Tom Bodett, Spokesman for Motel 6, Resolves Lawsuit with the 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 his name and voice without permission after their long-standing relationship soured.

The settlement was revealed in a recent filing in Manhattan federal court, involving Bodett and G6 Hospitality, Motel 6’s immediate parent company. However, the specific terms of the settlement remain undisclosed. As of now, neither Bodett’s nor G6’s legal representatives have commented on the matter.

Bodett’s lawsuit was initiated after he accused Motel 6’s new owner, the India-based OYO, of failing to make a crucial annual payment of $1.2 million that was due in January. This missed payment prompted Bodett to terminate his ties with the chain. Despite this, he claimed that Motel 6 continued to use his voice and name on its national reservation phone line, which he argued violated federal trademark law and the terms of his contract, set to expire last month.

In response, Motel 6 denied any wrongdoing and countered that Bodett had breached the contract, justifying their actions regarding the missed payment. This legal dispute began in June and has drawn attention due to Bodett’s long-standing association with the brand.

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

OYO, which is a subsidiary of Prism (formerly known as Oravel Stays), acquired Motel 6 from Blackstone Real Estate for $525 million in December 2024. This acquisition marked a significant shift in the ownership and management of the motel chain, leading to the legal issues that followed.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

Topics
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 his name and voice without permission after their long-standing relationship soured.

The settlement was revealed in a recent filing in Manhattan federal court, involving Bodett and G6 Hospitality, Motel 6’s immediate parent company. However, the specific terms of the settlement remain undisclosed. As of now, neither Bodett’s nor G6’s legal representatives have commented on the matter.

Bodett’s lawsuit was initiated after he accused Motel 6’s new owner, the India-based OYO, of failing to make a crucial annual payment of $1.2 million that was due in January. This missed payment prompted Bodett to terminate his ties with the chain. Despite this, he claimed that Motel 6 continued to use his voice and name on its national reservation phone line, which he argued violated federal trademark law and the terms of his contract, set to expire last month.

In response, Motel 6 denied any wrongdoing and countered that Bodett had breached the contract, justifying their actions regarding the missed payment. This legal dispute began in June and has drawn attention due to Bodett’s long-standing association with the brand.

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

OYO, which is a subsidiary of Prism (formerly known as Oravel Stays), acquired Motel 6 from Blackstone Real Estate for $525 million in December 2024. This acquisition marked a significant shift in the ownership and management of the motel chain, leading to the legal issues that followed.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

Topics
Lawsuits