Columbus, OH - Red Roof®, the leader in economy lodging, announced its first fully woman-owned franchise since launching its new RIDE with Red RoofSM initiative. The property is a Red Roof Inn & Suites conversion located in Richland, Miss., and is the second hotel in owner Kalpana Patel’s portfolio. It brings the number of Red Roof properties owned or partially owned by women to more than 35%.

RIDE (Road to Inclusivity and Diversity in Entrepreneurship) will expand and further diversify hotel ownership and entrepreneurial opportunities for underrepresented groups by focusing on the business needs of entrepreneurs, providing access to capital, educational resources, and the connections needed to build a strong network of industry partners. Coupled with its sister program SHE, inspired by Red Roof, an all-encompassing program to Support, Help, and Elevate women, Red Roof is propelling towards its goal of 40% of properties owned or partially owned by women.

With 64% of the Red Roof Development Team belonging to a minority group and women such as Lina Patel and Jennifer Burcham at the forefront of Kalpana Patel’s new franchise agreement, RIDE is positioned to further expand Red Roof’s population of diverse and underrepresented owners.

I am thrilled to join the Red Roof family, and after working with Jennifer Burcham and Lina Patel, I am excited for the future of our agreement. The educational resources and networking provided by Red Roof and RIDE were crucial to the success of the hotel’s conversion. Jennifer and Lina worked with me at each step of the process, from understanding the requirements of changing brands to preparing the hotel for a product improvement plan and were always available to answer any of my questions throughout the transition. Kalpana Patel
Our organization, and our industry, relies on passionate operators such as Kalpana Patel, and we are proud to welcome her to the Red Roof family. Red Roof is committed to helping Kalpana expand and grow her business – as our RIDE initiative and other programs continue to bring value to all communities of entrepreneurs in the industry. Matthew Hostetler, Chief Development Officer at Red Roof

The signing comes amidst the continuing expansion of Red Roof’s diversity, equity, and inclusivity efforts, including:

For women starting their careers, it’s important to stay very focused on the goals you set for yourself, Patel said. I am grateful to Red Roof for their support, partnership, and this unique opportunity. I look forward to a long and mutually rewarding working relationship.

Kalpana Patel has achieved so much since becoming a hotelier, and we are thrilled to announce her decision to join the Red Roof Family, said Lina Patel, Director of Strategic Franchise Initiatives. She is an outstanding operator whose industry knowledge and natural determination are a perfect fit for Red Roof.

For more information on Red Roof, visit www.redroof.com and www.redrooffranchising.com.

About Red Roof ®

Red Roof is an award-winning leader in the lodging industry, recognized for creating the innovative Upscale Economy® segment, serving millions of guests each year. Red Roof's portfolio of brands includes Red Roof Inn® and Red Roof PLUS+®, HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof®, The Red Collection®, and Red Roof's dual-branded properties. Red Roof has over 60,000 rooms in nearly 700 properties in the U.S. and internationally in Japan. For more information, visit redroof.com or download Red Roof's free app for iOS and Android devices. To learn about franchising opportunities, visit redrooffranchising.com.

Red Roof's Vision: To provide the best experience and value in the lodging industry for our guests, owners, team members, partners, and communities.

*Pet accommodations policy may vary at some locations. To verify a hotel's pet policy, please review hotel information online at redroof.com or by contacting the hotel directly.

Elaine Simon
Red Roof