Document:

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                                                                  Exhibit 10.3

                         U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC.
                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement"), is made as of September 18,
2000, by and between U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation
having its principal place of business in Atlanta, Georgia (the "Company");
and MICHAEL A. LEVEN, an individual resident of the State of Georgia
("Employee"). This Agreement shall become effective upon the Effective Date.
Company desires to continue the employment of Employee and Employee desires
to continue to be employed by Company, on the terms and conditions set forth
in this Agreement. Accordingly, both parties, in consideration of the mutual
and exchanged promises and agreements contained herein and of wages paid and
services rendered hereunder and other consideration the receipt and
sufficiency of which are acknowledged, hereby agree as follows:

      Section 1.  Definitions.  For purposes hereof, the following terms shall
be defined as follows:

      a. "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to a specified entity, an entity
that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is
controlled by or is under common control with, the entity specified. For
purposes of this definition, the term "control" (including the terms "controlled
by" and "under common control with") means possession, directly or indirectly,
of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
an entity, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract, or
otherwise.

      b. "Board" or "Board of Directors" shall mean Board of Directors of the
Company.

      c. "Cause" shall mean:

         (i) the conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere by
      Employee of any felony other than a traffic-related offense;

         (ii) fraud, theft, embezzlement or intentional misappropriation by
      Employee of funds of the Company or the Group;

         (iii) repeated neglect by Employee of his duties hereunder (other
      than on account of Disability); provided, however, that Cause as defined
      in this clause (iii) shall in no event mean:

               (a) bad judgment or incompetence;

               (b) negligence other than repeated neglect of duty or gross
            negligence;

               (c) dissatisfaction by the Company with the Employee's
            performance of his duties hereunder (other than as a result of any
            of the occurrences set forth in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) set forth
            above) or a bona fide disagreement over corporate policy;

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               (d) any act or omission believed by the Employee in good faith
            to have been in the interest of the Company (without intent of the
            Employee to gain therefrom, directly or indirectly, a profit to
            which the Employee was not legally entitled), unless such act or
            omission is in contravention of a lawful and reasonable direction of
            the Company's Board of Directors;

            (iv) a willful and material breach of Employee's obligations
      pursuant to this Employment Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employee shall not be deemed to have
repeatedly neglected his duties within the meaning of clause (iii) or materially
breached his obligations under this Employment Agreement within the meaning of
clause (iv) above unless (a) the Company gives written notice to the Employee
thereof specifying in detail the event or events which the Company asserts
constitutes "Cause", (b) the Employee fails to remedy the matter within 30 days
after receiving such notice and (c) there is delivered to Employee, a written
copy of a resolution, duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a
majority of the entire membership of the Board of Directors of the Company at a
meeting of the Board called and held for that purpose (after reasonable notice
to Employee has been given and an opportunity for Employee, together with his
counsel, to be heard before the Board at such meeting has been provided),
finding in the good faith opinion of the Board, that Employee's action, inaction
or breach (specifying in detail such action, inaction or breach) constitutes
"Cause" within the meaning of clause (iii) or (iv) and Employee has failed to
correct the action, inaction or breach in accordance with clause (b) after
receipt of the notice described in clause (c).

      d.    "Change of Control" shall mean any one of the following events
            occurring after the Effective Date:

            (i) Any "Person" (having the meaning ascribed to such term in
      Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
      thereof, including a "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3)) other
      than a member of the Investor Group acquires "Beneficial Ownership"
      (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more
      of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting
      securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
      ("Voting Securities") or of 25% or more of the combined voting power of
      the Voting Securities if any such Voting Securities are acquired after the
      Investor Group owns less than 50% of such combined voting power; provided,
      however, that in determining whether a Change of Control has occurred,
      Voting Securities which are held or acquired by (i) the Company or any of
      its subsidiaries or (ii) an employee benefit plan (or a trust forming a
      part thereof) maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall
      not constitute a Change of Control;

            (ii) Consummation of a merger, consolidation or reorganization or
      approval by the Company's stockholders of a liquidation or dissolution of
      the Company or the occurrence of a liquidation or dissolution of the
      Company ("Business Combination"), unless, following such Business
      Combination:

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                  (a) the Persons with Beneficial Ownership of the Company,
            immediately before such Business Combination, have Beneficial
            Ownership of more than 25% of the combined voting power of the then
            outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the
            election of directors of the corporation (or in the election of a
            comparable governing body of any other type of entity) resulting
            from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an
            entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all
            or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or
            through one or more subsidiaries) (the "Surviving Company") and the
            Investor Group owns at least 20% of such voting securities;

                  (b) the individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board
            immediately prior to the execution of the initial agreement
            providing for such Business Combination constitute more than 50% of
            the members of the board of directors (or comparable governing body
            of a noncorporate entity) of the Surviving Company; and

                  (c) no Person (other than the Company, any of its
             subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan (or any trust
             forming a part thereof) maintained by the Company, the
             Surviving Company or any Person who immediately prior to such
             Business Combination had Beneficial Ownership of 25% or more
             of the then outstanding Voting Securities) has Beneficial
             Ownership of 50% or more of the then combined voting power of
             the Surviving Company's then outstanding voting securities;

provided that no Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred under this
subparagraph (ii) if the Investor Group shall continue to have Beneficial
Ownership of more than 25% of the then combined voting power of the then
Outstanding Voting Securities and no other Person has Beneficial Ownership of a
greater percentage of the then combined voting power.

            (iii) Approval by the Company's stockholders of an agreement for the
      assignment, sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all
      or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person (other
      than a subsidiary of the Company or other entity, the Persons with
      Beneficial Ownership of which are the same Persons with Beneficial
      Ownership of the Company and such Beneficial Ownership is in substantially
      the same proportions), or the occurrence of the same.

      e. "Disability" shall be defined as the inability for a continuous period
of six (6) months or for a total of six (6) months in any twelve (12) month
period of Employee to render substantial services to the Company due to
accident, illness, sickness, or other physical or mental condition, as certified
to the Company by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the State of
Georgia.

      f. "Effective Date" shall be the Closing Date as defined in the
Acquisition Agreement dated September ___, 2000, among the Company, SDI, Inc.,
USFS Acquisition Co., Meridian Associates, L.P., and HSA Properties, Inc.

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      g. "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

      h. "Good Reason" means the occurrence of any one of the following events:

            (i) any material breach (which is not corrected within 30 days
      following written notice from the Employee to the Company specifying such
      breach) by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement (including,
      without limitation, (a) the refusal or failure of the Company to pay the
      compensation and/or benefits due under this Agreement, (b) any diminution
      (without the Employee's consent), other than an insignificant or
      incidental diminution, in the Employee's duties, authority,
      responsibilities or reporting requirements (whether or not accompanied by
      a change in title), (c) the failure to elect the Employee to and continue
      his membership on the Board of Directors of the Company, or (d) the
      involuntary relocation of the Employee outside Atlanta, Georgia, or

            (ii) resignation by Employee at the written request of the Company
      which has been authorized by the Company's Board of Directors.

      i. "Group" shall mean the Company and any other Affiliate of the Company
controlled by the Company, including any subsidiary entity.

      j. "Investor Group " means Meridian Associates, L.P., SDI, Inc., USFS
Acquisition Co., HSA Properties, Inc., and any and all of the lineal descendants
of Nicholas J. Pritzker, deceased, any and all trusts for their benefit or for
the benefit of any of their spouses, and any Person owned or controlled by such
lineal descendants or trusts and any Affiliate of any of the foregoing.

      k. "Non-Solicitation Period" shall mean the period of Employee's
employment with Company and a period of three (3) years after the date that
Employee's employment with Company terminates regardless of the reason therefor.

      l. "Share" shall mean a share of common stock of the Company.

      m. "Year" shall mean the twelve calendar month period commencing on the
Effective Date if the Effective Date is the first day of a given calendar month,
and as of the first day of the first calendar month immediately following if the
Effective Date is a date other than the first day of a given calendar month, and
ending on the last day of the twelfth full calendar month thereafter.

