Overview
Atlanta-based US Franchise Systems, Inc. is a noted hotel franchising company, formed in 1995 by hotel industry icon Mike Leven and acquired by business interests of the Pritzker family of Chicago in November of 2000. USFS is now a subsidiary of Global Hyatt Corporation.
USFS’ hotel brands include Microtel Inns & Suites, the award-winning chain of all newly constructed, interior-corridor economy hotels, and Hawthorn Suites, the all-suite, mid-market, extended-stay chain. The Company has a system wide total of more than 400 hotels open or under construction around the globe.
USFS has gained national recognition as a fair franchisor, both customer and franchisee-oriented, with a reputation for treating franchisees fairly and a franchise license agreement that has become an industry model. We have been named a Best Practice Champion by the American Hotel Foundation, and were the first hotel company to receive the Fair Franchising Seal from the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) - initially in 2000 - and have continued to qualify each year since. What makes this particularly meaningful is that our own franchisees voted overwhelmingly for us to receive the seal.
USFS’ hotel brands include Microtel Inns & Suites, the award-winning chain of all newly constructed, interior-corridor economy hotels, and Hawthorn Suites, the all-suite, mid-market, extended-stay chain. The Company has a system wide total of more than 400 hotels open or under construction around the globe.
USFS has gained national recognition as a fair franchisor, both customer and franchisee-oriented, with a reputation for treating franchisees fairly and a franchise license agreement that has become an industry model. We have been named a Best Practice Champion by the American Hotel Foundation, and were the first hotel company to receive the Fair Franchising Seal from the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) - initially in 2000 - and have continued to qualify each year since. What makes this particularly meaningful is that our own franchisees voted overwhelmingly for us to receive the seal.
Products & Services
Microtel Inns & Suites is the fastest growing hotel chain in the economy segment and has established a reputation for customer satisfaction in the minds of travel consumers around the country. For the sixth consecutive year, J.D. Power and Associates has ranked Microtel Inns & Suites 'Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Economy/Budget Hotel Chains' in its North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction StudySM. The 2007 study, based on responses from 47,634 guests who stayed in a hotel between May 2006-June 2007, included 14 economy/budget hotel chains. Microtel is the only economy/budget hotel chain to receive the award six times.
Training & Support
Franchise Services provides an ongoing relationship with you during construction and throughout the life of your hotel so that you never feel 'alone in the field.' There is a guaranteed 24-hour response time to any question, concern or request for assistance, and a dedicated toll-free support line.
Together with Field Support, franchise service managers work to provide as many resources as possible on every aspect of opening and operating a successful hotel. This includes purchasing guidance, press release development, training opportunities, guest service assistance, marketing and sales tips, operational assistance and much more.
We place great importance on proper training and pride ourselves on an intensive roster of training classes. These include everything from general manager training and Voyager Hotel® training to a full line of training resources guides, textbooks and videos that can be accessed on-line on the USFS Extranet or via loan from our resources library.
General Managers Training
General Managers training is required for all GMs within 60 days of their hire date or prior to the hotel opening. The one-week class is designed to familiarize participants with the many resources available. Emphasis is placed on areas such as Sales and Marketing, Front Desk Operations, Revenue Management, Housekeeping and Maintenance Operations.
TRUST Voyager® Training
Voyager Hotel® training is required for all first-time users of the TRUST Voyager system. This three-day, hands on computer class is conducted at our Central Reservations Office in Marion, IL. Attendees lean how to load inventory and rates into Voyager Hotel, the windows interface to our Central Reservations System. In addition, attendees are given instructions on how to use Voyager to understand trends and booking patterns at their hotel. The class covers revenue management and electronic distribution, and allows participants to sit with agents as they book 'live' guest reservations.
Together with Field Support, franchise service managers work to provide as many resources as possible on every aspect of opening and operating a successful hotel. This includes purchasing guidance, press release development, training opportunities, guest service assistance, marketing and sales tips, operational assistance and much more.
We place great importance on proper training and pride ourselves on an intensive roster of training classes. These include everything from general manager training and Voyager Hotel® training to a full line of training resources guides, textbooks and videos that can be accessed on-line on the USFS Extranet or via loan from our resources library.
General Managers Training
General Managers training is required for all GMs within 60 days of their hire date or prior to the hotel opening. The one-week class is designed to familiarize participants with the many resources available. Emphasis is placed on areas such as Sales and Marketing, Front Desk Operations, Revenue Management, Housekeeping and Maintenance Operations.
TRUST Voyager® Training
Voyager Hotel® training is required for all first-time users of the TRUST Voyager system. This three-day, hands on computer class is conducted at our Central Reservations Office in Marion, IL. Attendees lean how to load inventory and rates into Voyager Hotel, the windows interface to our Central Reservations System. In addition, attendees are given instructions on how to use Voyager to understand trends and booking patterns at their hotel. The class covers revenue management and electronic distribution, and allows participants to sit with agents as they book 'live' guest reservations.
