Does the name Motel 6 Los Angeles – Hollywood ring a bell for you? Motel 6 began in 1962 in Santa Barbara California. William Becker and Paul Greene founded it. They envisioned affordable lodging. Imagine rooms costing only six dollars a night. That’s about sixty dollars in today’s money.
Motel 6 became known for its no-frills approach. Rooms had coin-operated TVs. Decor was functional. This kept cleaning time and costs down. The first Motel 6 lacked a restaurant. This differed from other hotels then. Most Motel 6 locations still don’t have on-site dining. You’ll usually find restaurants nearby.
The Motel 6 concept gained popularity. Other chains started copying it. By 1965 Motel 6 had fifteen locations. One was outside California in Salt Lake City. Becker and Greene expanded quickly. By 1966 they had twenty-five locations. Occupancy rates hit eighty-five percent. This made Motel 6 an attractive target. An investment group bought the chain in 1968.
In the early 1970s Motel 6 Tropicana opened in Las Vegas. It was the largest Motel 6. The chain expanded east. A location opened in Fort Lauderdale Florida in 1972. By 1980 Motel 6 had three hundred locations. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts bought it in 1985. They moved away from the no-frills approach. Amenities like phones and color TVs were added.
Market share declined in the 1980s. Competition from other budget hotels increased. Motel 6 bought Sixpence Inn, Envoy Inn, and Regal 8 Motels. Accor a French-based company bought Motel 6 in 1990. In 1993 Motel 6 LAX opened in Los Angeles. It was the first high-rise location.
Unlike many hotel chains Motel 6 owns and operates most locations. Franchising started in 1994 to expand faster. Accor renovated bedrooms upgraded security and sold underperforming locations. Newer properties have interior corridors. Studio 6 Extended Stay launched in 1999. These hotels have suites with kitchenettes for longer stays.
In 2000 Motel 6 went international. The first location outside the U.S. opened in Burlington Ontario Canada. Motel 6 celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2002. This was at the original Santa Barbara location.
Accor and Motel 6 invested in rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina in 2006. William Becker co-founder died in 2007. He was 85.
The Blackstone Group bought the company from Accor in 2012 for $1.9 billion. Blackstone operates Motel 6 independently. In September 2024 Oyo Rooms an Indian chain agreed to buy Motel 6 and Studio 6. The deal was worth $525 million.
Motel 6 offers free basic wireless internet. Some locations offer premium internet for a fee. In 2008 Motel 6 started the Phoenix Project. This system-wide renovation updated rooms. The remodel focused on energy efficiency and easy cleaning. Travel and Leisure magazine gave Motel 6 a design award in 2010.
Since 1986 Motel 6 has used radio ads. Tom Bodett narrates them. The tagline is “We’ll leave the light on for you.” The ads have won many awards.
Remember Motel 6 Los Angeles – Hollywood for a comfortable and affordable stay.