      Section 2.  Employment.

      a. Subject to the terms contained in this Agreement, Company hereby
employs Employee and Employee hereby accepts such employment. Employee shall
serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of
the Company and certain of the members of the Group and shall serve and
perform the duties, exercise the powers and have the authority consistent in
all respects with such positions. Employee shall report directly to the Board
of Directors of the Company and shall not be required to report to any other
officer or employee of the Company or a member of the Group. Subject to his
election or appointment as such, the Employee agrees to serve without
additional compensation during the Term as a director and a

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member of any committees of the Board of Directors of the Company or any company
within the Group, provided that the Employee is indemnified for serving in any
and all such capacities on a basis no less favorable than provided to any other
director of the Company or a member of the Group. The Company agrees to use its
best efforts to cause the Employee to be elected and continued in office
throughout the Term as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company and as
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and shall include him in the
management slate for election as a director of the Company at every stockholders
meeting or vote of the stockholders of the Company during the Term at which his
term as a director would otherwise expire. The Company further agrees that if
the Board of Directors of the Company shall appoint an executive committee, the
Employee shall be elected to serve as a member and chairman of such committee
during the entire Term.

      b. During the Term and unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the
Employee shall devote his primary attention to the performance of his duties and
responsibilities on a substantially full time and exclusive basis during such
business hours and such other periods and times as may be necessary for the
proper performance of his duties. Notwithstanding any other provision to the
contrary contained in this Section 2 but consistent with the commitment to
perform services for the Company on substantially a full time and exclusive
basis, nothing in this Section 2 is intended to preclude the Employee from
devoting reasonable time to (i) serving on the boards of other entities (profit
or not-for-profit), making public appearances, making speaking engagements,
writing books or articles or other similar activities and retaining all
compensation received from such activities; (ii) engaging in charitable and
community activities; and (iii) managing his own investments.

      Section 3.  Term.

      The term of Employee's employment hereunder (the "Term") shall commence on
the Effective Date and unless earlier terminated as provided in Section 5 of
this Agreement, Employee's employment hereunder shall continue for a period of
five (5) years from the Effective Date.

      Section 4. Compensation. During the Term, the Company shall provide to
the Employee the following:

      a. The Company shall pay Employee a basic salary of U.S. $500,000 per
year, payable bi-weekly in arrears, inclusive of any remuneration to which he
may be entitled as an officer of the Company or any other company within the
Group. All deductions and taxes required to be withheld by the Company under the
law of the United States and the State of Georgia or any other state shall be
deducted from such basic salary.

      b. The basic salary referred to in this paragraph shall be subject to
increase by the Company at annual intervals in the light of prevailing economic
circumstances and the Employee's performance but in any event such annual
increases shall be at least equal to the annual percentage increase in the
Consumer Price Index for the same annual intervals. For the purpose of this
Agreement, "Consumer Price Index" shall mean the Consumer Price Index for all
Urban Consumers, U.S. City average compiled and published by the United States
Department of Labor. For the purpose of this Agreement, Employee's basic salary
shall mean Employee's basic salary annualized, as most recently increased.

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      c. Payment on behalf of the Employee of such sums as shall be required to
maintain the following benefits on behalf of Employee:

            (1) Life Insurance. The Company shall provide term life insurance
      coverage on Employee's life in an amount at least equal to $3,000,000 on
      terms no less favorable than the coverage in effect on the day preceding
      the Effective Date. Such insurance shall be transferable to the Employee
      at no cost to the Company in the event of the termination of employment
      hereunder. The Company shall also pay Employee a periodic supplemental
      cash benefit equal to 45% of the taxable income required to be reported by
      Employee by reason of the Company's payment of premiums for such
      insurance.

            (2) Health Insurance. The Company shall provide executive health,
      dental and medical insurance covering Employee, Employee's spouse and
      Employee's dependents on terms no less favorable than the coverage in
      effect on the day preceding the Effective Date. If available on
      commercially reasonable terms, such insurance shall be transferable to the
      Employee at no cost to the Company in the event of the termination of
      employment hereunder.

            (3) Long term Disability Insurance. The Company shall provide
      long-term disability insurance for the Employee with coverage in the
      annual amount of at least $250,000 payable to death with no greater than a
      90-day waiting period and on terms no less favorable than coverage in
      effect on the day preceding the Effective Date. Such insurance shall be
      transferable to the Employee at no cost to the Company in the event of the
      termination of employment hereunder. The Company shall also pay Employee a
      periodic supplemental cash benefit equal to 45% of the taxable income
      required to be reported by Employee by reason of the Company's payment of
      premiums for such insurance.

            (4) Long Term Home Care Insurance. The Company shall provide to the
      Employee, Employee's spouse and Employee's dependents insurance coverage
      for executive home or other facility assisted care on terms no less
      favorable than the coverage in effect on the day preceding the Effective
      Date. Such insurance shall be transferable to the Employee at no cost to
      the Company in the event of the termination of employment hereunder. The
      Company shall also pay Employee a periodic supplemental cash benefit equal
      to 45% of the taxable income required to be reported by Employee by reason
      of the Company's payment of premiums for such insurance.

      Except as specifically provided in this Agreement, the Company shall not
be required to pay any premiums with respect to any of the foregoing with
respect to periods after the termination of employment hereunder.

      d. The Employee shall be eligible for participation in all employee
welfare and benefit plans, programs and arrangements of the Company now or
hereafter made generally available to all senior executives of the Company, as
such plans, programs and arrangements may be in effect from time to time
(including, without limitation, each retirement plan, supplemental and excess
retirement plans, annual and long-term incentive compensation plans, group life
insurance, accident and death insurance, medical and dental insurance, sick
leave, pension plans and disability plans). The

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Employee shall also be eligible to participate in the Company's executive
perquisites in accordance with the terms and provisions of the arrangements as
generally in effect from time to time for all of the Company's senior
executives. To the extent permitted under all applicable plans, programs,
arrangements, and benefits (including, without limitation, the benefits or plans
in Section 4.c. hereof), benefits shall inure to the Employee's spouse and
eligible dependents.

      e. Prompt reimbursement of all out-of-pocket expenses properly incurred by
the Employee in the performance of his duties and as shall properly be incurred
by him and vouched for in connection with the Company's business.

      f. The Employee shall be entitled to not less than five (5) weeks annual
holiday (in addition to legal or national holidays at his location of work) in
each Year. Unused vacation will not accumulate from year to year.

      g. In addition to the basic salary set forth above, Employee shall be paid
a performance bonus no later than 120 days after the end of each fiscal year.
Such performance bonus target shall be in an amount no less than $250,000.
Employee shall be entitled to payment of 60% of the performance bonus target
amount if the Company's financial and budgetary plan for the fiscal year is met.
For purposes of the preceding sentence, the financial and budgetary plan for a
fiscal year shall be determined by the Board acting in good faith. Employee
shall be entitled to payment of 40% of the performance bonus target amount based
upon satisfactory performance by the Employee, as reasonably determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors.

      h. Employee shall be granted on the Effective Date either (at the
Company's option) non-qualified stock options or stock appreciation rights
("SARS") substantially equivalent to two hundred thousand (200,000) options to
purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company. The exercise price for the SARS
shall be $5.00 per share equivalent. The SARS shall become vested and
exercisable with respect to twenty percent (20%) of the SARS on each anniversary
of the Effective Date and shall be exercisable until the tenth anniversary of
the Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all SARS shall be vested and
exercisable upon the termination of Employee's employment by the Company other
than for Cause or by Executive for Good Reason, termination of Employee's
employment by death or Disability or upon a Change of Control. Employee shall be
granted additional SARS from time to time as determined by the Board of
Directors based on his performance.

