He also negotiated room rates with a Days Inn where he puts up visiting teams.

FORBES: Play for Keeps

The group also plans to franchise 40 of its mid-market Days Inn outlets by 2008.

ECONOMIST: There is a huge opportunity for budget hotels in China

The U.S. saw the rise of budget hotels coast to coast in the 1960s, as Comfort Inns, Motel 6, Days Inn and Super 8 hotels sprung up near major highway exits.

FORBES: The Rise of China's Budget Hotels

HFS, based in Parsippany, New Jersey, has in recent years snapped up a variety of franchising businesses, among them Avis car-rentals, Super 8 motels, Days Inn and Ramada hotels, and Century 21 and Coldwell Banker property agencies.

ECONOMIST: All in the same bunch

One incident that Foti's probe is focusing on took place at Amerihost Inn and Suites just days after the storm hit, said police spokesman Capt.

CNN: Witnesses: New Orleans cops took Rolex watches, jewelry