Ramada-Grand Forks is a part of Ramada Worldwide, which owns and operates the Ramada brand of hotels that began in 1954 when a group of investors opened its first inn in Flagstaff, Ariz. In 1959, the group adopted the name Ramada , a Spanish word for a shaded resting place , and sold its first franchise. Since then, the Ramada chain has grown to more than 1,000 locations throughout the United States and Canada. Ramada-Grand Forks offers a variety of amenities, such as high-speed Internet, heated indoor pool/whirlpool and sauna, exercise room, hotel shuttle, restaurants/lounges and coffee shops, room service, casino onsite, guest laundry room and dry cleaning services and meeting space that can accommodate up to 600 people. Ramada-Grand Forks is located in Grand Forks, N.D.