      Section 5.  Termination.

      Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Agreement
may be terminated at any time by either party in accordance with the following
terms:

      a. Death. In the event of Employee's death, this Agreement shall terminate
immediately, provided, however, the Company shall be obligated to pay within
thirty (30) days after Employee's death to Employee's family or estate a lump
sum payment equal to the basic salary, unused vacation time (not to exceed five
(5) weeks), and performance bonus actually earned or accrued as of the date of
Employee's death, and Company shall for a period of twelve (12) months from the
date of death continue for the benefit of the Employee's spouse and dependents
all of

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Employee's base salary, health insurance and other welfare and benefit
plans, programs and arrangements, including, without limitation, amounts
required to maintain the benefits of insurance to be provided pursuant to
Section 4c. of this Agreement in effect at such time (if available under the
plans).

      b. Disability. In the event the employment of Employee is interrupted due
to the Disability of Employee, the basic salary and other benefits payable to
Employee shall be continued by the Company for a period of six (6) full calendar
months from the date of last regular employment. Should such Disability continue
thereafter, no additional salary, performance bonus, fringe benefits, or other
benefits shall be paid to Employee, and the Company shall have the right to
terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement upon written notice to
Employee. During the period of his Disability (including any period after the
date of termination), the Employee shall be entitled to continued participation
for himself, his spouse and his dependents Employee's benefits under the
Company's health and welfare plans including, without limitation, the insurance
to be provided pursuant to Section 4c. of this Agreement, and to continued
participation in all the Company's employee benefit plans all to the extent
permitted under the plans, and all vested rights which the Employee may have
shall remain in full force and effect. Upon request, the Employee shall submit
to reasonable tests and examination by a physician on behalf of the Company. In
the event of disagreement of the two physicians consulted by Employee and the
Company, the two shall select a third physician whose determination shall be
deemed conclusive.

      c.    Termination Without Cause or For Good Reason.

            (i) If the Company terminates Employee's employment hereunder
      without Cause effective at any time on or before the first anniversary of
      the Effective Date or Employee resigns for Good Reason effective at any
      time on or before the first anniversary of the Effective Date, the Company
      shall be obligated to pay all basic salary, fringe benefits, unused
      vacation time, and performance bonus accrued as of the date of termination
      and shall pay Employee within three days after termination of employment a
      single lump sum amount equal to the product of (a) two, multiplied by (b)
      the sum of Employee's basic salary and the Employee's performance bonus
      with respect to the fiscal year preceding such termination of employment.
      The Company shall continue to pay Employee's health and other employee
      welfare benefits, including, without limitation, the amounts required to
      maintain the insurance to be provided pursuant to Section 4c. of this
      Agreement for two years following the effective date of termination of
      employment. During the Term (including the two-year period after the
      effective date of such termination), the Employee shall be entitled to
      continue participation for himself, his spouse and his dependents under
      the Company's health and welfare plans and to continued participation in
      all of the Company's employee benefit plans other than so-called
      executive perquisites, and all vested rights which the Employee may
      have shall remain in full force and effect and shall be deemed vested.

            (ii) If the Company terminates Employee's employment hereunder
      without Cause effective at any time after the first anniversary of the
      Effective Date or Employee resigns for Good Reason effective at any time
      after the first anniversary of the Effective Date, the Company shall be
      obligated to pay all basic salary, fringe benefits, unused vacation time,
      and performance bonus accrued as of the date of termination and shall pay
      Employee within

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      three days after termination of employment a single lump sum amount
      equal to the sum of Employee's basic salary and the Employee's
      performance bonus with respect to the fiscal year preceding such
      termination of employment. The Company shall continue to pay Employee's
      health and other employee welfare benefits, including, without
      limitation, the amounts required to maintain the insurance to be
      provided pursuant to Section 4c. of this Agreement for one year
      following the effective date of termination of employment. During the
      Term (including the one-year period after the effective date of such
      termination), the Employee shall be entitled to continue participation
      for himself, his spouse and his dependents under the Company's health
      and welfare plans and to continued participation in all of the
      Company's employee benefit plans other than so-called executive
      perquisites, and all vested rights which the Employee may have shall
      remain in full force and effect and shall be deemed vested.

      d. Resignation. In addition to Employee's right to resign for Good Reason,
Employee may resign from employment hereunder at any time by providing Company
with written notice at least six (6) months in advance of the effective date of
the resignation. If Employee resigns without Good Reason, Company shall pay the
basic salary, unused vacation time, and performance bonus actually earned or
accrued through the effective date of resignation but shall have no further
obligations under this Agreement whatsoever.

      e. Termination for Cause. Company may terminate Employee's employment
hereunder at any time effective immediately for Cause. If Company terminates
Employee for Cause, Company shall be obligated to pay Employee's basic salary
and fringe benefits accrued only through the effective date of termination and
shall not be responsible to pay any other amounts or provide any other benefits
thereafter.

      Section 6. Other Provisions Governing Termination. The Employee shall not
be required to mitigate amounts payable pursuant to Section 5 by seeking other
employment or otherwise. The Employee's acceptance of other employment during
the Term shall not, directly or indirectly, diminish or impair the amounts
payable by the Company pursuant to Section 5.

      Section 7.  Non-competition:

      a. During his employment with the Company and for a period of three years
following termination of such employment, unless such termination is by the
Company without Cause or by the Employee for Good Reason, Employee will not,
directly or indirectly, Compete (as hereinafter defined) with the Company or any
other member of the Group. "Compete" means to work for, represent, consult for
or invest in (except owning less than one-half of one percent of a publicly
traded company) as an officer, director (other than serving as a director of a
company of which Employee currently serves as a director), employee, agent, or
independent contractor, for a person or entity engaged in the Business (as
hereinafter defined) anywhere within the Restricted Territory (as hereinafter
defined). "Business" means any of the following services:

         a. Hotel franchise system marketing, advertising and/or promotion,
      including, without limitation, specific hotel franchise sales and
      solicitation; or

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         b. Hotel franchise system operation or maintenance, including,
      without limitation, system specifications, quality control and policing,
      franchisee training, system design and implementation, hotel site
      selection formats, hotel space planning, standard system accounting,
      advertising fund support and maintenance, reservation system support and
      maintenance, and creation and maintenance of Standards, Operations or Site
      Construction Manuals.

