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.
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.
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.