In fact, you could say that few people are better qualified to offer advice for aspiring hotel owners and franchisees in the current challenging economic environment.

All the more reason to take notice when he says that the one of the most interesting franchising concepts in the industry comes out of La Quinta Corporation, based in Dallas, Texas.

�It�s very simple,� said Patel. �When you combine the consistency of the La Quinta product and a strong, time-tested brand image, with excellent returns on development cost, you have a winner.�

It is a development formula that seems tough to beat. 

It is also why, with much of the industry struggling, Diplomat is moving ahead with plans to open two La Quinta Inns & Suites in the next year. One is a 65-room property in Suwanee, Georgia; the second, a 125-room hotel at the Atlanta airport. Both hotels are expected to open in the next twelve months and will display the distinctive La Quinta look and feel.

�They make it easy to be a part of their system,� said Patel, whose other flagged properties include AmeriSuites, Country Inn & Suites and Howard Johnson. He continued, �There are many fine brands and companies in this industry; few if any can match the value proposition, and the level of hands-on support that La Quinta puts on the table.�

Part of that support is a unique system-training program that provides unique, end-to-end assistance in helping owners and general managers get their new hotels up and running. La Quinta�s training professionals become part of the property�s pre-opening team, helping staff negotiate any difficult turns in the process . . .  and work out any �kinks� prior to the hotel opening its doors.

Then, it�s �off to the races.� 

The numbers back up the success of La Quinta�s franchise development effort.

In 2002, the most difficult year the industry has experienced in decades, La Quinta has more than doubled the size of its franchise system, and will have opened more than 60 franchised properties over the course of the year. La Quinta hotels are now in more than 30 states and in many major metropolitan areas.

�La Quinta has great distribution but is not saturated,� said Patel. He adds: �This means there are many opportunities to build and grow along with the brand.� 

No one knows the depth of the franchising success story better than Rajiv Trivedi, Vice President of franchise operations for La Quinta.

�We are confident the brand�s franchise development success will continue,� he said. �Part of the reason for the success lies with the strength of the product, but the rest is the vitality of our franchise community itself.� �There is no stronger or more forward-looking group of franchisees anywhere in our industry.�

Patel and his fellow owners seem to agree.

More and more, they are voting with their feet . . .  and as they do, they are beating a path to La Quinta�s door as 2003 begins.