"Restricted Territory" means any area within the United States that is (i)within
a 50 mile radius surrounding the principal offices of the Company or any of its
Affiliates at the time of Employee's termination, (ii) within a 10 mile radius
surrounding any hotel licensed or franchised by the Company or any of its
Affiliates at the time of Employee's termination, (iii) within a 10 mile radius
surrounding any hotel for which the Company or any of its Affiliates is
rendering services at the time of Employee's termination, or (iv) within a 10
mile radius surrounding the site of any proposed hotel licensed or franchised by
the Company or any of its Affiliates at the time of Employee's termination.

      b. Employee acknowledges that the above covenants are a reasonable means
of protecting and preserving the Company's goodwill, its investment in Employee
and its other legitimate business interests. Employee agrees that any breach of
these covenants will result in irreparable damage and injury to the Company and
that the Company will be entitled to injunctive relief in any court of competent
jurisdiction. Employee also agrees that any such injunctive relief shall be in
addition to any damages that may be recoverable by the Company.

      c. Employee and the Company agree that Employee's obligations under the
above covenants are separate and distinct under this Agreement, and the failure
or alleged failure of the Company to perform its obligations under any other
provisions of this Agreement shall not constitute a defense to the
unenforceability of these covenants after such third anniversary.

      Section 8.  Nondisclosure of Trade Secrets and Confidential Information.

      a. During the Non-Solicitation Period, Employee will not (except where
Employee believes in good faith that disclosure is in furtherance of his
employment hereunder), directly or indirectly, copy, reproduce, disseminate,
use, exploit or disclose for the benefit of a competitor of Company (or the
Group) or for Employees' own benefit or account, or publish and abandon to the
public domain, any trade secrets of Company and the Group (regardless of whether
evidenced by a written medium of expression), including but not limited to,
those related to any of their hotel franchise systems and pending or prospective
franchisees without the prior consent of the Company, including, without
limitation:

            (1) The identity of pending franchisees and franchise applications
      or particular prospects, regardless of whether such potential or pending
      franchisees are independently known to Employee or obtained or obtainable
      from Company's data base (provided that Company policy limits access to
      such data based on a need-to-know basis), and further provided that such
      restriction shall lapse when any such pending franchisee commences
      construction of a hotel under an executed franchise agreement from Company
      or its Affiliates, or their subfranchisors;

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            (2) Trade secrets included within any of the Company's franchise,
      construction, Standards, Operations or Site Construction Manuals;

            (3) Hotel design, construction and space plan documents, including
      working drawings, related to the Microtel Hotel Franchise System owned by
      Company (but not the Best Hotel or Hawthorne Suites Systems) and any other
      so-called "Cookie Cutter" hotel franchise system operated by Company in
      the future during the term of this Employment Agreement; and

            (4) The specific portions of any hotel reservation system software
      (constituting proprietary trade secrets) information, utilized by the
      Company, that are owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company, if any,
      that are not protected by federal patent or copyright registration, now or
      in the future.

      b. Employee acknowledges that the nondisclosure covenants contained in
this Section are a reasonable means of protecting and preserving Company's
interest in the confidentiality of this information. Employee agrees that any
breach of these covenants will result in irreparable damage and injury to
Company and that Company will be entitled to injunctive relief in any court of
competent jurisdiction. Employee also agrees that any such injunctive relief
shall be in addition to any damages that may be recoverable by Company.

      c. Employee and Company agree that Employee's obligations under these
nondisclosure covenants are separate and distinct from other provisions of this
Agreement, and a failure or alleged failure of Company to perform its
obligations under any provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a defense
to the enforceability of these nondisclosure covenants.

      Section 9.  Non-Solicitation.

      a. In consideration of the compensation and benefits being paid and to be
paid by the Company to Employee hereunder or otherwise, Employee agrees that,
during the Non-Solicitation Period, he shall not, in any manner (other than as
an employee of or a consultant to the Company or an Affiliate), directly or
indirectly:

            (1) employ or seek to employ, on his own behalf or on behalf of any
      other person or entity other than the Company or any member of the Group,
      any person who was employed by the Company or any member of the Group
      during Employee's employment with the Company or any person who is
      thereafter employed by the Company or the Group; or

            (2) induce or attempt to induce any licensee, franchisee or supplier
      of the Company or any member of the Group to terminate it contractual
      relationship with the Company or such Group member; and

      b. In consideration for the compensation and benefits being paid and to be
paid by the Company to Employee hereunder or otherwise, Employee further agrees
that, unless his employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by
Employee for Good Reason, Employee shall not

<PAGE>

for a period of three years following such termination of employment solicit the
Business or enter into any contractual relationship for the Business of any
person or entity who was a franchisee or licensee of the Company or any Group
member as of the termination date, unless such person or entity was a franchisee
or licensee of a competitor of the Company as of the termination date and
Employee's efforts to solicit such Business do not violate any other covenant of
this Agreement.

      c. Employee acknowledges that the above covenants are a reasonable means
of protecting and preserving Company's goodwill, its investment in Employee and
its other legitimate business interests. Employee agrees that any breach of
these covenants will result in irreparable damage and injury to Company and that
Company will be entitled to injunctive relief in any court of competent
jurisdiction. Employee also agrees that any such injunctive relief shall be in
addition to any damages that may be recoverable by Company.

      d. Employee and Company agree that Employee's obligations under the above
covenants are separate and distinct under this Agreement, and the failure or
alleged failure of Company to perform its obligations under any other provisions
of this Agreement shall not constitute a defense to the enforceability of these
covenants.

      Section 10. Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify the Employee to
the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and the Company's charter and
by-laws as currently in effect (copies of which have heretofore been provided to
the Employee) against all costs, charges and expenses (including, without
limitation, legal fees or the provision of counsel by the Company) incurred or
sustained by him in connection with any action, suit or proceeding to which he
may be made a party by reason of his being an officer, director or employee of
the Company or the Group whether or not such action, suit or proceeding is
brought during the Employee's employment by the Company. The Company will
reimburse Employee for all reasonable legal fees and disbursements incurred by
Employee in connection with the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement
and all reasonable fees and disbursements incurred by Employee in connection
with any dispute over the enforcement by Employee of his rights under this
Agreement, but only if Employee prevails in such dispute.

      Section 11. Notice. All notices or other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when delivered
personally, (b) on the business day following the day such notice or other
communication is sent by recognized overnight courier, (c) on acknowledgment of
the receipt of a facsimile of such notice or other communication, or (d) on the
fifth day following the date of deposit in the United States mail if sent first
class, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail. The addresses for such
notices shall be as follows:

      If to the Company:

      U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc.
      13 Corporate Square
      Suite 250
      Atlanta, Georgia  30329
      Attn: General Counsel
      Facsimile No. ____________

<PAGE>

      With a copy to:

      Meridian Associations, L.P.
      200 West Madison Street
      Suite 3800
      Chicago, Illinois 60606
      Attn: Hank Handelsman
      Facsimile No. ___________

      If to the Employee:

      Michael A. Leven
      [Address]
      Facsimile No. [Fax Number]

      with a copy to:

      Terry M. Schlade
      Altheimer & Gray
      10 South Wacker Drive
      Suite 4000
      Chicago, Illinois  60606
      Facsimile No. 312.715.4800
      Section 12.  Miscellaneous.

      a. Severability. The covenants set forth in this Agreement shall be
considered and construed as separate and independent covenants. Should any part
or provision of any covenant be held invalid, void or unenforceable in any court
of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, voidness or unenforceability shall
not render invalid, void or unenforceable any other part or provision of this
Agreement. If any portion of this Agreement is found to be invalid or
unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction because its duration, the
territory, the definition of activities or the definition of information covered
is invalid or unreasonable in scope, the invalid or unreasonable term shall

