Red Roof Inn

Red Roof Inn is an American economy hotel chain founded by James R. Trueman, an Ohio-based builder and contractor. The first Red Roof Inn opened in Columbus, Ohio in 1973, with rooms priced at just $8.50 per night. Trueman’s founding vision was to provide a clean, comfortable room at a fair price—a principle that has guided the brand for over five decades.

Today, Red Roof Inn is positioned as a go-to economy lodging choice, offering affordable stays in clean, modern, and comfortable rooms. The brand has created what it calls the Upscale Economy® segment, aiming to prove that economy and quality can coexist at the same property. With over 715 properties and more than 60,000 rooms across the United States and internationally in Canada and Japan, Red Roof Inn maintains a strong presence in the budget lodging market.

The brand’s value proposition centers on practical, no-frills comfort. Guests at Red Roof Inn typically enjoy free Wi-Fi in all guest rooms and common areas, free parking at most hotels, free breakfast at select locations, and unlimited free local and long-distance domestic calling. A standout feature is the pet-friendly policy: the first pet stays free at most locations, with some hotels welcoming up to two pets. In-room amenities often include a Serta Superior Rest Suite II pillow-top mattress, large high-definition TVs with 24+ HD channels, and an alarm clock with dual USB charging ports.

Red Roof Inn is part of a broader portfolio that also includes Red Roof PLUS+® (an enhanced Upscale Economy® offering), The Red Collection® (a midscale, hyper-local soft brand), and HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof® (for extended stays). The RediRewards® loyalty program allows guests to earn 10 points per dollar on directly booked stays and redeem points for discounts on future stays.

The brand has received notable industry recognition. In 2026, USA Today readers named Red Roof the Best Budget-Friendly Hotel Brand for the fifth time and second consecutive year. As Red Roof President Zack Gharib stated, the recognition reflects the brand’s “commitment to delivering convenient and comfortable accommodations, essential amenities and exceptional value for budget-conscious travelers”. With a pipeline to add 3,500 new rooms and ongoing investments in guest-facing technology, Red Roof Inn continues to strengthen its position as a leading economy lodging brand.

Red Roof Inn’s FF&E program is built around a clear economy-segment philosophy: durable, standardized, and operationally efficient. Guest room furniture packages prioritize practicality—platform beds with integrated headboards, scratch-resistant casegoods, and compact work desks—all designed for fast installation and high-turnover operations. A defining shift in recent years has been the value-engineering of casegoods: traditional dressers and closed cabinets are replaced with open cubbies, which reduce hardware damage, speed up housekeeping, and minimize guest items left behind. Faux-wood flooring has become a signature Red Roof FF&E element, particularly because the brand is pet-friendly—hard surfaces keep rooms cleaner and fresher than carpet. Floating side tables further ease floor cleaning and room turnover. For franchisees, Red Roof maintains a centralized procurement platform with over 100 vetted vendors, and the “Room-In-A-Box” solution allows owners to source everything needed for a renovation through a single vendor. Bathroom FF&E typically includes granite or quartz vanity tops, vessel sinks, and Moen fixtures, while technology standards call for commercial-grade hospitality TVs and durable in-room accessories.