A history — and future — of steady growth.
It all began in 1973. Builder, contractor and future Indianapolis 500-winning race team owner James R. Trueman opened the first Red Roof Inn in Columbus, Ohio (and charged guests just $8.50 a night).
In the 50+ years since that first hotel, Trueman’s commitment to clean, affordable lodging has guided our company. We’ve kept our focus on building the right relationships and producing results. And by continuing to innovate with new technology, new designs and new ideas in lodging operations, we’ll ensure that our future is as solid as our history.
RED ROOF MILESTONES
1970s
In 1973, the late James R. Trueman opened a “rooms only” motel chain in Columbus (Grove City), Ohio. His goal? Provide a clean, comfortable room at a fair price. The single-room rate was just $8.50.
1980s
In the ’80s, a toll-free reservation system was launched, providing guests with an 800 number. Red Roof also introduced The RediCard®, a guest identification card enabling faster and easier reservations through the toll-free number. By 1984, Red Roof implemented a computerized property management system with connectivity to the corporate office. This was a first in the economy lodging segment.
1990s
In the ’90s, Red Roof’s 800 number expanded to include a telecommunications device (TDD) for the hearing-impaired. TDD machines were available at all locations, making communications accessible for hearing-impaired guests. In 1994, eight years after Jim Trueman’s passing, The Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund, L.P. purchased Red Roof from the Trueman family, and in 1997, Red Roof Inn opened its first franchise property in Branson, Mo.
2000s
In the 2000s, The RediCard® program relaunched as RediCard® Preferred Member — a points-based loyalty program with a special reservations line, regular member communications and enhanced express check-in. Superior King Rooms were introduced for value-conscious leisure and business travelers, featuring a communications package with high-speed Wi-Fi, unlimited local and long-distance calls and fax service. Red Roof Inn became the first economy lodging brand to offer an upgraded bedding package, receiving a No. 1 rating in bedding comfort by J.D. Power. Red Roof Inn also was awarded first place in the economy hotel category by Best Travel News.
2010
In 2010, Red Roof Inn was ranked No. 1 in Reservation Service by J.D. Power and earned the highest customer satisfaction score among economy hotels according to the Market Metrix Global Satisfaction Index. World Franchising Network and USA Today® named Red Roof one of the “50 Top Franchises for Minorities.”
2013
In 2013, Red Roof unveiled its $200 million-dollar NextGen® renovation — an investment to upgrade hotels nationwide with sleek, modern redesign elements. Red Roof expanded its corporate office in Columbus, Ohio, and celebrated 40 years in business as a leader in economy lodging.
2014
In 2014, Red Roof opened its 400th property in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and introduced guests to Upscale Economy® with its newest guest experience, Red Roof PLUS+. ReviewMetrix™ named Red Roof the No. 1 Economy Hotel.
2016
In 2016, Red Roof hosted the first-of-its-kind Forum on Leadership for Women Entrepreneurs, a conference designed to teach and uplift women in the industry. In response to guest needs, Red Roof launched the Verified Wi-Fi program with Wi-Fi speeds high enough to stream music and movies – and also enabling business travelers to work efficiently while traveling. Red Roof also opened its first property in Japan, Red Roof PLUS+ Osaka-Namba.
2017-2018
In 2017, Red Roof launched The Red Collection® for travelers who want modern, unique, affordable properties at the center of their favorite destinations. Red Roof also opened its 500th property in Biloxi, Miss., and its 50th Red Roof PLUS+ location in Irondale, Ala. In 2018, Red Roof launched the extended-stay brand HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof.
2019
For the ninth straight year, Medallia named Red Roof No. 1 in online guest reviews among competitive economy hotels.
2022
Red Roof introduced a number of innovative strategic partnerships:
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HotelKey advanced the brand’s enterprise hospitality platform, including its property management system, CRS, inventory management, loyalty integration and a rich suite of other products.
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Zeta Global positioned Red Roof to drive growth and demand by leveraging Zeta's data-powered marketing across all channels to deliver better experiences for consumers.
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Ibex was brought on to utilize innovative call center technology and resources that increase loyalty and boost revenue with a robust expert talent pool.
Also in 2022, Red Roof introduced its RediResponse Program, a brandwide, in-house solution for reputation management. The program provides operational efficiency through timely responses to all major online guest reviews and completed surveys, enhancing the brand’s online profile and reputation. The same year, Red Roof unveiled a freshly designed HomeTowne Studios prototype for new constructions and a dual-branded prototype that combines the efficiencies of a shared lobby and common area with streamlined back-of-the-house operations. The dual brand allows hotels to operate with maximum staff efficiency while catering to a wider demographic of guests.
2023
Red Roof celebrated its 50th anniversary as a brand. Red Roof also rebranded its Forum on Leadership for Women Entrepreneurs to SHE, inspired by Red Roof and introduced RIDE with Red Roof, the industry's broadest diversity and inclusion platform for supporting growth and business expansion for hotel owners and franchisees.
2024
In 2024, Zack Gharib was appointed president of Red Roof. Red Roof celebrated the opening of its first new-construction HomeTowne Studios in Tampa, Fla., as well as the opening of its 700th property, Red Roof PLUS+ Jamaica, NY-JFK Airport. Red Roof introduced a prototype for new construction Red Roof hotels, unveiling an elevated approach to economy lodging. A new strategic partnership was announced with Sojern, a top-rated guest experience platform in the hospitality industry. Sojern now provides Red Roof with unrivaled traveler insights and the ability to communicate with guests at just the right moments. The partnership helps the company and franchisees improve both growth and profitability. Red Roof’s core values, or HABITS, are introduced to the brand, underscoring a company-wide commitment to Hospitality, Adaptability, Belonging, Impact, Trust and Success.
2025
USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards named Red Roof Inn Best Budget-Friendly Hotel Brand. Red Roof announced that, since the 2023 introduction of RIDE with Red Roof and the rebranding of SHE, inspired by Red Roof, the company has successfully added more than 30 women and representatives of underserved markets to its ownership community. Through a new partnership with FreedomPay, Red Roof hotels now receive an integrated payment solution, as well as significant cost savings and operational efficiency from a renowned payment partner that ensures all locations are always omnichannel-ready.
2026
Red Roof announced an agreement with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to send AMBER alerts directly to Red Roof properties through HotelKey, Red Roof’s property management system. This move raises immediate awareness of missing children in the surrounding area of the property. Red Roof also announced a partnership with Milestone Inc. to drive an AI-first digital transformation of its digital ecosystem. The collaboration is designed to enhance discoverability across traditional search engines and emerging AI platforms, personalize the guest journey, optimize direct distribution and drive sustainable revenue growth for franchisees. Also, as part of its global expansion strategy, Red Roof expanded its footprint into the Canadian market with Red Roof PLUS+ Vancouver Airport, the brand’s first property in Vancouver, British Columbia. RIDE with Red Roof celebrated the addition of another 10 women or representatives of underserved markets to Red Roof’s ownership community. Growth of the franchise community through RIDE is one part of Red Roof’s long-term commitment to strengthening its business strategy and fostering diversity in the industry. And once again, USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards named Red Roof the Best Budget-Friendly Hotel Brand.
