Ron Rivett, cofounder/chairman, My Place Hotels of America, has passed away. He was 83.
He leaves a 50-year legacy dedicated to nurturing a culture that profoundly values people, treating business partners with the warmth of friendship and employees with the closeness of family. His enduring motto, “It’s all about the people,” was a constant theme in all his endeavors and relationships.
Rivett cofounded Super 8 Motels with friend Dennis Brown in 1974. This venture marked a significant turning point in the budget hotel industry. Under Rivett’s leadership, Super 8 expanded rapidly, reaching a milestone of 1,000 locations globally by 1993. This growth positioned Super 8 as the world’s largest budget hotel chain at that time. In a strategic business move, Rivett sold the brand to Hospitality Franchise Systems in 1993, continuing to develop, build and operate Super 8 Motels and many other major brand hotels throughout his life. Today, Super 8 Motels, now called Super 8 by Wyndham, operates as a Wyndham Hotels and Resorts subsidiary.
In 2012, he established My Place Hotels of America alongside his grandson, Ryan Rivett. Since its inception, the upper-midscale, extended-stay brand has expanded significantly, with nearly 115 franchises across 36 states with an ever-growing pipeline.
“Ron was an entrepreneur in every sense of the word and every endeavor he took on, always finding ways to improve,” said Ryan Rivett, cofounder/CEO, My Place Hotels. “His foresight was uncanny and his ability to cast vision remarkable to say the least. In his ever-pragmatic approach, Ron diligently ensured that the value and integrity of the businesses he created would be well positioned to proceed long after he was gone.”
Ron Rivett lived his entire life in Aberdeen, SD. He loved the city dearly, always proudly proclaiming it to be home. He completed college at Northern State University, raised three daughters with his first wife, and welcomed Sharon, the love of his life, and her two sons to share his last 40 years. Together, the couple had seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, numerous dogs and a few cats.
“Quick-witted, charming, intelligent, and fiercely loyal, it’s difficult to know what Ron would say if he were here today,” Ryan Rivett said. “He loved his country, home, family, and business out loud and unapologetically. His memory and legacy will continue, providing value for generations, and we will miss him dearly.”