The Hotel Group signed a master license agreement to franchise Days Inn hotels in China with Frontier Group Pte Ltd, a privately held company based in Singapore.  The agreement calls for the development of more than 40 Days properties during the first five years, including five hotels in the first year.  Two existing Days hotels in Beijing and Harbin will fall under the jurisdiction of the Frontier Group.

In Ireland, the Hotel Group signed two 10-year development agreements with Premier Hotel Management Limited to develop Days and Wingate properties in Ireland.  Premier, a leading Irish hotel and business center management company better known as the Prem Group, is based in Dublin and currently operates six Premier Business Centres and seven hotels in Ireland including a Days Serviced Apartment.  The company also operates four Days Serviced Apartments in the United Kingdom.

The Prem Group�s agreements call for the opening of 18 Days and 12 Wingate properties during the first five years.  In 2004 five Wingate and four Days properties are expected to open in Ireland.  In addition to developing its own Wingate and Days properties, the Prem Group will recruit independent developers to franchise the two brands in Ireland.

The Wingate agreement marks the brand�s debut outside of North America.  While new construction will continue to be the preferred mode for expansion in the United States, the brand will target high-quality existing properties in Ireland that feature construction, décor and services that complement the U.S. prototype, according to Steven A. Rudnitsky, Hotel Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Wingate properties in Ireland will be marketed to business travelers who seek unique amenities and recreation, including golf courses and spas, as well as to business clients seeking meeting and conference facilities.  They also will offer the core amenities and services that have helped make the brand successful in the United States, including high-speed Internet service in all guest rooms, all-inclusive pricing, business centers and fitness facilities, either on-property or nearby.  All guest rooms also will feature coffee and tea-making facilities, cable or satellite television and clock radios. 

�We believe there is significant opportunity to franchise outside North America because of the lack of franchised hotels abroad and the value associated with our brands,� said Rudnitsky.  �Although we expect that the demand for hotel rooms in the United States will improve this year, our expansion abroad is a strategic imperative that will expand our customer base, broaden awareness of our brands and leverage our resources.  Our budget calls for 2,200 new rooms outside North America this year.�

Cendant Corporation�s Hotel Group, based in Parsippany, N.J., is the world�s largest lodging franchisor with 6,397 open hotels representing 518,143 rooms on five continents under the Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Travelodge®, Howard Johnson®, Knights Inn®, Villager, Wingate Inn® and AmeriHost Inn® brands.  Cendant�s franchised hotels sell nearly one out of every four economy and midpriced room-nights in the United States, and Cendant franchises 11 percent of the entire U.S. hotel room supply, according to Smith Travel Research and Cendant financial data.  All hotels are individually owned and operated under franchise agreements with Cendant subsidiaries.