In addition to promoting the work of RMHC on its website, Motel 6 will donate $300,000 to the organization.

To promote the roll out, Red Roof is asking college students to submit videos encouraging potential guests to visit Red Roof hotels and check out the free Wi-Fi.

With the new descriptor strategy in place and passed by members, the company plans to clear up consumer confusion about the differences between Best Western properties. The strategy gives each hotel a Best Western, Best Western Plus or Best Western Premier designation based on its AAA diamond rating.

Especially given the current domestic recession, many brands are looking to add franchisees or build new hotels overseas.

Hotel Indigo makes strides toward clarifying what the brand represents; H&MM tours new Staybridge Suites room prototypes created by art and design students; and Holiday Inn's Keycard Hotel was on display. BY SENIOR EDITOR JASON Q. FREED

Atlanta's first "in-town resort" opens in the heart of Buckhead.

Build your biz: Get value out of your advertising agency; Loews Hotels' Jonathan Tisch on the power of sports travel; Promotion of the Week: Best Western

Peter Yesawich, chairman and CEO of Ypartnership, spoke and led a panel at Wyndham's 2009 Owners' and General Managers' Conference. He always provides new insights or a different perspective on the industry, and I often agree with him, but one of the points he hit on today seems a bit counterintuitive.

At both the Super 8 and Days Inn brand conferences, the franchisees seemed most abuzz about the new TV commercials each brand is planning. Personally, I got the biggest kick out of them too. I liked how each ad incorporated what I consider the two most successful commercial conventions - the comical mascot and the catchy song.

I admit it. I am a slave to points. If you offer me a way to earn them, I promise I will excel at it. I’ll focus on a goal to reach, horde them until I meet it and then relish in my “purchase” that I like to view as having come free of charge (kind of).