Tom Bodett, Longtime Motel 6 Spokesman, Reaches Settlement in Lawsuit Against Hotel Chain

Tom Bodett, the iconic voice behind Motel 6’s famous tagline, “we’ll leave the light on for you,” has reached a settlement in his lawsuit against the motel chain. This legal battle stemmed from allegations that Motel 6 used Bodett’s name and voice without his permission after their long-standing relationship soured.

The details of the settlement were revealed in a recent filing in Manhattan federal court, involving Bodett and G6 Hospitality, the immediate parent company of Motel 6. However, specific terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, and representatives for both Bodett and G6 did not respond to inquiries for further comment.

Bodett’s lawsuit was prompted by claims that the new owner of Motel 6, India-based OYO, failed to make a crucial annual payment of $1.2 million that was due in January. This breach of contract led Bodett to sever ties with the motel chain. Despite this, he alleged that Motel 6 continued to utilize his name and voice on its national reservation phone line, which he argued violated both federal trademark law and the terms of their contract, which was set to expire last month.

In response, Motel 6 denied any wrongdoing and countered that Bodett himself had breached the contract, as indicated in a court filing from July. The legal dispute began in June, highlighting the complexities of their professional relationship.

At 70 years old, Bodett is not just a voice actor but also an accomplished author, known for his work on National Public Radio and in several Ken Burns documentaries. He had been the face and voice of Motel 6 since 1986, famously ad-libbing the chain’s memorable tagline that has resonated with travelers for decades.

OYO, the company that now owns Motel 6, is a subsidiary of Prism, previously known as Oravel Stays. This acquisition occurred in December 2024 when OYO purchased Motel 6 from Blackstone Real Estate for a substantial $525 million.

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Lawsuits

Tom Bodett, the iconic voice behind Motel 6’s famous tagline, “we’ll leave the light on for you,” has reached a settlement in his lawsuit against the motel chain. This legal battle stemmed from allegations that Motel 6 used Bodett’s name and voice without his permission after their long-standing relationship soured.

The details of the settlement were revealed in a recent filing in Manhattan federal court, involving Bodett and G6 Hospitality, the immediate parent company of Motel 6. However, specific terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, and representatives for both Bodett and G6 did not respond to inquiries for further comment.

Bodett’s lawsuit was prompted by claims that the new owner of Motel 6, India-based OYO, failed to make a crucial annual payment of $1.2 million that was due in January. This breach of contract led Bodett to sever ties with the motel chain. Despite this, he alleged that Motel 6 continued to utilize his name and voice on its national reservation phone line, which he argued violated both federal trademark law and the terms of their contract, which was set to expire last month.

In response, Motel 6 denied any wrongdoing and countered that Bodett himself had breached the contract, as indicated in a court filing from July. The legal dispute began in June, highlighting the complexities of their professional relationship.

At 70 years old, Bodett is not just a voice actor but also an accomplished author, known for his work on National Public Radio and in several Ken Burns documentaries. He had been the face and voice of Motel 6 since 1986, famously ad-libbing the chain’s memorable tagline that has resonated with travelers for decades.

OYO, the company that now owns Motel 6, is a subsidiary of Prism, previously known as Oravel Stays. This acquisition occurred in December 2024 when OYO purchased Motel 6 from Blackstone Real Estate for a substantial $525 million.

Topics
Lawsuits