Wingate Inn^® Hotel Chain Tops Competitors in Satisfaction, Service & Value as Reported by D.K. Shifflet

Positive consumer feedback has once again helped Wingate Inn hotels outperform their mid-market competitors in satisfaction, service and value ratings for mid-year 2001, according to a recent report by D.K. Shifflet & Associates, a leading travel and tourism research and consulting firm.

According to the report, 80 percent of all Wingate Inn guests rated their satisfaction with the all-new construction brand as good or excellent as compared with 61 percent for the overall mid-market segment. The value rating of Wingate Inn hotels was 75 percent compared with the segment rating of 55 percent, while the brand's service rating was 72 percent versus 56 percent for the segment.

"This is the fourth straight D.K. Shifflet report to show Wingate Inn hotels rated well above the mid-market segment and several high-profile competitors in several categories," said Keith Pierce, president & chief executive officer of Wingate Inns International Inc. "Since the brand's launch in 1995, we've been committed to satisfying customers with excellent service and great value, which both lead to high satisfaction. This D.K. Shifflet report shows that we're meeting our goals while continually keeping consumers extremely satisfied."

Wingate Inns International is an all-new construction hotel chain that opened its first franchised hotel in July 1996. Its focused service, upper mid-market franchised hotels feature sophisticated, consumer-based technology and comfortable, oversized rooms that were created in response to business travelers' needs. All Wingate Inn hotels are independently owned and operated under Franchise agreements with Wingate Inns International.