to continue capitalizing on this momentum.”

Since being founded in 1993, America’s Best Franchising, Inc. has developed a solid network of 257 properties with a combined total of 17,097 rooms in the United States, Canada, China, Argentina, and India.

In addition to Budgetel, the company operates three other upper economy hotel brands – America’s Best Inns & Suites, Country Hearth Inns & Suites, and Vagabond Inns & Suites – plus the upscale “3 Palms” brand for independent hotels.

Despite the tough economy of 2009, Atlanta-based America’s Best Franchising Incorporated lays the groundwork for a solid future with the sale and opening of 40 new franchises.

The Company now operates 251 properties, with a total of 16,700 rooms, under its four upper economy hotel brands – America’s Best Inns & Suites, Budgetel Inns & Suites, Country Hearth Inns & Suites, and Vagabond Inn & Suites – plus its upscale 3 Palms Hotels & Resorts brand for independent and condominium hotels.

During 2009, the Company grew by 30% in properties under operation, including the addition of Vagabond properties through a long-term Licensing Agreement signed in August with Los Angeles-based Vagabond Franchise System, Inc.

“Hoteliers, like most business people, found it difficult to be optimistic last year, but our Company remains focused on delivering value for our franchisees,” said Doug Collins, Chief Executive Officer of America’s Best Franchising, Inc. “We have strategies and programs in place to help our owners win, no matter what happens – plans that are working for existing properties and are clearly attracting new operators.”

According to Collins, America’s Best Franchising, Inc. expects to sell and open 45 to 55 properties during 2010, which would represent an annual growth rate of 18 to 22%. Seven properties with 480 rooms are currently scheduled to open in the first quarter, which is traditionally a slow period for the hospitality industry.

“In these unfamiliar times, we’re doing the things that we’re familiar with – namely, offering franchisees a strong entrepreneurial opportunity and offering travelers quality accommodations at a great price,” added Collins.

“The hotel business is historically complex and cyclical, but we have confidence in our industry and in our country – both short-term and long-term.”

• 132 rooms in San Antonio, Texas
• 131 rooms in Lithonia, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta
• 107 rooms and suites in Yiwu, China
• 95 rooms in Walterboro, South Carolina, near Charlesto

Four other hotels operate as America’s Best Inns & Suites:

• 103 rooms and suites in Yiwu, China, southwest of Shanghai
• 94 rooms in Modesto, California, inland from Oakland
• 80 rooms in Caseyville, Illinois, near St. Louis
• 60 rooms in Pompano Beach, Florida

Three hotels operate under the Country Hearth Inns & Suites brand:

• 98 rooms in Goldsboro, North Carolina, southwest of Greenville
• 88 rooms in Lake George, New York, north of Albany
• 50 rooms in Delmar, Maryland, on the ocean peninsula

The Beach Plaza, a 3 Palms hotel is in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with 38 rooms. “3 Palms” is an upscale brand for independent hotels located primarily in resort destinations.

Atlanta-based America’s Best Franchising, Inc. now operates 257 hotels properties in the United States under its five brands, plus hotels in Argentina, Canada, China, India, and Nigeria. In addition to the four brands named above, the Company operates Vagabond Inn & Suites.

Both hotels are located in Yiwu, a city of approximately two million people which is a major commodities center and regional tourist destination located about 190 miles southwest of Shanghai.

“Mid-scale brands are the fastest-growing segment of China’s hotel market,” explained Doug Collins, president and CEO of America’s Best Franchising. “Rooms at these properties typically cost as little as $60 a night compared to $200 per night at a five-star hotel, so they’re very popular with both domestic and foreign travelers, whether those people are on business or on vacation.”

Atlanta-based America’s Best Franchising operates more than 250 properties with a total of almost 17,000 rooms under its four upper economy hotel brands – America’s Best Inns & Suites, Budgetel Inns & Suites, Country Hearth Inns & Suites, and Vagabond Inn & Suites – plus its upscale 3 Palms brand for independent hotels.

“China, with a population that’s four times the size of the United States, has the potential to be the world’s largest budget hotel market – and we have four excellent economy brands that can compete very successfully,” said Collins.

Added Thomas Tiang, the Shanghai-based representative for America’s Best Franchising, “These brands combine an attractive room price with desirable amenities plus brand names that invoke America’s solid reputation for value and quality. That’s why we really look forward to adding more properties in China.”

Currently, about one in 10 Chinese jobs is in the travel and tourism business – and the industry is expected to grow about 10% annually. Within the past year, America’s Best Franchising has launched an aggressive international expansion of its brands, notably in Canada, South America, Africa and Asia. The company
currently operates two properties in Argentina under the Country Hearth brand plus has two properties being built in Nigeria under the America’s Best brand and four properties being built in India under the Country Hearth brand.

Country Hearth Inns & Suites – which is operated by America’s Best Franchising Incorporated – has opened seven new properties:

• 120 rooms in Abilene, Texas near Fort Worth
• 98 rooms in Paris, Tennessee, near Nashville
• 85 rooms in Franklin, Ohio near Columbus
• 75 rooms in Forrest City, Arkansas near Memphis
• 57 rooms in Rocky Mount, North Carolina
• 57 rooms in Sweetwater, Texas near Lubbock
• 45 rooms in Richmond, Kentucky near Lexington

This brings to 97 the number of Country Hearth Inn properties in the United States and Canada, with a total of 5,924 rooms. The mid-priced, limited-service hotels feature amenities such as complimentary breakfast and free local phone calls.

Atlanta-based America’s Best Franchising operates three other upper economy brands – America’s Best Inns & Suites, Budgetel Inns & Suites, and Vagabond Inns & Suites – plus the premium “3 Palms” brand for independent hotels.