Motel 6 Spokesperson Tom Bodett Sues Chain For Unauthorized Use Of Name, Voice.

Longtime Motel 6 radio and TV ad spokesperson Tom Bodett has sued the chain for using his name and voice in their advertising without permission, having cut ties with its new owner earlier this year.

Bodett, 70, who has voiced Motel 6’s radio and TV ads — all ending with his phrase “we’ll leave the light on for you” — since 1986, ended his relationship with the chain after new owner OYO missed a $1.2 million annual payment due Jan. 7 under their contract, he said in a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court earlier this week. The lawsuit seeks $1.2 million, plus additional unspecified damages and a share of profits.

Since cutting ties with OYO, Bodett says, Motel 6 has continued to use his name and voice on its national reservation phone line, violating his rights under the contract and federal trademark law, according to Reuters.

Bodett, who made his national broadcasting debut in 1984 on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and has authored seven books and appeared in several Ken Burns documentaries, said he tried to negotiate a settlement with OYO that would recognize his role in building Motel 6, not hurt its image or franchisees, and provide “graceful closure,” but the chain responded with “misrepresentations, obfuscations, and delay tactics.”

A spokesperson for G6 Hospitality, Motel 6’s immediate parent, said it was surprised by the lawsuit but hoped for a resolution. “We appreciate Mr. Bodett’s contributions over the past years,” the spokesperson said. “Of course, we will continue to advertise keeping the lights on for you.”

OYO, a global travel technology unit of Oravel Stays, purchased Motel 6 from Blackstone Real Estate for $525 million in December 2024. The chain currently has more than 1,450 locations in the U.S. and Canada, according to its website.