Franchising World articles from July 2008

Franchising World archives from July 2008

The keys to attracting qualified prospective investors.(IN THIS ISSUE)(Industry overview)
July 1, 2008... Nothing bears more importance to franchisors than the success of their franchisees. Franchisees are the ambassadors of the brand and play a critical role in representing companies on the local level. While national marketing campaigns seek...

Political engagement is good for franchising.(IFA PRESIDENT'S COLUMN)(Column)
July 1, 2008... We are in the middle of one of the most intense political seasons in recent history. While the electoral process is sometimes discouraging, it can also inspire people to get more involved in the process and engage in the public discussion about...

Measuring franchise development performance: disciplined use of the right measurement tools will then lead to performance-improving decisions.(STRATEGIES TO BOOST YOUR MARKETING AND LEAD GENERATION)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lately, the news has been filled with stories about economic conditions that are affecting franchise recruiting. The anxiety of dealing with candidates' fears of a financial downturn, diminished availability of...

Identifying effective methods of lead generation: leads, prospects or inquiries, call them what you want. All franchisors want them, want more of them and want them all to be qualified and ready to buy. If only it were that easy.(STRATEGIES TO BOOST YOUR MARKETING AND LEAD GENERATION)
July 1, 2008... In today's environment, generating leads is every franchisor's number one challenge. How does a franchisor go about identifying what are the most effective methods of generating leads? First, look internally. Look at the brand's franchisees and...

Advertise online or offline? Yes, is the answer: testing your advertising outreach will provide answers to the right combination.(STRATEGIES TO BOOST YOUR MARKETING AND LEAD GENERATION)
July 1, 2008... Today, there is a vast amount of statistics available online that provide us with information supporting the increases in online sales, use of the Internet for researching a sale and so forth. For example, 84 percent of online Americans have...

Expos: producing leads for top franchisors: quality leads are the reason franchisors exhibit at trade shows year-after-year.(STRATEGIES TO BOOST YOUR MARKETING AND LEAD GENERATION)
July 1, 2008... When the International Franchise Expo launched nearly 20 years ago, a top priority for the show's producers was to create an event that would deliver high-quality leads for exhibitors. Today, that remains the number one goal of the IFE, as well...

Run, don't walk away.(STRATEGIES TO BOOST YOUR MARKETING AND LEAD GENERATION)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As almost every experienced franchisor will tell you, the single biggest mistake made by novice franchisors is awarding franchises to marginally-qualified candidates. The temptation is easy to understand. When...

President Bush signs credit and debit clarification act: new law will dispose of hundreds of class action lawsuits filed against franchise companies.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
July 1, 2008... In mid-May, the U.S. Senate passed by unanimous consent, H.R. 4008, the Credit and Debit Clarification Act. The International Franchise Association, a strong supporter of the measure, commended passage of the bill, President Bush signed the...

DHS "no match" rule misses the mark ... again: IFA requests comment period extension.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
July 1, 2008... The International Franchise Association recently asked the Department of Homeland Security to extend the comment period for its supplemental proposed rule regarding regulation on Social Security "no-match" letters because it causes uncertainty...

Arizona: a profile: this profile is part of an occasional series examining the issues and atmosphere guiding politics and policy in the various states.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Facts Nickname: The Grand Canyon State Capital: Phoenix State Motto: Ditat Deus (God enriches) 48th state to enter the union, on Feb.14, 1912 Population: 6.3 million, 16th in the United States...

Washington's offerings beyond the hustle and bustle of Congress's halls: what many franchise professionals who participate in the International Franchise Association's Franchise Appreciation Day may overlook is that trekking the storied halls of Congress isn't the only remarkable attraction that Washington, D.C. has to offer.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)(Conference notes)
July 1, 2008... Nestled in the heart of the infamous Interstate 495, or the "Beltway" as the locals refer to it, is our nation's capital. What makes Washington, D.C. a highly-unique destination compared to the fast-paced behemoth that is New York City and...

Colombia free trade agreement: economic stimulus we can afford: concerned that U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was stalling passage of the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, IFA leadership recently circulated an "op-ed" article to major media outlets urging the lawmaker to allow the legislation to move forward. A summary of the message appears here.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Trade is an integral part of the U.S. economy, accounting for more than one-quarter of U.S. GDP and directly supporting more than 12 million U.S. jobs. In 2007, the export of services by the U.S. totaled $472...

