December  8, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARROLLTON, Texas (December 8, 2006) – The holidays are a time when, out of love or just sheer marital obligation, people hit the road to see the family. In a humorous podcast, award-winning Motel 6 spokesperson Tom Bodett counts down the top six reasons to stay at a motel instead of with your relatives this holiday season. The tongue-in-cheek podcast, titled, "Motel 6 Top Reasons to Stay at a Motel during the Holidays," is available for download at www.motel6.com.

"We thought we would have some fun during the holidays and who better to have featured in our holiday podcast than Tom Bodett," said Eric Studer, senior vice president of marketing services for Motel 6. "People have such an affinity for Bodett's voice; there is an association with him and Motel 6 from our 'We'll leave the light on' ad campaign."

Statistics show that 91 percent of people going over the river, through the woods and up the interstate to grandma's house are doing it the old fashioned way – by car. Visiting the extended family is the number one reason people travel this time of year, with avoiding them being number two.

“All this road-tripping means a lot of people needing somewhere to stay. And it seems that more and more people are opting out of the baby's room turned guestroom or Aunt Harriet's plastic-covered couch, and wisely choosing to stay at a hotel or motel. And there are good reasons for that. Six of them to be exact,” Bodett says in the podcast. “One of the reasons being, ‘You won’t see anybody in a nightgown that you don’t want to’.”

Tom Bodett began working with Motel 6 in 1986, and ad libbed the tagline, "We’ll Leave the Light on for You" in very first recording session. The brand’s advertising campaign proved an instant success for Motel 6, turning the chain into a household name.

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About Motel 6
Motel 6 offers the best price of any national chain at more than 850 locations in the U.S. and Canada. Standard amenities include free local phone calls, no long distance access charges, free morning coffee, data ports, and a channel line-up including HBO, ESPN/ESPN2, and CNN. All Motel 6 properties welcome pets, and most locations offer swimming pools and guest laundry facilities. For reservations or information, visit www.motel6.com or call 800-4-MOTEL6. Click 6 Web Bargains are available only online at motel6.com.

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