1986
Quality Inns buys the rights to the Clarion Hotels name, and all Quality Royale properties become Clarion-brand hotels. The company also launches the Sleep Inn and Comfort Suites brands, which introduce new lodging options to the industry, such as all-suite hotels, non-smoking rooms and in-room amenity packages.
1981
Quality Inns becomes the first in the industry to introduce the strategy of market segmentation, and divides its lodging system into three distinct brands: Quality Royale, Quality Inn and Comfort Inn. The first Comfort Inn hotel opens later that year.
1980
Quality Inns International merges with Manor Care, Inc., a health care company founded by the Bainum family. The merge affords the company the financial fortitude needed to grow and propel the company into new lodging segments.