Carrollton, TX  - August 23, 2007 -- In an age where hotels have "bedding wars" and offer baskets of fruit you have never heard of, Motel 6 and Tom Bodett have narrowed it down to what really matters in a hotel stay. Bodett, the famous voice behind Motel 6's "We'll Leave the Light On" campaign, humorously lists all the amenities he "does not need" when staying at a hotel, such as sewing kits and Jordan Almonds on your pillow. Simply titled, "Things I Don't Need," Bodett's latest podcast is available for download at www.Motel6.com.

"It is easy to get caught up in all the amenities that are offered in the lodging industry now, losing sight of the fact that the customer pays for these -- whether they use them or not," said Carol Kirby, chief marketing officer for Motel 6. "Motel 6 skips the extras to give its customers the best of the basics -- a comfortable bed, cable TV, free coffee in the morning, and the best price of any national chain. Tom's podcast teases about the fluff a customer pays for at other hotels, while emphasizing Motel 6's focus on offering the essentials for the best possible price."

"I make it my business to keep tabs on what the big, fancy, expensive hotels are doing, just to see if all that extra hoo-hah they charge for is stuff you might actually need," says Bodett in the podcast. "But, I'm happy to report you still get nothing you don't need at Motel 6, and, therefore, you don't have to pay for it. I don't need valet parking. If I can drive the old crate 300 miles to the hotel all by myself, I can certainly handle the last nine feet to the parking space."

Tom Bodett began working with Motel 6 in 1986, and ad-libbed the tagline, "We'll Leave the Light on for You" in the very first recording session. The brand's award-winning advertising campaign proved an instant success for Motel 6, turning the chain into a household name.

About Motel 6:
Motel 6 offers the best price of any national chain at more than 850 company-owned and franchised locations throughout the United States and Canada. The iconic Motel 6 ad campaign has used the tagline, "We'll leave the light on for you," for over 20 years earning the chain the highest brand recognition in the economy lodging segment. Motel 6 was the first national pet friendly chain, welcoming pets since 1962. Standard amenities include free local phone calls, no long distance access charges, free morning coffee, data ports, and cable with premium channels including HBO, ESPN/ESPN2, and CNN. Most locations offer swimming pools and guest laundry facilities. For more information, visit www.motel6.com.

Laura Rojo-Eddy
(972) 360-5970
[email protected]