Baymont or Baymont by Wyndham is a popular hotel franchise in the USA. Founded in 1973 as Budgetel by Steven Marcus of the Marcus Corporation in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the hotel is known for its focus on providing “Hometown Hospitality.” Its logo has undergone a few changes, which reflect its journey from a budget motel chain to a recognised midscale hotel franchise. The article explores the logo changes of Baymont over the years.
The Genesis of the Baymont Logo (1973 – 1984)
The Baymont hotel started its journey as Budgetel Inn, which is reflected in its original black-and-white signage. It featured a pentagon-shaped figure with the brand name “Budgetel Inn” in bold black and a title case mentioned in two levels. The top of the pentagon had a small circular object displaying the owner, “Marcus,” in black italics.
(1984 – 1999)
The logo of Budgetel Inns was revamped in 1984 by incorporating a modern design, colour palette, and typeface. The brand name in two levels was depicted in yellow against a horizontal rectangle in black. Although the word “Budgetel” was displayed in bold, the word “INNS” was displayed in thin letters and in a smaller size. Interestingly, some of the letters in the word “Budgetel” were connected, while the letters “d” and “g” had little gaps. Behind the letters “g” and “e” was a concentric circular figure with three circles. The centre of the circle was red, while the rest were depicted in brown and yellow colours.
(1999 – Present)
In the late nineties, Budgetel Inns was renamed Baymont Inns and Suites, which necessitated a logo change. It featured the brand name in two levels, with “BAYMONT” written in a bigger size in uppercase, while “INN & SUITES” were written in a smaller size in uppercase. Both wordmarks are separated by a thin, straight line in blue. At the top of the wordmark were three colourful ribbons of blue, red, and yellow having forked tails. Out of the three ribbons, the one in red was longer.
The Elements of the Baymont Logo
Font
The Baymont logo features a bold, sans-serif typeface that conveys modernity and approachability. This choice of font is designed to be easily readable while projecting a sense of warmth and friendliness. Besides, it aligns with the brand’s emphasis on “Hometown Hospitality.”
Colour
The logo incorporates a vibrant colour palette that includes colours such as red, yellow, and blue. Here, red symbolises warmth, energy, passion, and excitement. The colour yellow evokes feelings of happiness and friendliness and enhances the welcoming aspect of the brand. The colour blue represents trust and reliability and adds a sense of stability to the logo.
Finally
The Baymont logo and its evolution are not just about aesthetics; they represent the brand’s growth from a budget motel chain into a competitive player in the midscale hotel market. Each iteration of the logo has highlighted changes in branding strategy, market positioning, and customer engagement practices. With Baymont continuing to expand its footprint across North America and beyond, its logo is likely to evolve further to embody its ongoing commitment to hospitality and service excellence.