Issue brief: restricting direct mail advertising: addressing consumer desires or muzzling small business?(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
July 1, 2008... To many consumers and policymakers, legislation to implement "Do Not Mail" registries, similar to the "Do Not Call" system put in place in recent years, may sound like an idea whose time has come. However, Do Not Mail registries would create...

Franchise Congress 2008: getting your lawmakers to work for you: Franchise Appreciation Day provides an opportunity to come to Washington; and, in essence, "Franchise Congress.".(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
July 1, 2008... This fall, franchise-business owners will have the unique ability to play a key role in aping public policy in Washington. In addition to the general election on Nov. 4, mark your calendars for the International Franchise Association's...

Supporting candidates: the FranPAC report card: the International Franchise Association's current financial support to candidates for federal office as of mid-May is reflected in the following "report card.".(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)(Statistical table)
July 1, 2008... IFA's political action committee, FranPAC, supports pro-franchise, pro-business candidates for U.S. Congress. 2007-2008 Receipts $412,910 2007-2008 Expenditures $292,500 FranPAC Supported Candidates U.S. Senate ...

FranPAC Max Donors Club grows.(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As the 2008 election cycle heats up, franchising's leaders are stepping up their involvement in the association's political action committee, FranPAC. Joining the "5K" group of donors who contribute a maximum of...

IFA delegation advocates micro-franchise development for Africa AIDS relief: the health crisis in Africa and lack of government resources combine to make a desperate situation that has drawn the attention of IFA leaders and franchising executives who are working to advocate for and implement sustainable solutions.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Adelegation of International Franchise ssociation representatives, led by Chairman teve Greenbaum, CFE, recently met with U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) in Washington, D.C. to lobby on behalf of micro-franchise...

"Going Green" new FTC rule compliance focus of '08 Legal Symposium.(41ST ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION LEGAL SYMPOSIUM)
July 1, 2008... Environmental issues and their legal implications vied for attention with detailed explanations of compliance requirements mandated by the Federal Trade Commission's Franchise Rule revisions during the International Franchise Association's 41st...

Are franchisees independent contractors? Not everyone agrees: it appears that the law of unintended consequences is once again asserting its presence and franchisors of all shapes and sizes, especially those with franchisees who have few, if any, employees, and are conducting business as sole proprietorships, should proceed with extreme caution.(FW FOCUS: LEGAL)
July 1, 2008... Virtually every franchise agreement contains a boilerplate provision that restates what is obvious to franchisors: an acknowledgment that the franchisee is an independent contractor, and not a partner, joint venturer, agent or employee of the...

Veterans program and new grant fund encourage franchise ownership and education.(FW FOCUS: HONORING AMERICA'S VETERANS)
July 1, 2008... If the addition of the 300th IFA-member company to join the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative was not enough reason to celebrate, the program has gained yet another benefit to further aid U.S. military veterans. The IFA Educational...

Going overseas ... very carefully: extending operations internationally means careful planning, choosing the right partners and observing cultural and language traditions as well.(FW FOCUS: INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Life at home is good for Mr. Handyman. Garnering magazine top honors for the home improvement category four years running, adding 50 territories in each of those years to reach the 300 unit mark, and embarking on a...

Middle East franchise market set to explode.(Gulfnews.com)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Dubai: The Middle East is expected to see soaring growth in the franchise sector, according to industry experts. The fifth Franchise Middle East trade show saw 70 brands from 25 countries, with a target to taking their brands global. ...

IFA chairman addresses Canadian franchise association: PostNet International Franchise Corp. CEO and International Franchise Association Chairman Steve Greenbaum, CFE, shared his insight on the relationship between Canada and the United States.(FW FOCUS: INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Due to the fact that 80 percent of Canada's exports go to the United States and 70 percent of Canada's imports come from the United States, it is apparent that the two nations have a mutually-beneficial relationship....

Franchising industry expected to expand in Middle East: franchise professionals in charge of their brand's expansion plans should not overlook the fertile marketplace of the Middle East.(FW FOCUS: INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Following a successful Franchising Middle East Trade show in Dubai, show organizers remained optimistic that their region will experience a surge of franchise system growth from a variety of outside countries. ...

Build your search-engine ranking: with the power of your franchisees behind you, you have the resources to build thousands of high-quality links in no time.(FW FOCUS: TECHNOLOGY)
July 1, 2008... Most customers find businesses through search engines such as Google and Yahoo. A business that lands in a search engine's top spot is likely to have more visitors to its Web site than one that lands a lower position. Many companies rely...

