La Quinta Promotes Trio for Stepped-Up Franchise Program

Alan L. Tallis, La Quinta's executive vice president and chief development officer, has been named president of the newly formed La Quinta Franchising LLC and Baymont Franchising LLC. At his side will be A. Brent Spaeth, a senior vice president who's taking on the role of senior franchise operations officer, and Rajiv Trivedi, a vice president whose job has been expanded to include senior franchise development officer. Next year, Tallis says three sales professionals will be hired and "two or three" service directors.

Tallis tells GlobeSt.com that the restructuring is a follow-up to a commitment made five months ago to 84 Baymont franchisees that the operation will be expanded under the Dallas-based La Quinta's ownership. "It put more demands on the franchise group," Tallis says.

Tallis, holding six franchise agreements for Baymont Inns, says another 25 will come on line in 2005 as will 50 La Quinta franchise hotels. In the past week, an 80-room hotel in Fort Worth was converted to a Baymont Inn, taking the brand to 85 franchise locations. La Quinta's franchise sites total 142. Tallis expects the Baymont brand will add more East Coast locations with the initiative while La Quinta will make most of its gain in Western US and New England.

The promotions are a lead-in to major news expected at week's end for the Dallas-based La Quinta brand. Tallis says all he can disclose at this stage is that it involves "our activities in New England."