Motel 6 Adds Travel Excitement to the Dog Days of Summer; Jack Hanna Sweepstakes Promotion, Travel Story Contest Underscore Brand's Pet-Friendly Policy

DALLAS--April 27, 2004--Everyone who's taken a road trip knows that at some point, the car becomes a zoo. Add to that a pet or two, and what have you got? Not only potential for some great vacation stories, but the perfect customers for Motel 6!

As one of the nation's first, and largest, lodging companies to have implemented a pet-friendly policy, Motel 6 knows that when it comes to summer vacations, road travelers want comfortable and affordable accommodations for everyone on the journey... those with two legs as well as those with four! To salute travelers' appreciation for animals, and to showcase its long-standing pet-friendly policy, Motel 6 has teamed up with America's favorite zookeeper, Jack Hanna, to unleash its "Wild About Pets" Summer Sweepstakes, May 24, 2004 through July 4, 2004, and, separately, its "Wildest Vacation With Your Pet" Video Contest...both of which are guaranteed to make family travelers sit up and take notice.

A khaki-clad icon known best for his on-air antics with the rarest -- and sometimes, most dangerous -- of animal species, Jack Hanna is director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo, well-loved host of the hit television series, "Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures," frequent guest on "Late Night With David Letterman" and "Good Morning America," and author of several books including the January 2004 release, Wild About Babies: What The Animals Teach Us About Parenting. Having devoted his life to understanding, caring for, and teaching others about animals of all varieties, Hanna believes the best vacations include animals... whether they're visited in a zoo or animal preserve, or are sitting in the back seat as pets. He credits Motel 6 for its commitment to making travel easier for people with pets, leading him to lend his time and talent to the "Wild About Pets" Summer Sweepstakes.

"I've loved animals all my life, and have traveled extensively with a variety of animals," Hanna says, "Let me tell you: they're often better road companions than people! For one thing, you never hear a camel ask, 'are we there yet'. And you don't have to worry about the cheetah hogging all the bath towels, either. Seriously, I love having the opportunity to work with Motel 6 and help open up the world of travel and adventure for people who share my enthusiasm about pets!"

As part of the "Wild About Pets" Summer Sweepstakes, Motel 6 will be giving away a day at the famous Columbus Zoo in Columbus, Ohio with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Zoo and lunch, personally hosted by Jack Hanna, to be scheduled in September 2004.

To win the Zoo excursion with Jack Hanna, including airfare, lodging accommodations and Columbus Zoo access for up to four people, contestants can submit their funniest or most memorable pet travel story on video at www.motel6.com. Ten finalists' videos will be posted for review and voting July 10-25, 2004. No purchase is necessary. Written submissions will not be accepted. Certain restrictions may apply, as outlined on the website.

For those who haven't traveled with their pets, Motel 6 wants to make it easy to do so! Consumers can enter to win a brand-new, pet-friendly GMC Envoy SUV and more than 100 other prizes including a year's supply of pet food, travel pet packs and more by registering online at www.motel6.com or at any of the more than 850 Motel 6 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

"We've always been pet-friendly at Motel 6, we don't consider this a fad. With more than 61 million U.S. households owning pets, Motel 6's pet-friendly policy broadens the travel options for those seeking fun and affordable vacations," says Carol Kirby, chief marketing officer for Accor North America. "Motel 6's 'Wild About Pets' Summer Sweepstakes is designed to showcase the excitement, adventure, and convenience of taking the whole family on vacation... creating wonderful memories while enjoying unparalleled value for their travel dollar. We look forward to hearing some of those pet-travel stories through our video contest this summer!"

Providing clean, comfortable and pet-friendly accommodations for more than 40 years, Motel 6 offers more than 850 properties for travelers in the U.S. and Canada, all at the lowest price of any national chain. For reservations or information, visit www.motel6.com or call 800-4-MOTEL6.

Headquartered in Carrollton, Texas, Accor North America is a division of Accor and operates more than 1,200 properties including economy leaders Motel 6, Red Roof Inns and Studio 6; upscale Sofitel and mid-scale Novotel and Ibis hotels located in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit www.accor-na.com.

With 150,000 people in 140 countries, Accor is the European leader and one of the world's largest groups in travel, tourism and corporate services, with two major international activities:

-- hotels: nearly 4,000 hotels (more than 450,000 rooms) in 90 countries, casinos, travel agencies, and restaurants;

-- services to corporate clients and public institutions: 14 million people in 34 countries use a broad range of services (food vouchers, people care and services, incentive, loyalty programs, events) engineered and managed by Accor.