Orange County Register

The drab table lamps, clunky televisions and carpet are gone from this Motel 6.

Instead, 32-inch, flat-screen TVs, ambient wall lighting, wood-laminated floors and splashes of orange accents greet guests at the motel near Disneyland.

Motel 6 is getting a new, chic look nationwide – part of the company’s strategy to provide a more spacious feeling for visitors and a modern decor for the same budget price.

 The first Orange County Motel 6 to undergo a makeover is the one near Disneyland, at 100 W. Disney Way in Anaheim. It celebrated its grand re-opening this week.

The remodeling was part of the company’s long-term plan to redo rooms every eight years or so. For this round, the parent company hired a London-based firm, Priestmangoode, that specializes in designing small spaces. Focus groups reacted positively to the rooms’ sleek design, said Jeff Palmer, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Accor North America, Motel 6’s parent company.

“It feels very clean, very comfortable. Chic and Eurochic were not words usually associated with Motel 6, so we immediately became excited,” Palmer said.

Motel 6 has been a classic budget brand since its 1962 inception in Santa Barbara, where the first motel offered rooms for $6 a night. Motel 6 later brought on spokespersonTom Bodett to do commercials with the trademark line, “We’ll leave the light on for you.”

So far, about 60 of the 1,050 Motel 6’s have been completed, Palmer said. The company plans to redo about 60 motels each year.

Alan Reay, a hotel and motel consultant, said he knows of no other budget brand that is trying out this concept now.

“I think that it’s not typical of what you think of Motel 6. I think it’s very well done, very well executed. I think Motel 6 will do very well with it,” said Reay, president of  the Atlas Hospitality Group, based in Irvine.

Gutting of the Anaheim rooms began in January and all 240 units were finished June 12. The cost remained the same — starting at $49.99 a night.

New features include:

• The pedestal bed with platform mattress, topped with a taupe and orange cover, leaves room for guests to stow suitcases below.
• There is no closet, but knobs with hangers are available in the bathroom.
• French doors into the bathroom give more space.
• Wireless internet and plugs for mp3 and DVD players are available.
• The bathroom has a yellow wall unit with lighting and circular cubbies for towels.
• The wood-like laminated floor is made of 80 percent recycled materials.
• Orange accents grace the walls.

“This punch of color gives it warmth,” said Karen Donato, senior account executive for Accor.

With the makeovers, Motel 6 is hoping to keep its faithful customers and bring in new ones. So far, Motel 6 representatives say, guests have told managers that they love the new look.

Plus, Reay said, travelers are looking for more budget options in the slumping economy.

Guest Tony Arnell said he liked the new rooms, although he thought the French doors left little privacy, and he would have preferred improved common areas.

“It was definitely a step above other ones I have stayed in at other cities,” Arnell of Portland said in an e-mail message.

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