<PAGE>

be redefined, or a new enforceable term provided, such that the intent of
Company and Employee in agreeing to the provisions of this Agreement will not be
impaired and the provision in question shall be enforceable to the fullest
extent of the applicable laws. Without limitation of the other agreements
contained in this Section, this provision shall be considered to be Employee's
express consent to modification of any restriction or provision that is deemed
to be overbroad or otherwise unreasonable in scope.

      b. Waiver. The waiver by any party to this Agreement of a breach of any of
the provisions of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver
of any other or subsequent breach.

      c. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be made in and shall
in all respects be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with
the laws of the State of Georgia (without giving effect to the conflict of law
principles thereof). No provision of this Agreement or any related documents
shall be construed against, or interpreted to the disadvantage of, any party
hereto, by any court or any governmental or judicial authority by reason of such
party having or being deemed to have structured or drafted such provision.

      d. Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties hereto to
be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the subject matter
hereof and this is the complete and exclusive statement of the terms of their
agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof, notwithstanding any
representations, statements or agreements to the contrary heretofore made. This
Agreement supersedes any former agreements, correspondence, or other
communication governing the same subject matter. This Agreement may be modified,
and its provisions may be waived, only by a written instrument signed by each of
the parties hereto.

      e. Certain Additional Payments by the Company. If Employee becomes
entitled to any payments or benefits whether pursuant to the terms of or by
reason of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement, agreement, policy or
program (including without limitation any restricted stock, stock option, stock
appreciation right or similar right, or the lapse or termination of any
restriction on the vesting or exercisability of any of the foregoing) with the
Company, any successor to the Company or to all or a part of the business or
assets of the Company (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation, spin off, or otherwise and regardless of whether such payment is
made by or on behalf of the Company or such successor) or any person whose
actions result in a change of control or any person affiliated with the Company
or such persons (in the aggregate, "Payments" or singularly, "Payment"), which
Payments are reasonably determined by the Employee to be subject to the tax
imposed by Section 4999 or any successor provision of the Code or any similar
state or local tax, (such excise tax is hereinafter collectively referred to as
the "Excise Tax"), the Company shall pay Employee an additional amount
("Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount retained by Employee, after
deduction or payment of (i) any Excise Tax on Payments and (ii) any federal,
state and local income tax and Excise Tax upon the payment provided for by this
Section shall be equal to the full amount of the Payments. The Gross-Up Payment
shall be paid to the Employee within ten (10) days after the Company's receipt
of written notice from the Employee after a change of control has occurred that
the Excise Tax has been paid, is or was payable or will be payable at any time
in the future. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Gross Up Payment shall be

<PAGE>

payable with respect to any change of control that may result from transactions
occurring on or before the Effective Date.

      f. The employee stock purchase agreement originally executed on September
29, 1995 and then amended and restated August 23, 1996 between the Company and
the Employee is terminated in its entirety as of the Effective Date and no
Shares held by Employee are subject to any restrictions contained therein.

      g. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.

COMPANY:

U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation

By: /s/ Stephen D. Aronson
   ------------------------
   Stephen D. Aronson

EMPLOYEE:
/s/ Michael A. Leven
---------------------------
Michael A. Leven<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.4

                         U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC.
                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "AGREEMENT"), is made as of September 18,
2000, by and between U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation
having its principal place of business in Atlanta, Georgia (the "COMPANY");
and STEVEN ROMANIELLO, an individual resident of the State of Georgia
("EMPLOYEE"). This Agreement shall become effective upon the Effective Date.
The Company desires to continue the employment of Employee and Employee
desires to continue to be employed by the Company, on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement. Accordingly, both parties, in
consideration of the mutual and exchanged promises and agreements contained
herein and of wages paid and services rendered hereunder and other
consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, hereby
agree as follows:

      SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.  For purposes hereof, the following terms shall
be defined as follows:

      a. "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to a specified entity, an entity
that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is
controlled by or is under common control with, the entity specified. For
purposes of this definition, the term "control" (including the terms "controlled
by" and "under common control with") means possession, directly or indirectly,
of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
an entity, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract, or
otherwise.

      b. "Base Compensation" shall mean with respect to each calendar year, the
sum of (i) $3,000 times the number of newly executed Microtel franchise and
license agreements (the "MICROTEL FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS") in that calendar year,
up to a maximum of 110 such newly executed Microtel Franchise Agreements in any
calendar year, PLUS (ii) $2,000 times the number of newly executed Microtel
Franchise Agreements in that calendar year in excess of 110, PLUS (iii) $2,000
times the number of newly executed franchise and license agreements (excluding
Microtel Franchise Agreements) of all the Company's currently existing or
hereafter acquired or licensed brands in that calendar year. In determining the
number of newly executed franchise agreements for purposes of calculating Base
Compensation, policies and practices of the Company then in effect or the
calculation of franchise sales commissions to sales employees of the Company
will be utilized.

      c. "Board" or "Board of Directors" shall mean Board of Directors of the
Company.

      d.    "Cause" shall mean:

            (i) the conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere by
      Employee of any felony other than a traffic-related offense;

            (ii) fraud, theft, embezzlement or intentional misappropriation by
      Employee of funds of the Company or the Group;

<PAGE>

            (iii) repeated neglect by Employee of his duties hereunder (other
      than on account of Disability); provided, however, that Cause as defined
      in this clause (iii) shall in no event mean:

                  (a)   bad judgment or incompetence;

                  (b) negligence other than repeated neglect of duty or gross
            negligence;

                  (c) dissatisfaction by the Company with Employee's performance
            of his duties hereunder (other than as a result of any of the
            occurrences set forth in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) set forth above)
            or a bona fide disagreement over corporate policy;

                  (d) any act or omission believed by Employee in good faith to
            have been in the interest of the Company (without intent of Employee
            to gain therefrom, directly or indirectly, a profit to which
            Employee was not legally entitled), unless such act or omission is
            in contravention of a lawful and reasonable direction of the
            Company's Board of Directors;

            (iv) a material breach of Employee's obligations pursuant to this
      Employment Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be deemed to have repeatedly
neglected his duties within the meaning of clause (iii) or materially breached
his obligations under this Employment Agreement within the meaning of clause
(iv) above unless the Company gives written notice to Employee thereof, and
Employee fails to remedy the matter within 15 days after receiving such notice.

      e. "Change of Control" shall mean any one of the following events:

         (i)  Any "Person" (having the meaning ascribed to such term in
      Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
      thereof, including a "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3)) other
      than a member of the Investor Group acquires "Beneficial Ownership"
      (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more
      of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting
      securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
      ("VOTING SECURITIES"); provided, however, that in determining whether a
      Change of Control has occurred, Voting Securities which are held or
      acquired by (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) an employee
      benefit plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by the Company
      or any of its subsidiaries shall not constitute a Change of Control;

         (ii) Consummation of a merger, consolidation or reorganization or
      approval by the Company's stockholders of a liquidation or dissolution of
      the Company or the occurrence of a liquidation or dissolution of the
      Company ("BUSINESS COMBINATION"), unless, following such Business
      Combination:

                                      2

<PAGE>

                  (a) the Persons with Beneficial Ownership of the Company,
            immediately before such Business Combination, have Beneficial
            Ownership of more than 25% of the combined voting power of the then
            outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the
            election of directors of the corporation (or in the election of a
            comparable governing body of any other type of entity) resulting
            from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an
            entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all
            or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or
            through one or more subsidiaries) (the "SURVIVING COMPANY");