No franchise is an island: franchisees and franchisors rely on each other: the overall goal of a Franchise Advisory Council is to facilitate communication between franchisor and franchisee and provide a platform for the sharing of ideas and implementation of ways to maximize profits for both parties.(FW FOCUS: FRANCHISE RELATIONS)
July 1, 2008... In 1993 during the International Franchise Association's annual convention held at the San Francisco Hilton, a group of franchisees, designated by their franchise systems met, with leaders of the association in an organizational meeting of the...

Corporate mentality: improving physical and mental health: the Dwyer Group implemented the Dwyer-Dasher program to encourage and support a company-wide mentality of health-consciousness, and recently a small group of participants completed the Marathon de Paris.(FW FOCUS: MEMBERS IN ACTION)
July 1, 2008... A majority of employees who make their health a top priority schedule work outs round their work hours, choose to focus on a healthier diet, or apply a combination of the two. But for those employed by The Dwyer Group headquartered in Waco,...

Welcome new IFA members.(FW FOCUS: WELCOME TO IFA!)(List)
July 1, 2008... Franchise Systems 1-800 Mr. Rubbish Franchising, LLC, Brooklyn, Contact Greg Murjani Bad Dawgs, Plymouth, N.H., Contact Charles Sayegh Beverage Plus, Las Vegas, Contact Ronald Serota CPA CM Brands, Whitefish, Mont., Contact...

Franchises gain momentum in Arkansas.(Arkansas Business)
July 1, 2008... ... But why has this fast-casual concept--a category that offers higher quality meals than fast-food restaurants but without full table service--enjoyed such rapid growth? Is the rocky economy that is shifting consumers from department stores...

Assisting Hands.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Richard "Dick" Rennick, CFE, founder of American Leak Detection, was named chief executive officer of Assisting Hands.

Blendz.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Blendz appointed Scott Mortier to vice president of franchise development.

Five Star Painting.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Chem-Dry President Craig Donaldson was named to the Five Star Painting board of directors.

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen promoted Jimmy Bartlett to vice president of the franchise management department and appointed Crystal Bell as department assistant.

Express Employment Professionals.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Express Employment Professionals hired Adell Pickens and Nancy Reilly as regional franchise sales managers. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Field Fisher Waterhouse.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... U.K. law firm Eversheds' Partner Chris Wormald, Chairman Martin Mendelsohn, and Senior Associate Shelley Nadler joined law firm Field Fisher Waterhouse.

FOCUS Brands.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... FOCUS Brands named Paul Damico as brand president of Moe's Southwest Grill.

FranNet.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... FranNet appointed Thom Crimans to its Franchise Advisory Council.

Home Helpers.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Home Helpers hired Ruth Zerbe as national director of franchise operations.

InterContinental Hotels Group.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] InterContinental Hotels Group named David Tessier to senior vice president and chief financial officer of the Americas region.

Mr. Rooter added Franc Exley and Les Hanks to its corporate team.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Mr. Rooter added Franc Exley and Les Hanks to its corporate team as franchise consultants.

NexCen Brands.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... NexCen Brands appointed David R. Goldberg to vice president of real estate for NexCen Franchise Management.

Papa Murphy's International.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Papa Murphy's International hired Ann Stone as chief marketing officer.

Togo's Eateries.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Togo's Eateries named John Ramsay, CFE, as the vice president of development.

Two Men And A Truck.(PEOPLE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Two Men And A Truck hired Dawn Kroeger as franchise marketing services manager and promoted Matt Cutler, CFE, to chief operating officer, Randy Shacka, CFE, to vice president of operations, and Jody Hope to franchise development manager. ...

Franchising community mourns passing of Baskin-Robbins co-founder.(IN MEMORIAM)(Irvine Robbins )(Obituary)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... In response to Fidel Castro's 1967 proclamation that Havana's ice-cream parlors would soon surpass U.S. ice-cream flavor production, Irvine Robbins dialed Cuba's minister of industry and informed him that while Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream offered...

Whataburger Restaurants.(PEOPLE)(Joel Griffiths )(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Whataburger Restaurants promoted Joel Griffiths to regional director of operations for the South Texas region, Maureen Miller to regional director of operations for Southeast region, and named Carlos Rodriguez as regional director of operations...

Wyndham Hotel Group.(PEOPLE)(Rajeev Panjwani appointed director of international development for Southeast Asia)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Wyndham Hotel Group appointed Rajeev Panjwani as director of international development for Southeast Asia, Tom Monahan as executive vice president of international development and promoted Rosanne Zusman to vice president of change management....

