Provided by Accor North America

Motel 6, known for offering a clean, comfortable room for the lowest price of any national chain, is saying “sayonara” to carpet and “hello” to a clean, green, wood-effect laminate flooring in its new Phoenix Prototype and property renovations (retrofits).

Motel 6’s new flooring is made of 80 percent preconsumer recycled material, including an inner wood core comprised of oak and cherry wood chips that would otherwise be burned or thrown into a landfill. The new flooring is also a critical component of the updated Motel 6 design providing the first “wow” as a guest walks into the room. As the literal foundation of the room, this flooring plays a major role in defining the feel of the space, giving it an updated, larger and cleaner look that complements the modern design of the new Phoenix Prototype room.

“We have more than 900 Motel 6 properties in the U.S. and Canada, so we are aware that our actions are likely to cause a significant impact on the environment,” said Olivier Poirot, CEO, Accor North America, Motel 6 and Studio 6. “Accor North America is constantly working to find ways to minimize its environmental footprint, and this flooring decision is just one of the many efforts we take to make our properties more environmentally friendly.”

In addition to the beneficial environmental impact of choosing wood-effect laminate flooring, Motel 6 selected this flooring for practical reasons, including durability and a look that complements the sleek modern design of the new Phoenix Prototype room. Laminate flooring is a great alternative to carpet for several reasons: It doesn’t retain odors from smoke or pets and is overall more hygienic than carpet; it is easier and quicker to clean and, unlike carpet, does not require regular steam cleaning; and it is durable and has a 10-year warranty.

Four layers are pressed together under high temperatures to create a product that provides solid, uniform strength that is highly resistant to wear.

Motels 6’s new wood-effect laminate floors are manufactured by Tarkett and are composed of four layers that are pressed together under high temperatures to create a product that provides solid, uniform strength that is highly resistant to indentions, scratches and wear. Tarkett Laminate’s exclusive 100 percent hardwood core board, Americore, is comprised of oak and cherry wood chips, which provide superior durability and indention resistance. The top layer is made of melamine and aluminum oxide, which protects the design layer by providing scuff, scratch and abrasion resistance. This top protective layer provides a nice smooth finish eliminating the need for waxes and polishes to keep the floor looking new.

Motel 6 has practiced environmental management since the early 1990s and has been recognized as an EnergyStar Partner since 2006. Today, Motel 6 reduces its carbon footprint in a variety of ways. Motel 6 properly disposes of hazardous waste with a Fluorescent Light Bulb and Battery Recycling Program; it reduces energy consumption in all energy management systems, including the installation of energy-efficient PTAC units; and it reduces water consumption with low-flow aerators for faucets and shower heads and 1.6 gallon low-flow toilets at all of its properties nationwide. Motel 6 strives to be in accordance with Accor’s Worldwide Hotel Environmental Charter, a 65-point set of actions that each Accor brand is encouraged to take to make their properties more energy efficient and environmentally responsible.

The first new build of the Motel 6 Phoenix Prototype property is scheduled to open in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 2009. Motel 6 has already begun retrofitting properties across the country, and newly renovated rooms are becoming available nationwide at select locations beginning this fall. For more information about Motel 6’s recycled flooring, visit www.motel6.com.