While Gary Tharaldson’s current family-owned portfolio boasts world-famous hotel names like Hilton, Marriott and IHG, it was the economy brand Super 8 that launched him on his hospitality journey in 1982.
Now a brand under the umbrella of Parsippany, NJ-based Wyndham Worldwide, back then Super 8 Motels, Inc. was based in Aberdeen, SD, where the first property (now the Super 8 Aberdeen East) opened in 1974 on Sixth Avenue Southeast with 60 rooms at the “super” rate of $8.88.
“They were the motel chain that I thought was best during that era of the early ’80s. They were doing real well,” Tharaldson said in recalling brand founders Dennis Brown and Ron Rivett and their growing brand.
Brown died in 1988 and Rivett eventually sold the Super 8 brand and franchise system—at 1,000 properties—to Hospitality Franchise Systems, the company that would morph into Cendant Corp. and then Wyndham Worldwide.
“Gary was one of several early multiple-unit developers of the Super 8 brand along with Supertel Hospitality, Peninsula Group and Super 8 Motel Developers,” said John Valletta, president of Super 8 Worldwide. “These were the people that are responsible for demonstrating how successful a Super 8 franchise can be. Gary was one of the brand’s greatest supporters and he helped put Super 8 on the map.”
The brand now has more than 2,000 locations. Valletta noted that from the onset Tharaldson saw the potential in Super 8 and that his commitment to its success helped others see that potential as well. “Other developers would look at what Gary was doing with his business and say, ‘I want to be a part of that.’ Gary and others like him were the best brand ambassadors that our brand could have had and their loyalty was a critical component of the brand’s success,” Valletta said.
Having solid developers like Tharaldson supporting the brand was, and continues to be, important, Valletta said while adding, “because it’s a powerful sign that the brand continues to thrive even during difficult times when other brands slow down.”
—Stefani C. O’Connor
