Logo 'Red Roof Inns'

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 22 / Red Roof Inns, Inc. RRI announced plans today to create a second Reservation Call Center to be located in Springfield, Ohio. The Center will run two full shifts from 5:00 a.m. to midnight and be staffed by approximately 75 full-time and 25 part-time employees from the Springfield and Clark County area during its first year of operation. The staff will expand to more than 150 positions within the next three years. The Center will move into a renovated 7,000 square foot building in Clark County and is scheduled to open in June, 1998.

Red Roof Inns has applied for grant assistance of $100,000 from the Ohio Department of Development for the purchase of equipment and necessary on-site improvements. The Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit Authority is also reviewing an application for a 50 percent, 5-year tax credit for Red Roof Inns, based on the creation of 100 new full-time permanent jobs. The Clark County Commission and German Township are reviewing the application for property tax abatement. State and local approvals for these economic development programs are necessary for the project to move forward.

"The Red Roof Inns reservation call volume is expected to increase significantly over the next year with our strategic move to centralize most of the reservation requests that currently go directly to the individual properties," said Larry Daniel, vice president of reservations for Red Roof Inns. "Our current call center cannot accommodate this dramatic growth. The new center will also serve as a back-up to the primary center at our company headquarters in Columbus. The City of Springfield and Clark County offer Red Roof Inns an excellent location and a significant labor pool from which to hire qualified people."

"Red Roof Inns will provide a significant number of new jobs for our community and will generate over $2 million a year in new payroll. This will have a very positive impact on our local economy," said Glen Collier, chairman of the board of the Springfield Clark County Chamber of Commerce. "The Chamber has undertaken a number of efforts to help diversity our employment base and create a variety of jobs for Springfield and Clark County residents. We appreciate the assistance provided for this project by the German Township Trustees, the Clark County Commissioners and the Ohio Department of Development."

Guests may make reservations at more than 260 inns by calling 1-800-THE-ROOF or contacting their travel agent.

Red Roof Inns, Inc. is one of the leading economy lodging chains in the U.S. With more than 260 properties and over 30,000 rooms in 35 states and the District of Columbia, Red Roof Inns offers business and leisure travelers exceptional value in price, quality and convenience. With one of the highest system-wide occupancy rates in the industry, Red Roof Inns is expanding its operations through franchising, strategic partnerships and developing company- owned inns in unique, high-visibility areas.

Laura Hemsworth of Buchanan and Associates, 614-792-0924
Red Roof Inns, Inc.