Ramada Updates Its Brand Identity and Replaces the Uncle Ben Logo

In 1976, Ramada Inns updated its corporate visual identity, replacing its longstanding Uncle Ben innkeeper emblem with a simpler rectangular wordmark featuring the Ramada name. The earlier logo depicted a traditional innkeeper figure and had been associated with the American hotel chain during its initial decades of operation. The redesigned identity moved away from character-based imagery toward a more streamlined presentation of the company name. The change occurred as Ramada, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, continued expanding its network of hotels and motor inns throughout the United States, serving both highway travellers and customers in urban markets. The rectangular wordmark provided a more uniform visual identity for use across hotel signs, advertising, printed materials, and corporate communications. During the 1970s, national hotel chains increasingly relied on recognisable branding to distinguish their properties in a competitive accommodation market. Ramada's redesign reflected this broader movement toward simplified corporate symbols and consistent presentation across multiple locations. Although 1976 is commonly cited as the year of the transition, the precise introduction date and rollout schedule across individual hotels have not been independently verified.