Friendship Inn
| Company type | Franchise (from 1985) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Founded | 1961 in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
| Fate | Acquired by Econo Lodges of America in 1989; brand discontinued by 1997 |
| Headquarters | North Bergen, New Jersey , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Budget motel accommodations |
Friendship Inn was a motel chain originating in the United States, established in 1961 in Salt Lake City, Utah. It began as a referral network that appealed to independent motels by providing affordable membership fees and more lenient criteria than its rivals. This approach led to swift growth, with the number of affiliated motels reaching 771 by 1974. Most of these were older establishments offering budget accommodations with minimal facilities. The chain's emblem, a coat of arms crafted by a British heraldic specialist, remained unchanged throughout its operation.
In 1985, Friendship Inn evolved into a corporate franchise through the Friendship Inns Franchising Corporation located in North Bergen, New Jersey. Despite this development, the number of franchise locations fell to 129 by 1989. That same year, Friendship Inn was acquired by Econo Lodges of America, which itself was bought by Quality Inns International (later known as Choice Hotels) in 1990. By 1997, the Friendship Inn brand was discontinued, with its properties converted to either Econo Lodge or the affiliated brand Rodeway Inn.