Days Inn

Days Inn began in 1970, when founder Cecil B. Day opened the first location on Tybee Island, Georgia. His concept was “budget luxury”: safe, clean, affordable lodging for traveling families, placed along interstate routes in secondary and tertiary markets. Days Inn of America, Inc. was established and began franchising in 1972. During its first five years, the company doubled in size each year. The brand now operates under Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey. Wyndham guarantees performance of its obligations under franchise agreements. The available franchise data lists 322 total Days Inn units, all franchised. The wider brand included 1,501 locations and 114,216 rooms worldwide as of December 31, 2023, and more than 1,500 properties globally as of June 2024. This history and reach place Days Inn among established brands in the hotel and motel category.

Hotels and motels, excluding casino hotels, serve travel, leisure, and business demand across many customer groups. Road trips remain particularly relevant for families and budget conscious travelers, matching the brand’s original focus on interstate locations. The recovery of leisure and business travel after the pandemic, along with greater mobility, supports demand for affordable lodging. Consumers seeking value and overnight stays in secondary and tertiary markets also fit the Days Inn model. Hospitality can offer recurring cash flow potential and may include valuable real estate, although results depend on property and market conditions. Economy lodging includes local operators alongside large companies with broad portfolios, including Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Urbanization, infrastructure development, and growth in domestic tourism continue to create opportunities for hotels serving different geographic and demographic markets.

A Days Inn franchise requires substantial capital. The initial franchise fee is $35,000. Other sources reported upfront franchise fees from $44,200 to $65,875 as of 2021, which may reflect different agreement types or historical offerings. The available franchise data gives a total initial investment range of $4,669,200 to $7,657,625. The amount can vary based on new construction or conversion, geographic location, property size, amenities, and local construction and real estate costs. Other FDDs reported investment ranges of $5,503,756 to $6,395,289 in 2021 and $6,217,408 to $7,179,979 in 2023. The advertising charge supports national and regional marketing. These costs, together with the development outlay, require significant financial capacity. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts guarantees performance of its obligations under franchise agreements, adding corporate support to the investment structure.

A franchisee manages the daily operation of an economy hotel and is responsible for front desk service, check in and check out, housekeeping, maintenance, and local marketing. Staffing may include front desk associates, housekeeping employees, maintenance personnel, and management based on the property’s size. The brand generally uses a standard hotel format, with opportunities involving new construction or conversion of an existing hotel. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts provides training covering operating procedures, brand standards, property management systems, and guest service practices. The program typically combines classroom instruction with hands on experience, although the available information does not state its duration. Franchisees receive access to reservation and property management technology, national marketing programs, and procurement resources. Field consultants provide guidance on operations and performance and help support brand consistency. Specific territory terms are not detailed, but franchisees typically receive a protected territory that limits direct competition from another Days Inn location within a defined area. Multi unit ownership is often encouraged or expected for experienced operators. The model generally calls for an involved owner operator or a capable management team.

Buyers must instead consider industry benchmarks, the brand’s market position, and its historical expansion. Days Inn operates within Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, whose public filings may show overall corporate financial health but do not separate results for individual Days Inn properties. The PeerSense Loan Activity Score for the brand is 69, categorized as “Strong.” Within eight years after franchising began in 1972, the system had grown to more than 300 hotels across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The available franchise data lists 322 franchised units, while the larger brand included 1,501 worldwide locations as of December 31, 2023, and more than 1,500 properties globally as of June 2024. Earlier figures include 1,728 worldwide locations as of December 31, 2018, more than 1,400 United States properties and just under 1,700 properties globally as of June 2020, and 1,257 US Franchises in the 2023 FDD. Differences among these counts reflect changes in time period, geography, and reporting methods, while showing a long standing presence in economy lodging.

Days Inn grew from Cecil B. Day’s original concept into a global brand under Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. The system exceeded 300 hotels within eight years of starting franchising in 1972. It included 1,501 locations and 114,216 rooms worldwide as of December 31, 2023, and more than 1,500 properties globally as of June 2024. The brand had 1,728 locations worldwide with 137,678 rooms as of December 31, 2018. It had more than 1,700 properties and more than 160,000 rooms as of February 1997. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts reacquired direct franchising rights for Days Inn in China in January 2019. In that market, the brand averaged double digit net room growth over the past five years. In June 2025, the 100th Days Inn hotel in China opened, the Days Inn by Wyndham Shantou Jinping. The China pipeline expanded 25% year over year through Q1 2025. Days Inn’s competitive position rests on recognition built over five decades, Wyndham’s distribution network, and an operating model designed for economy lodging. Wyndham technology supports reservations and property management. The focus on interstate routes and secondary and tertiary markets continues to serve value conscious travelers.

A prospective Days Inn owner commonly has experience in business management, hospitality operations, or real estate development. The investment size and operating demands make knowledge of guest service, employee management, and local market conditions useful. Experienced investors may be expected to own multiple units or have a clear plan for developing multiple properties. The brand had 752 locations in the USA in the South according to the 2016 FDD, and 1,257 US Franchises according to the 2023 FDD. International operations include more than 60 major Chinese cities, India, and the United Kingdom. The brand also expanded historically into Mexico, Israel, and the Philippines. Its original emphasis on interstate locations in secondary and tertiary markets remains relevant for areas with steady demand for affordable lodging. The time from signing an agreement to opening can vary based on a new build or conversion, local permitting, and construction. The franchise agreement term is not available, although such agreements typically range from 10 to 20 years with renewal options. Transfer and resale provisions are standard considerations and may support a future exit. Days Inn’s continuing market presence may also affect resale interest.

Days Inn combines a history beginning in 1970 with the corporate resources of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Its focus on “budget luxury” in interstate and secondary markets supports a recognizable economy lodging model for families and other value conscious travelers. The reported initial investment is $4,669,200 to $7,657,625, and the initial franchise fee is $35,000. The brand has a Loan Activity Score of 69, categorized as “Strong,” along with global distribution and support resources. Its 1,501 worldwide locations as of December 31, 2023, and expansion in China show continued activity across international markets. PeerSense provides franchise research that includes SBA lending history, Loan Activity Score, location maps with Google ratings, FDD financial data, and side by side comparison tools. Buyers can use the complete Days Inn franchise profile on PeerSense to review the available independent franchise information.