Super 8 is Wyndham's economy limited-service banner in Canada, developed under Calgary-based Superior Lodging Corp's master development rights — and converting an existing independent motel into the Super 8 system is a well-used entry path alongside buying a property that's already flagged. A resale of an existing Super 8 runs the real estate closing and Wyndham's brand approval on parallel tracks, with a Property Improvement Plan review typically sized to a smaller, limited-service format than some of Wyndham's fuller-service banners.
Super 8 by Wyndham resales follow the franchisor's own approval process on top of the usual purchase mechanics — here's how the two run together.
Getting approved
The offer covers both the real estate and the Super 8 franchise agreement together, conditioned on Superior Lodging Corp approving the transfer to the incoming owner.
2–4 weeks†The franchisor reviews the incoming operator and conducts a property inspection to size a Property Improvement Plan against the existing limited-service format.
3–6 weeks†Because real property is usually involved, mortgage financing, title, survey, and environmental review run alongside the brand approval.
4–8 weeks, in parallel†Getting to closing
A licensed lounge or restaurant is uncommon at this economy tier, but where one exists, an AGCO licence transfer proceeds on its own timeline.
4–8 weeks, if applicable†The incoming owner signs a new, current-form franchise agreement, incorporating the negotiated Property Improvement Plan as a closing condition.
negotiated alongside brand approval†Real property, business assets, and the franchise agreement all close together, with a defined timeline for completing any required upgrades after taking over.
1 day, plus a PIP completion tail†Franchised in Canada since the early 1990s under master development rights now held by Calgary-based Superior Lodging Corp, which describes itself as the largest franchisor of Wyndham-branded hotels in Canada; the brand's official Canadian franchise page actively invites new owner/operator applications.
Ontario is one of the brand's largest provincial markets in Canada, with locations including Mississauga and Toronto.
Wyndham's conversion program is frequently used to bring existing independent motels into the Super 8 system in Canada, an alternative entry path alongside new construction.
This is the first real decision in a Super 8 by Wyndham resale — and it changes what you're buying, what you're taking on, and how the franchise agreement moves.
| Question | Asset purchase | Share purchase |
|---|---|---|
| What you buy | The real property (if included), the motel's operating assets, and the benefit of the Super 8 franchise agreement, subject to the franchisor's consent. | The shares of the corporation holding the property and the franchise agreement — everything it owns and owes. |
| Seller's liabilities | Generally stay behind with the seller, apart from anything specifically assumed in the agreement. | Generally come with the company, known and unknown, including any mortgage or lease obligations. |
| Franchisor consent & PIP | Required for the transfer, typically paired with a Property Improvement Plan sized to the property's limited-service format. | Required for the change of control, with the same PIP review still applying to the property itself. |
| Real property | Title, financing, survey, and environmental due diligence proceed as a standard commercial real estate closing. | The property stays titled in the corporation's name — diligence still confirms what the company actually holds. |
| Staff (ESA) | Employment Standards Act continuity rules typically apply to how motel staff carry over. | Employment generally continues uninterrupted — the employer doesn't change. |
| Tax angle | Buyer generally gets a stepped-up cost base on the real property and business assets purchased; HST self-assessment applies to the real property transfer. | Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares; the property's cost base carries over. |
The real property (if included), the motel's operating assets, and the benefit of the Super 8 franchise agreement, subject to the franchisor's consent.
The shares of the corporation holding the property and the franchise agreement — everything it owns and owes.
Generally stay behind with the seller, apart from anything specifically assumed in the agreement.
Generally come with the company, known and unknown, including any mortgage or lease obligations.
Required for the transfer, typically paired with a Property Improvement Plan sized to the property's limited-service format.
Required for the change of control, with the same PIP review still applying to the property itself.
Title, financing, survey, and environmental due diligence proceed as a standard commercial real estate closing.
The property stays titled in the corporation's name — diligence still confirms what the company actually holds.
Employment Standards Act continuity rules typically apply to how motel staff carry over.
Employment generally continues uninterrupted — the employer doesn't change.
Buyer generally gets a stepped-up cost base on the real property and business assets purchased; HST self-assessment applies to the real property transfer.
Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares; the property's cost base carries over.
We tell you which structure fits — before you sign anything.
No open-ended hourly surprises — the cost is confirmed in writing before any work begins.
| Type of work | Fee | How it's confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Straightforward purchase or sale | Starting from $3,388.87 Our charges · taxes included | Confirmed in writing once we see the agreement. |
| Larger or more complex deal | Quoted to scope | Short call → fixed written quote before any work begins. |
| Searches, filings & third-party fees | At cost | Itemized on your invoice, not marked up. |
A single, already-flagged Super 8 property changing hands, with the real estate and franchise agreement moving together in one transaction.
Start my file →A conversion of an independent motel into the Super 8 brand, a deal involving an existing mortgage, or a buyer acquiring more than one flagged property at once.
Book a consultation →Not sure which you are? That's our job to figure out, not yours. As a rough guide, most deals under a couple of million dollars are the first kind — above that, you're usually in Mergers & Acquisitions territory.
It's related but distinct — conversion involves a new franchise application and a property-standards review before the flag goes up, rather than a transfer of an existing agreement. It's a genuinely common path for this brand in Canada, and we can walk you through which one actually applies to your deal.
Day-to-day, you're dealing with Superior Lodging Corp, the Calgary-based company that holds Super 8's Canadian master development rights, rather than Wyndham's US head office directly. Understanding who's actually reviewing your file helps set realistic expectations for the approval timeline.
No — a licensed lounge or restaurant isn't part of this economy-tier format, and most properties don't have one. Where one does exist, an AGCO transfer runs alongside the real estate and brand approvals; where it doesn't, that step simply doesn't apply to your deal.
Generally, yes — the PIP scope tends to track the format, and a limited-service economy property usually means a narrower renovation list than a full-service banner with meeting space and a restaurant. That said, the actual scope still depends on the specific property's condition, which is why the inspection happens before terms are finalized.
Not on the lender side — mortgage financing still runs through whichever lender is on title regardless of which entity holds the brand's Canadian development rights. What does change is who reviews the brand side of the transfer, since that approval runs through Superior Lodging Corp's own process rather than Wyndham corporate directly.
Related
Where we close franchise resale deals
Treadstone Law is an independent law firm. We act for buyers and sellers of franchise businesses. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or retained by Super 8 by Wyndham or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Super 8 by Wyndham resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.