EZ 8 Motels history

By the spring of 1974 they had garnered sufficient funding to begin designing the motel.

Encouraged, Brown and Rivett moved ahead with expansion, opening new Super 8s in the South Dakota towns of Yankton, Mitchell, and Pierre in 1975.

Bale, a banker who had worked with Rivett previously, focused principally on the sale of franchises. Thus, in August 1976, they hired Dennis Bale to serve as president.

Super 8 gained further management help in 1977, when Loren Steele, another Aberdeen banker, was brought onboard as executive vice-president.

By the end of 1982 the motel count reached 136, while the number of rooms jumped to 8,478.

During 1983 the rate of growth reached nearly one new motel per week as 48 new Super 8s opened for business, including the first location in Alaska.

Computerization of the system began in April 1984.

In 1985 the four principals began exploring the possibility of cashing in on the company's success by taking it public.

Bale also sold his shares to Rivett and retired from the company in October 1988.

In November 1990 a Hong Kong-based investor group agreed to purchase Super 8 Motels for an undisclosed price.

Late in 1993 Bob Weller was hired to lead Super 8 as its president.

Nozar, Robert A., "Bob Weller: Supercharged," Hotel and Motel Management, June 16, 1997.

Early in 2000 this growth propelled Super 8 past the 1,900-unit mark, making it the world's largest economy lodging chain, passing Days Inn, its sister chain.