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                                                                   Exhibit 24.00

                               RED ROOF INNS, INC.

                             DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                       FOR
                         ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K AND
                                FORMS 3,4, AND 5

The undersigned director and officer of Red Roof Inns, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), hereby: (1) constitutes and appoints David L. Rea,
and Alan L. Tallis, collectively and individually, as his agents and
attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, to (a)
sign and file Form 10-K for Red Roof Inns, Inc. on his behalf and in his name,
place, and stead in any and all capacities with respect to the registration
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"), including pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act; (b) sign and file any and all amendments,
including post-effective amendments, and exhibits to Form 10-K; (c) sign and
file any and all applications or other documents to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") covered by the Form 10-K; (d) sign
and file any or all Forms 3, 4, or 5 required to be filed by him with the
Commission under the Act, including pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Act; (e)
sign and file any and all amendments to Forms 3, 4, or 5; and (f) do and perform
any and all other acts and deeds whatsoever that may be necessary or required;
and (2) ratifies and approves any and all actions that may be taken pursuant
hereto by any of the above-named agents and attorneys-in-fact or their
substitutes.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and officer of the Company has
hereunto set his hand as of the 25th day of February, 1999.


                                                 /s/ Francis W. Cash
                                                 -----------------------------
                                                 Francis W. Cash