Kelly Inn

What Kelly Inn does

Kelly Inns, Ltd. is a hotel management and consulting company incorporated in 1984 and headquartered at 3205 W. Sencore Drive, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It operates as a South Dakota affiliate company of The Ramkota Companies, Inc. The firm owns and operates 20 hotel properties across 10 U.S. states (South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Iowa, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, and Colorado), overseeing more than 525 employees. Its service offering centers on hotel operations management, revenue management, sales and marketing, and human resources and risk management, supplemented by group reservation services and RFP-driven event planning, plus consulting and feasibility studies for hotel property owners and lenders, including turnaround and foreclosure-management engagements.

The product portfolio spans the company's own Kelly Inn brand and franchise-branded properties under Best Western, IHG (Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites), Hyatt (Hyatt Place), La Quinta/Wyndham, ClubHouse, and independent brands such as Hotel On Phillips and The Cody. Distribution relies on third-party franchise booking systems (Synxis, Best Western, IHG, Hyatt) and direct enterprise sales for management contracts. Revenue is generated through hotel ownership and operations (room rentals, group reservations, event bookings) and managed-services management fees from owner/lender clients. Group demand is organized around military/family/class reunions, weddings, sports teams, and motor coach tours, while the management-contract business targets property owners and financial institutions seeking professional hotel management.

Leadership is anchored by long-tenured executives: CEO/President Brenda Schmidt (with the company since 1982), Regional Director Jeff Schoenhard (since 1989), Director of Operations Dawn M. Koble (since 1998), and Controller Misty Nelson. Branding and franchisor relationships are institutionalized through a Best Western Governor position for Nebraska and Co-op Chairperson role. There is no public listing, and the company is privately held under The Ramkota Companies affiliate structure.

Name

Kelly Inn

Legal name

Kelly Inns, Ltd.

Website

https://kellyinns.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kelly Inns, Ltd. is a hotel management and consulting company that owns and operates 20 full and limited-service hotels across 10 U.S. states, serving hotel property owners, lenders, and travelers under multiple franchise brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Management Services

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), Real Estate Property Managers (53131)

SIC

Hotels & Motels (7011), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospitality (Hotel) Property Management (BPAJAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Budget Hotel Chains & Franchises (THAGABAM), Corporate Extended-Stay Hotels (THAGAEAA), Hotel Program Management (Corporate Lodging) (THAKAMAI)

Keywords

• Hotel management services
• Hospitality consulting
• Hotel operations
• Franchise hotel operations
• Hotel property management

Headquarters

HQ city

Sioux Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Hotel Management Fees: Kelly Inns, Ltd. earns revenue by managing hotel properties for owners and lenders. The company provides comprehensive management services including operations, revenue management, sales and marketing, and human resources. They turn troubled properties into profitable investments and successfully manage properties during foreclosures.
2. Hotel Ownership and Operations: As a hotel ownership and management company, Kelly Inns generates revenue through direct hotel operations including room rentals, group reservations, and event bookings at properties they own and operate across multiple states.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kelly Inns, Ltd. is a hotel management and consulting company that owns and operates 20 full-service and limited-service hotel properties across 10 U.S. states. The company provides comprehensive third-party hotel management services for property owners and lenders, including operations, revenue management, sales and marketing, and human resources, while also owning and operating hotels under multiple franchise brands including Best Western, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Hyatt Place, La Quinta, and its own Kelly Inn brand.

