Villager Franchise Systems Inc. today announced that six Studio Inn hotels representing more than 750 rooms in Mississippi and Florida will be franchised as Villager Premier extended-stay hotels.

The hotels, developed and managed by Southeastern Hotel Management Company Inc. of Atlanta, GA, will be converted to Villager Premier hotels, the chain`s mid-market product, by year`s end.

“These properties represent the type of high-quality product we continue to attract at Villager and will give us excellent representation in the Southeast,” said Ken Rodgers, Villager President and Chief Executive Officer. “Villager`s marketing clout, brand recognition and resources can help smaller extended-stay lodging companies prosper in the future, and we will continue to look for new opportunities to further expand the brand,” he said.

The Studio Inn conversions represent part of an ambitious plan to expand the Villager system of 150 extended-stay properties open and under development, particularly the Villager Premier tier, which currently includes 18 hotels, he said.

Citing a study by the Atlanta-based Highland Group that forecasts continuing demand for extended-stay hotels, Rodgers noted the extended stay industry is “ripe for consolidation” and that Villager “plans to capitalize on this trend.”

Speaking of Matthew R. Young, CHA, Southeastern Hotel Management chief operating officer, and James T. Bell and W. Jack Hamilton III, two of the company`s principal owners, Rodgers said: “I am truly excited that these quality investors and industry veterans will be joining our growing family, demonstrating their confidence in the continued success of Villager.”

Young said his company`s association with the Villager system “will ensure the continued high occupancy and success of our hotels. We are pleased to join an established company that is a leader in extended stay.”

“With Villager, we will benefit from all of the corporate support, reservations and marketing programs offered to all Villager properties,” said Bell and Hamilton.

Villager Franchise Systems Inc., an extended-stay chain of 150 properties open or under development representing more than 10,000 guest rooms in the United States, Canada and Mexico, is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD). For reservations or further information, call the Villager toll-free reservations number, (800) 328-7829, or access the chain`s Web site at www.villager.com.

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