Accor North America has acquired two new corporate-owned Motel 6 properties.(Mergers, Acquisitions and Transactions)
July 1, 2008... Accor North America has acquired two new corporate-owned Motel 6 properties in Willoughby, Ohio and Williamsville, N.Y.

Dunkin' Donuts.(Mergers, Acquisitions and Transactions)
July 1, 2008... Dunkin' Donuts signed three multi-unit store development agreements in Phoenix totaling 150 new restaurants.

Pet Butler.(Mergers, Acquisitions and Transactions)
July 1, 2008... Pet Butler sold its corporate owned franchises in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to Mark Hamel for $1.2 million.

SearchPath International.(Mergers, Acquisitions and Transactions)
July 1, 2008... SearchPath International has plans to be publicly-traded as a Securities and Exchange Commission-compliant and fully-reporting company on the OTC Bulletin Board market by mid-2008

Wyndham Hotel Group.(Mergers, Acquisitions and Transactions)(contract with Days Hospitality Inc. for the development of 17 Ramada hotels )(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Wyndham Hotel Group signed an agreement with Days Hospitality Inc. of Markham, Ontario for the development of 17 Ramada hotels throughout Eastern Canada during the next 10 years.

Advanced Solutions International.(Awards & Honors)
July 1, 2008... Advanced Solutions International presented (C) Systems, LLC with its Provider of the Year Award.

CiCi's Pizza.(Awards & Honors)
July 1, 2008... CiCi's Pizza named Quinn Newhall of Denver Operator of the Year.

Gray Plant Mooty.(Awards & Honors)
July 1, 2008... Gray Plant Mooty received the Hennepin County Bar Association's 2008 Diversity Award for a Legal Employer for its commitment to diversity.

Great Harvest Franchising.(Awards & Honors)
July 1, 2008... Great Harvest Franchising was one of 25 companies selected by WorldBlu to receive the award for the "most democratic workplace."

PostNet International Franchise Corp. CEO Steven J. Greenbaum, CFE, and President and COO Brian Spindel, CFE, became finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 Award.(Awards & Honors)
July 1, 2008... PostNet International Franchise Corp. CEO Steven J. Greenbaum, CFE, and President and COO Brian Spindel, CFE, became finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 Award in the Rocky Mountain region.

Proforma Horizon Total Source owner Troy Bevill was awarded the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.(Awards & Honors)
July 1, 2008... Proforma Horizon Total Source owner Troy Bevill was awarded the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics from the Central East Texas Better Business Bureau.

Three Two Men And A Truck team members earned the ITIL Foundation Certification that supports the concepts and techniques for managing information technology operations.(Awards & Honors)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Three Two Men And A Truck team members earned the ITIL Foundation Certification that supports the concepts and techniques for managing information technology operations. They include Vice Pres. of Operations Randy Shacka, CFE, Service...

The U.S. Small Business Administration presented the Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery to Coaxum Enterprises' Henry L. Coaxum, Jr., owner of three McDonald's franchises in New Orleans.(Awards & Honors)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... The U.S. Small Business Administration presented the Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery to Coaxum Enterprises' Henry L. Coaxum, Jr., owner of three McDonald's franchises in New Orleans. Coaxum lost all three restaurants, an...

Wild Bird Centers of America franchisee Bill Fenimore of Utah won the Ludlow Griscom Award.(Awards & Honors)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Wild Bird Centers of America franchisee Bill Fenimore of Utah won the Ludlow Griscom Award from the American Birding Association for advancing ornithological awareness throughout the state of Utah.

The HealthStore Foundation.(Growth)
July 1, 2008... The HealthStore Foundation opened its first Child and Family Wellness clinic in Rwanda.

Hilton Hotels Corp.(Growth)
July 1, 2008... Hilton Hotels Corp. signed a management agreement for the entry of the Doubletree by Hilton brand into Scotland.

Pizza Inn.(Growth)
July 1, 2008... Pizza Inn signed a multi-unit development agreement to open 35 new units in southern Asia.

InterContinental Hotels Group's The Hotel Management Group was awarded the Silver Reggie Award for its 2007 "Chase the Extraordinary" program from the Promotion Marketing Association.(Awards & Honors)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] InterContinental Hotels Group's The Hotel Management Group was awarded the Silver Reggie Award for its 2007 "Chase the Extraordinary" program from the Promotion Marketing Association. Receiving the award was DIG Vice...