                  (b) the individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board
            immediately prior to the execution of the initial agreement
            providing for such Business Combination constitute more than 50% of
            the members of the board of directors (or comparable governing body
            of a noncorporate entity) of the Surviving Company; and

                  (c) no Person (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries
            or any employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part thereof)
            maintained by the Company, the Surviving Company or any Person who
            immediately prior to such Business Combination had Beneficial
            Ownership of 25% or more of the then outstanding Voting Securities)
            has Beneficial Ownership of 50% or more of the then combined voting
            power of the Surviving Company's then outstanding voting securities;

      provided that no change of control shall be deemed to have occurred under
      this subparagraph (ii) if the Investor Group shall continue to have
      Beneficial Ownership of more than 25% of the then combined voting power of
      the then outstanding voting securities and no other Person has Beneficial
      Ownership of a greater percentage of the then combined voting power;

            (iii) Approval by the Company's stockholders of an agreement for the
      assignment, sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition (other
      than a transaction described in the preceding clause (ii)) of all or
      substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person (other than a
      subsidiary of the Company or other entity, the Persons with Beneficial
      Ownership of which are the same Persons with Beneficial Ownership of the
      Company and such Beneficial Ownership is in substantially the same
      proportions), or the occurrence of the same; and

            (iv) The Shares (a) are held of record by less than 300 persons, (b)
      cease to be listed on a national securities exchange, or (c) cease to be
      authorized to be quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system of a
      registered national securities association.

      f. "Disability" shall be defined as the inability for a continuous period
of six months or for a total of six months in any 12 month period of Employee to
render substantial services to the Company or to perform the daily functions
required of such Employee due to accident, illness,

                                      3

<PAGE>

sickness, or other physical or mental condition, as certified to the Company by
a physician licensed to practice medicine in the State of Georgia.

      g. "Effective Date" shall be the Closing Date as defined in the
Acquisition Agreement dated September 2, 2000, among the Company, SDI, Inc.,
USFS Acquisition Co., Meridian Associates, L.P., and HSA Properties Inc.

      h. "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

      i. "Good Reason" means the occurrence of any one of the following events:

            (i) any material breach (which is not corrected within 30 days
      following written notice from Employee to the Company specifying such
      breach) by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement (including,
      without limitation, (a) the refusal or failure of the Company to pay the
      compensation and/or benefits due under this Agreement, (b) any diminution
      (without Employee's consent), other than an insignificant or incidental
      diminution, in Employee's duties, authority, responsibilities or reporting
      requirements (whether or not accompanied by a change in title), (c) the
      failure to elect Employee to and continue his membership on the Board of
      Directors of the Company, or (d) the involuntary relocation of Employee
      outside Atlanta, Georgia or Chicago, Illinois, or

            (ii) resignation by Employee at the written request of the Company
      which has been authorized by the Company's Board of Directors.

      j. "Group" shall mean the Company and any other Affiliate of the Company,
including any subsidiary entity; and shall also include all other companies or
entities under common management as Company even if not an Affiliate.

      k. "Investor Group" means Meridian Associates, L.P., SDI, Inc., USFS
Acquisition Co., HSA Properties, Inc., and any and all of the lineal descendants
of Nicholas J. Pritzker, deceased, any and all trusts for their benefit or for
the benefit of any of their spouses, and any Person owned or controlled by such
lineal descendants or trusts and any Affiliate of any of the foregoing.

      l. "Share" shall mean a share of common stock of the Company.

      m. "Year" shall mean the twelve calendar month period commencing on the
Effective Date if the Effective Date is the first day of a given calendar month,
and as of the first day of the first calendar month immediately following if the
Effective Date is a date other than the first day of a given calendar month, and
ending on the last day of the twelfth full calendar month thereafter.

      SECTION 2.  EMPLOYMENT.

      a. Subject to the terms contained in this Agreement, the Company hereby
employs Employee and Employee hereby accepts such employment. Employee shall
serve as President and

                                      4

<PAGE>

Chief Operating Officer of the Company and shall serve and perform the duties,
exercise the powers, and have the authority given to Employee by the Chief
Executive Officer or Board of Directors of the Company.

      b. During the Term and unless otherwise agreed with the Company, Employee
shall devote his primary attention to the performance of his duties and
responsibilities on a substantially full time and exclusive basis during such
business hours and such other periods and times as may be necessary for the
proper performance of his duties. Notwithstanding any other provision to the
contrary contained in this SECTION 2 but consistent with the commitment to
perform services for the Company on substantially a full time and exclusive
basis, nothing in this SECTION 2 is intended to preclude Employee from devoting
reasonable time to (i) serving on the boards of other entities (profit or
not-for-profit), making public appearances, making speaking engagements, writing
books or articles or other similar activities and retaining all compensation
received from such activities; (ii) engaging in charitable and community
activities; and (iii) managing his own investments.

      SECTION 3.  TERM.

      The term of Employee's employment hereunder (the "TERM") shall commence on
the Effective Date and unless earlier terminated as provided in SECTION 5 of
this Agreement, Employee's employment hereunder shall continue for a period of
seven years from the Effective Date.

      SECTION 4.  COMPENSATION.  During the Term, the Company shall provide
to Employee the following:

      a. Employee shall be entitled to receive cash compensation each calendar
year equal to the Base Compensation accrued during the Term, payable on a basis
consistent with the Company's regular practice for commissioned employees. The
Company shall pay Employee an annual draw at a rate of $110,000 per year,
payable in regular installments in accordance with the Company's general payroll
practices for salaried employees ("BI-MONTHLY DRAW"), against the Base
Compensation accrued for such calendar year. If the Base Compensation accrued
and unpaid as of the end of a given calendar quarter is greater than the
aggregate Bi-Monthly Draws paid from the beginning of that year through the end
of such quarter, then the Company shall pay Employee an amount equal to such
excess in a lump sum payment within 30 days after the end of such quarter.
Within 45 days of the end of each calendar year, the Company shall deliver to
Employee a schedule setting forth its determination of the Base Compensation for
such year.

      b. Employee shall be eligible for participation in all employee welfare
and benefit plans, programs and arrangements of the Company now or hereafter
made generally available to all senior executives of the Company, as such plans,
programs and arrangements may be in effect from time to time (including, without
limitation, each retirement plan, supplemental and excess retirement plans,
annual and long-term incentive compensation plans, group life insurance,
accident and death insurance, medical and dental insurance, sick leave, pension
plans and disability plans). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Company will continue the split dollar life insurance and disability
insurance benefits provided the Employee as of the date hereof; premiums paid by
the

                                      5

<PAGE>

Company for those benefits shall not be refundable by the Employee following
termination of his employment.

      c. Prompt reimbursement of all out-of-pocket expenses properly incurred by
Employee in the performance of his duties and as shall properly be incurred by
him and vouched for in connection with the Company's business.

      d. Employee shall be granted on the Effective Date either (at the
Company's option) non-qualified stock options or stock appreciation rights
("SARS") substantially equivalent to two hundred fifty thousand (250,000)
options to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company. The exercise price
for the SARS shall be $5.00 per share equivalent. The SARS shall become vested
and exercisable with respect to one-seventh (1/7) of the SARS on each
anniversary of the Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all SARS shall
be vested and exercisable upon the termination of Employee's employment by the
Company other than for Cause or by Executive for Good Reason, or upon a Change
of Control.

      e. The Company will afford Employee a one-time opportunity to purchase up
to 400,000 newly issued shares of Common Stock within 270 days after the
Effective Date at a price of $5.00 per share. The closing of such purchase will
take place on the first business day following the Employee's notice of election
to make such purchase.

