The inns and outs of Bob Brock. (hotelier relinquishes presidency of Park Inns International Inc.) (Company Profile)

In some ways, history is repeating itself for Bob Brock.

With his company facing bankruptcy five years ago, Brock sold out of Brock Hotel Corp. in a leveraged buyout. He started over with Park Inns International Inc., at that point a fledgling hotel franchisor he started as a subsidiary of Brock Hotel Corp.

Now the renowned hotel innovator has lost control of Park Inns. Brock has become a minority owner in the company and relinquished the title of president and the duties of overseeing day-to-day operations.

The 66-year-old Brock, however, says that's where the similarities end. Park Inns is not on the brink of bankruptcy, and his ownership has been diluted for the sake of expansion, not financial crisis, he said.

Nor is he fully removed from the company. Brock retains the title of Park Inns chairman and basically has become its chief dealmaker.

"I've been bogged down for the last three years," Brock said. "I haven't been able to get out and make things happen for this company."

Indeed, Park Inns itself has been bogged down, at least in the United States. After a quick start in its niche as a less-expensive franchise alternative for hotel operators, Park Inns grew to 70 domestic properties. …