Accor North America.(Marketing)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Accor North America conducted Earth Day initiatives to improve human and environmental awareness and partnered with with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant 15,000 trees in areas in need of reforestation.

Burger King.(Marketing)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Burger King launched a promotion for the movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull which featured the special edition Indy Double Whopper sandwich, the "Reveal the Secret" scratch-and-win game, the "Big Dig" online game and a...

California Tortilla.(Marketing)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... California Tortilla conducted its 14th Annual Pop-Tart Day to provide customers with a free Kellogg's Pop-Tart to continue its original tradition of creating a unique connection with customers.

Cinnabon.(Marketing)
July 1, 2008... Cinnabon partnered with The DAISY Foundation to celebrate Nurses Week by offering nurses a free "Classic Roll" at participating bakeries.

Diverse Wealth Systems' Phil Wilkins appeared on XM Radio "The Power".(Marketing)
July 1, 2008... Diverse Wealth Systems' Phil Wilkins appeared on XM Radio "The Power" Channel 169 with host Willie Jolley to discuss the benefits of the emerging marketplace.

Doubletree Hotels.(Marketing)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... In celebration of Earth Day, Doubletree Hotels conducted its Teaching Kids to CARE environmental education program and launched a national game of environmental "Tree Tag" where more than 10,000 students in more than 150 communities tagged...

Dunkin' Donuts.(Marketing)
July 1, 2008... Dunkin' Donuts opened its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified restaurant in St. Petersburg, Fla.

To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, Ellianos Coffee Company donated a free coffee certificate to every teacher in Columbia County, Fla.(Marketing)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, Ellianos Coffee Company donated a free coffee certificate to every teacher in Columbia County, Fla. In addition, to celebrate Earth Day, the company donated 500 dogwood trees to county residents. ...

Forcefield Hurricane.(Marketing)
July 1, 2008... Forcefield Hurricane unveiled its Hurricane Defense Vehicle Mobile Showrooms.

FranNet.(Marketing)
July 1, 2008... FranNet partnered with the U.S. Small Business Administration to offer online training on franchising basics for small businesses.

HomeVestors of America.(Marketing)
July 1, 2008... HomeVestors of America sponsored the National Real Estate Investors Association's "Day on the Hill," April 30 in Washington D.C.

InterContinental Hotels Group.(Marketing)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... InterContinental Hotels Group unveiled an online "Innovation Hotel," to showcase some of the best ideas for implementing sustainability concepts in the design, development and operation of hotels.

Matco Tools.(Marketing)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Matco Tools' Richard Dayton, CFE, conducted a "Fundamentals of Franchising" Workshop at the Teaming to Win Conference in West Virginia which included discussions of the VetFran Program. Matco Tools has granted more than 100 VetFran Awards, in...

The Microtel Inns & Suites and Hawthorn Suites hotel brands now feature downloadable electronic desktop directories.(Marketing)
July 1, 2008... The Microtel Inns & Suites and Hawthorn Suites hotel brands now feature downloadable electronic desktop directories that contain a worldwide hotel directory.

NexCen Brands.(Marketing)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... NexCen Brands entered a co-branding agreement with Freshens Quality Brands to offer it's pretzel and cookie franchisees the opportunity to add Freshens smoothies in a co-branded store. The company also celebrated National Pretzel Day by giving...

10 til 2 awarded franchise owner Jodi Towns of Scottsdale, Ariz. the 1st Annual Founders Award.(Growth)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 10 til 2 awarded franchise owner Jodi Towns of Scottsdale, Ariz. the 1st Annual Founders Award for her leadership, commitment and success.

The Embassy Suites Boca Raton received the Florida Green Lodging Program designation from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.(Marketing)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Embassy Suites Boca Raton received the Florida Green Lodging Program designation from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Cristina Llorens, Department of Environmental Protection; Kevin Claridge,...

Proforma ABF Direct Owner Susan Freiberg, helped American Red Cross Gloucester County Chapter's Executive Dir. Laura Steinmetz.(Marketing)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Proforma ABF Direct Owner Susan Freiberg, helped American Red Cross Gloucester County Chapter's Executive Dir. Laura Steinmetz alleviate the branch's financial troubles by donating 500 beach tote bags to the American...

Red Roof Inn.(Marketing)
July 1, 2008... Red Roof Inn launched its environmentally conscious "NextGen" prototype.