      SECTION 5.  TERMINATION.

      Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Agreement
may be terminated at any time by either party in accordance with the following
terms:

      a. DEATH. In the event of Employee's death, this Agreement shall terminate
immediately, provided, however, the Company shall be obligated to pay within 30
days after Employee's death to Employee's family or estate a lump sum payment
equal to the Base Compensation as determined in SECTION 4(a) actually earned or
accrued as of the date of Employee's death, and the Company shall for a period
of 12 months from the date of Employee's death pay to Employee's surviving
spouse and dependents cash compensation equal to Employee's Base Compensation
earned with respect to the calendar year preceding the date of Employee's death,
and continue for the benefit of Employee's surviving spouse and dependents
health insurance and other employee welfare and benefit plans, programs and
arrangements in effect at such time (if available under the plans).

      b. DISABILITY. In the event the employment of Employee is interrupted due
to the Disability of Employee, the benefits payable to Employee shall be
continued by the Company for a period of six full calendar months from the date
of last regular employment. Should such Disability continue thereafter, no
additional Base Compensation, fringe benefits, or other benefits shall be paid
to Employee, and the Company shall have the right to terminate Employee's
employment under this Agreement upon written notice to Employee. During the
period of his Disability (including any period after the date of termination),
Employee shall be entitled to continued participation for

                                      6

<PAGE>

himself, his spouse and his dependents Employee's benefits under the Company's
health and welfare plans to the extent permitted under the plans, and all vested
rights which Employee may have shall remain in full force and effect. Upon
request, Employee shall submit to tests and examination by a physician on behalf
of the Company. In the event of disagreement of the two physicians consulted by
Employee and the Company, the two shall select a third physician whose
determination shall be deemed conclusive.

      c. TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE OR FOR GOOD REASON. If Company terminates
Employee's employment hereunder without Cause or Employee resigns for Good
Reason, Company shall be obligated to pay all fringe benefits, and the Base
Compensation as determined in SECTION 4(a) accrued as of the date of termination
and shall pay Employee within three days after termination of employment a
single lump sum amount equal to the Base Compensation as determined in SECTION
4(a) with respect to the calendar year preceding such termination of employment.
The Company shall continue to pay Employee's health insurance and other employee
welfare benefits for one year following the effective date of termination of
employment. Any Base Compensation shall accrue through the date of termination.
During the Term (including the one-year period after the effective date of such
termination), Employee shall be entitled to continue participation for himself,
his spouse and his dependents under the Company's health and welfare plans and
to continued participation in all of the Company's employee benefit plans other
than so-called perquisites, and all vested rights which Employee may have shall
remain in full force and effect and shall be deemed vested.

      d. TERMINATION FOLLOWING CHANGE OF CONTROL. If Employee resigns for any
reason within 90 days following a Change of Control, the Company shall be
obligated to pay all fringe benefits, and the Base Compensation as determined in
SECTION 4(a) accrued as of the date of termination, and all vested rights which
Employee may have shall remain in full force and effect and shall be deemed
vested. Unless and until Employee is offered and accepts employment with an
Affiliate of the Investor Group, the Company shall pay Employee for one year
after such termination of employment a monthly amount equal to one-twelfth of
the Base Compensation as determined in SECTION 4(a) with respect to the calendar
year preceding such termination of employment. During the one-year period after
the effective date of such termination, unless and except to the extent Employee
is entitled to such benefits by reason of his employment with another employer,
Employee shall be entitled to continue participation for himself, his spouse and
his dependents under the Company's health and welfare plans and to continued
participation in all of the Company's employee benefit plans other than
so-called perquisites.

      e. RESIGNATION. In addition to Employee's right to resign for Good Reason,
Employee may resign from employment hereunder at any time by providing Company
with written notice at least three months in advance of the effective date of
the resignation. If Employee resigns without Good Reason, Company shall pay the
Base Compensation actually earned or accrued through the effective date of
resignation.

      f. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. Company may terminate Employee's employment
hereunder at any time effective immediately for Cause. If Company terminates
Employee for Cause, Company

                                      7

<PAGE>

shall be obligated to pay Employee's Base Compensation as determined in
SECTION 4(a) and fringe benefits accrued only through the effective date of
termination and shall not be responsible to pay any other amounts or provide
any other benefits thereafter.

      SECTION 6. OTHER PROVISIONS GOVERNING TERMINATION. Employee shall not be
required to mitigate amounts payable pursuant to SECTION 5 by seeking other
employment or otherwise. Employee's acceptance of other employment during the
Term shall not, directly or indirectly, diminish or impair the amounts payable
by the Company pursuant to SECTION 5.

      SECTION 7.  NON-COMPETITION:

      a. During his employment with the Company and for a period of three years
following termination of such employment, unless such termination is by the
Company without Cause or by Employee for Good Reason or by the Employee for any
reason within 90 days following a Change of Control, Employee will not, directly
or indirectly, Compete (as hereinafter defined) with the Company or any of its
Affiliates. "Compete" means to work for, represent, consult for or invest in
(except owning less than one-half of one percent of a publicly traded company)
as an officer, director, employee, agent, or independent contractor, for a
person or entity engaged in the Business (as hereinafter defined) anywhere
within the Restricted Territory (as hereinafter defined).
"Business" means any of the following services:

            (i) Hotel franchise system marketing, advertising and/or promotion,
      including, without limitation, specific hotel franchise sales and
      solicitation; or

            (ii) Hotel franchise system operation, management, or maintenance,
      including, without limitation, system specifications, quality control and
      policing, franchisee training, system design and implementation, hotel
      site selection formats, hotel space planning, standard system accounting,
      advertising fund support and maintenance, reservation system support and
      maintenance, and creation and maintenance of Standards, Operations or Site
      Construction Manuals.

"Restricted Territory" means any area within the United States that is (i)
within a 50 mile radius surrounding the principal offices of the Company or any
of its Affiliates at the time of Employee's termination, (ii) within a 10 mile
radius surrounding any hotel licensed or franchised by the Company or any of its
Affiliates at the time of Employee's termination, (iii) within a 10 mile radius
surrounding any hotel for which the Company or any of its Affiliates is
rendering services at the time of Employee's termination, or (iv) within a 10
mile radius surrounding the site of any proposed hotel licensed or franchised by
the Company or any of its Affiliates at the time of Employee's termination.

      b. Employee acknowledges that the above covenants are a reasonable means
of protecting and preserving the Company's goodwill, its investment in Employee
and its other legitimate business interests. Employee agrees that any breach of
these covenants will result in irreparable damage and injury to the Company and
that the Company will be entitled to

                                      8

<PAGE>

injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction. Employee also agrees
that any such injunctive relief shall be in addition to any damages that may be
recoverable by the Company.

      c. It is understood that the Employee shall not be prevented by this
Section 7, after termination of his employment, from entering into contracts or
business arrangements with any licensee or franchisee of the Company relating to
matters that do not constitute the conduct of the Business

      SECTION 8.  NONDISCLOSURE OF TRADE SECRETS AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

      a. During his employment with the Company and for a period of three years
following termination of such employment, regardless of the reason therefor,
Employee will not (except where Employee believes in good faith that disclosure
is in furtherance of his employment hereunder), directly or indirectly, copy,
reproduce, disseminate, use, exploit or disclose for the benefit of a competitor
of Company (or the Group) or for Employees' own benefit or account, or publish
and abandon to the public domain, any trade secrets of Company and the Group
(regardless of whether evidenced by a written medium of expression), including
but not limited to, those related to any of their hotel franchise systems and
pending or prospective franchisees without the prior consent of the Company,
including, without limitation:

            (i) The identity of pending franchisees and franchise applications
      or particular prospects, regardless of whether such potential or pending
      franchisees are independently known to Employee or obtained or obtainable
      from Company's data base (provided that Company policy limits access to
      such data based on a need-to-know basis), and further provided that such
      restriction shall lapse when any such pending franchisee commences
      construction of a hotel under an executed franchise agreement from Company
      or its Affiliates, or their subfranchisors;

            (ii) Trade secrets included within any of the Company's franchise,
      construction, Standards, Operations or Site Construction Manuals;

            (iii) Hotel design, construction and space plan documents, including
      working drawings, related to the Microtel Hotel Franchise System owned by
      Company (but not the Best Hotel or Hawthorne Suites Systems) and any other
      so-called "Cookie Cutter" hotel franchise system operated by Company in
      the future during the term of this Employment Agreement; and

            (iv) The specific portions of any hotel reservation system software
      (constituting proprietary trade secrets) information, utilized by the
      Company, that are owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company that are
      not protected by federal patent or copyright registration, now or in the
      future.

      b. Employee acknowledges that the nondisclosure covenants contained in
this Section are a reasonable means of protecting and preserving Company's
interest in the confidentiality of this

                                      9

<PAGE>

information. Employee agrees that any breach of these covenants will result in
irreparable damage and injury to Company and that Company will be entitled to
injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction. Employee also agrees
that any such injunctive relief shall be in addition to any damages that may be
recoverable by Company.

      SECTION 9.  NONSOLICITATION.

      a. In consideration for the compensation and benefits being paid and to be
paid by the Company to Employee hereunder or otherwise, Employee agrees that,
during his employment with the Company and for a period of three years following
termination of such employment for any reason, he shall not, in any manner
(other than as an employee of or a consultant to the Company or an Affiliate),
directly or indirectly:

            (i) employ or seek to employ, on his own behalf or on behalf of any
      other any person or entity other than the Company or any member of the
      Group, any person who was employed by the Company or any member of the
      Group during Employee's employment with the Company or any person who is
      thereafter employed by the Company or a member of the Group; unless such
      person who was employed by the Company or a member of the Group was not
      employed by the Company or a member of the Group for a period of one full
      year prior to such person's acceptance of employment with Employee or any
      other person or entity on whose behalf Employee is acting; or

            (ii) induce or attempt to induce any licensee, franchisee or
      supplier of the Company or any member of the Group to terminate its
      contractual relationship with the Company or such Group member.

      b. Employee agrees that, during his employment with the Company and for a
period of three years following termination of such employment for any reason,
other than by the Company without Cause or by Employee for Good Reason or by the
Employee for any reason within 90 days following a Change of Control, he shall
not, in any manner, directly or indirectly, solicit the Business or enter into
any contractual relationship for the Business of any person or entity who was a
franchisee or licensee of the Company or any Group member as of the termination
date, unless such person or entity was a franchisee or licensee of a competitor
of the Company as of the termination date and Employee's efforts to solicit such
Business do not violate any other covenant of this Agreement.

      c. Employee acknowledges that the above covenants are a reasonable means
of protecting and preserving Company's goodwill, its investment in Employee and
its other legitimate business interests. Employee agrees that any breach of
these covenants will result in irreparable damage and injury to Company and that
Company will be entitled to injunctive relief in any court of competent
jurisdiction. Employee also agrees that any such injunctive relief shall be in
addition to any damages that may be recoverable by Company.

                                      10

<PAGE>

      d. It is understood that the Employee shall not be prevented by this
Section 9, after termination of his employment, from entering into contracts or
business arrangements with any licensee or franchisee of the Company relating to
matters that do not constitute the conduct of the Business.

      SECTION 10. INDEMNIFICATION. The Company shall indemnify Employee to the
maximum extent permitted by applicable law and the Company's charter and by-laws
as currently in effect (copies of which have heretofore been provided to
Employee) against all costs, charges and expenses (including, without
limitation, legal fees or the provision of counsel by the Company) incurred or
sustained by him in connection with any action, suit or proceeding to which he
may be made a party by reason of his being an officer, director or employee of
the Company or the Group whether or not such action, suit or proceeding is
brought during Employee's employment by the Company. The Company will reimburse
Employee for all reasonable legal fees and disbursements incurred by Employee in
connection with the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement and all
reasonable fees and disbursements incurred by Employee in connection with any
dispute over the enforcement by Employee of his rights under this Agreement, but
only if Employee prevails in such dispute.

      SECTION 11. NOTICE. All notices or other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when delivered
personally, (b) on the business day following the day such notice or other
communication is sent by recognized overnight courier, (c) on acknowledgment of
the receipt of a facsimile of such notice or other communication, or (d) on the
fifth day following the date of deposit in the United States mail if sent first
class, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail. The addresses for such
notices shall be as follows:

      If to the Company:

      U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc.
      ATTN: General Counsel
      13 Corporate Square
      Suite 250
      Atlanta, Georgia  30329
      Facsimile No.:___________

      If to Employee:

      Steven Romaniello

      __________________

      __________________

      Facsimile No.:___________

                                      11

<PAGE>

      SECTION 12.  MISCELLANEOUS.

      a. Severability. The covenants set forth in this Agreement shall be
considered and construed as separate and independent covenants. Should any part
or provision of any covenant be held invalid, void or unenforceable in any court
of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, voidness or unenforceability shall
not render invalid, void or unenforceable any other part or provision of this
Agreement. If any portion of this Agreement is found to be invalid or
unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction because its duration, the
territory, the definition of activities or the definition of information covered
is invalid or unreasonable in scope, the invalid or unreasonable term shall be
redefined, or a new enforceable term provided, such that the intent of Company
and Employee in agreeing to the provisions of this Agreement will not be
impaired and the provision in question shall be enforceable to the fullest
extent of the applicable laws.

      b. WAIVER. The waiver by any party to this Agreement of a breach of any of
the provisions of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver
of any other or subsequent breach.

      c. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be deemed to be made in and shall
in all respects be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with
the laws of the State of Georgia (without giving effect to the conflict of law
principles thereof). No provision of this Agreement or any related documents
shall be construed against, or interpreted to the disadvantage of, any party
hereto, by any court or any governmental or judicial authority by reason of such
party having or being deemed to have structured or drafted such provision.

      d. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is intended by the parties hereto to
be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the subject matter
hereof and this is the complete and exclusive statement of the terms of their
agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof, notwithstanding any
representations, statements or agreements to the contrary heretofore made. This
Agreement supersedes any former agreements, correspondence, or other
communication governing the same subject matter. This Agreement may be modified,
and its provisions may be waived, only by a written instrument signed by each of
the parties hereto.

      e. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

      f. TERMINATION OF PRIOR EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. The Employment Agreement by
and between the Company and the Employee executed as of June 30, 2000 is hereby
terminated and shall be of no further force and effect.

                           Signature Page Follows.

                                      12

<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.

COMPANY:

U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation

By: /s/ Stephen D. Aronson
    ----------------------
    Stephen D. Aronson
    VP/General Counsel

EMPLOYEE:

/s/ Steven Romaniello
----------------------
Steven Romaniello

                                      13

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