Product overview

Kelly Inns, Ltd. is a hotel management and consulting company incorporated in 1984 as a South Dakota affiliate of The Ramkota Companies, Inc. The company offers a unified platform of hotel management services comprising three core components: Hotel Operations Management, Revenue Management, and Sales & Marketing, supplemented by Human Resources and Risk Management services. The company owns and operates 20 hotels across multiple states (Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado), employing more than 525 associates. Their portfolio includes both owned brands (Kelly Inn, Kelly Inn & Suites) and franchised properties operating under Best Western, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Hyatt, and La Quinta brands, as well as independent properties like Hotel On Phillips and The Cody. Group reservation services and RFP-based event planning are offered as customer-facing service features across most properties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hotel Operations Management Full-service hotel property management including day-to-day operations oversight, staff management, brand compliance, and quality control across owned and managed hotel properties.
• Hotel Consulting and Feasibility Studies Consulting services on a contract basis for hotel property owners and developers, including feasibility studies and marketing studies for properties and new hotel development.
• Group Reservations Service Group booking services for military reunions, family reunions, class reunions, weddings, team rates for sports groups, and motor coach tours. Includes complimentary hospitality rooms, expanded continental breakfast, indoor pool/whirlpool access, and discounted room rates for groups of 10 or more rooms.
• Request for Proposal (RFP) Event Services Corporate event and meeting planning service allowing customers to submit RFPs for conferences, meetings, and events at Kelly Inn properties, including daily meeting agenda planning with various room setup configurations.
• Kelly Inn Branded Hotel Properties The company's own hotel brand operating across multiple states including Montana (Billings, West Yellowstone), North Dakota (Minot, Fargo), South Dakota (Mitchell, Yankton), and Nebraska (Omaha). Properties include select-service hotels with standard amenities.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Best WesterncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKelly Inns operates multiple Best Western branded properties including Best Western Kelly Inn St. Cloud, Best Western Kelly Inn & Suites Billings, Best Western Kelly Inn & Suites Fargo, Best Western Kelly Inn Yankton, Best Western Plus Inn of Santa Fe, and Best Western Omaha Kelly Inn. The company holds a Best Western Governor position for Nebraska and serves as the Best Western Co-op Chairperson for Nebraska.
• IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKelly Inns operates Holiday Inn Express & Suites and Staybridge Suites properties in Sioux Falls and West Des Moines under IHG franchise agreements.
• HyattminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKelly Inns operates a Hyatt Place property in Sioux Falls South under Hyatt franchise affiliation.
• La QuintaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKelly Inns operates La Quinta Inn and Suites properties in Billings, Montana and Sioux Falls, South Dakota under Wyndham's La Quinta brand.
• The Ramkota Companies, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKelly Inns, Ltd. is a South Dakota affiliate company of The Ramkota Companies, Inc., with its corporate headquarters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Ramkota Companies is the parent/affiliated company providing corporate infrastructure and support.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Marriott International: World's largest hotel franchisor and operator. Kelly Inns has franchised-brand experience with Marriott systems. Comparable as a franchise partner whose systems Kelly Inns plugs into for distribution and standards.
• Hyatt Hotels Corporation: Major global lodging franchisor and operator whose brands Kelly Inns operates under (Hyatt Place). Comparable as a franchisor partner but operates at much larger scale as both owner/operator and brand licensor.
• Choice Hotels International: Large multi-brand franchisor whose brands Kelly Inns has experience operating. Comparable as a franchise partner in the limited-service and midscale segments where Kelly Inns has operational expertise.

Direct peers

• Crestline Hotels & Resorts: Independent hotel management company operating full-service, select-service, and extended-stay hotels under multiple franchise brands. Directly comparable in multi-brand third-party management services and group/event focus.
• Hersha Hospitality Management: Owner and operator of boutique and lifestyle hotels with third-party management services. Comparable in operating multi-brand urban and leisure-destination hotels with group and event business.
• TPG Hotels & Resorts: Third-party hotel management company operating premium-branded and independent hotels across the U.S. Comparable in providing asset management, operations, and revenue management to owners of full-service and select-service properties.
• Highgate Hotels: Hospitality management, investment, and development company operating a large portfolio of branded and independent hotels. Comparable as a multi-brand management company serving institutional property owners with full operational services.
• Aimbridge Hospitality: Largest independent third-party hotel management company in North America. Directly comparable as a pure-play hotel management firm pursuing management contracts with property owners and lenders, including distressed-asset turnarounds.
• Interstate Hotels & Resorts: Major third-party hotel operator and management company serving owners across multiple franchise brands. Comparable in offering outsourced hotel management, revenue management, and operational services to property owners and institutional investors.
• Peachtree Hotel Group: Hotel investment and management firm focused on premium-branded select-service and full-service hotels. Comparable as a multi-brand management company with development, operations, and ownership capabilities across multiple states.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kelly-inn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kelly Inn