Originally Posted by
MojaveFlyer
As said up thread, many of the former mom and pop motels have been bought by the big chains. So it helps to look at a photo of the property - if it looks like the standard chain motels, it is. Best Western is a good example where there are a chain style properties and any number of semi-independent properties each with their own architecture, room layout, and style.
Best Western is unique in that it's more of a buyer's club for independent owners and operators. It's not a regular franchise model. It's where a heck of a lot of mom-and-pop hotels have gone to get pricing power on sheets and towels, amenities, etc.
The "I won't stay in a soulless chain" meme has always smacked of rampant elitism and #firstworldproblem to me. I guarantee you the housekeeper in the chain hotel needs to put food on the table just as much as the one in the B&B or the boutique hotel. @:-)