Columbus-based Red Roof honors soldiers with discounts

With most U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq now home for good, a Columbus, Ohio-based hotel chain wants to acknowledge the veterans contribution with a discount marketing campaign, "Welcome Home Vets."

Red Roof announced that all veterans and their families would receive a 15 percent discount on any visit between January 9 and March 31, 2012.

The company added that it would enroll the first 2,012 people who sign up for the promotion in its loyalty program and give them 3,000 bonus points. After the cutoff, remaining new members will get 1,500 points.

"In the wake of President Obama's announcement that he would send all troops home from Iraq by Christmas, Red Roof wanted to show its appreciation for all of those men and women who put their lives on the frontline for their country," said Red Roof senior vice president of marketing Marina MacDonald.

In November, the company offered a similar promotion to honor Veterans Appreciation Month. Red Roof gave U.S. vets a 15 percent discount throughout the period and tacked on an additional 11 percent cut on Veterans Day.