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The Pineapple has been a symbol of hospitality for centuries. According to legend, captains of New England would mount a pineapple on their fence posts when they had a safe return from sea.  This served as an invitation for family and friends to visit and share a meal together.  Today, the pineapple serves as a symbol for the highest quality in hospitality

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Choice Hotels Comfort Suites Brand
To Go Smoke Free May 1, 2007

The decision adds another 433 U.S. hotels to the ever-growing ranks of
FreshStay.com�s directory of smoke-free lodging facilities worldwide

SAINT CHARLES, MO. � APRIL 24, 2007 � The decision by Choice Hotels International® to go smoke-free at all 433 domestic Comfort Suites® hotels highlights the growing trend � and importance � of providing healthy, smoke-free environments for hotel guests everywhere. 
�The extensive survey research we conducted with Comfort Suites guests and our franchisees strongly indicated that going smoke-free was the right decision for our brand," said Janna Morrison, division president of Choice Hotels®. "More and more information is becoming available on the hazards of second-hand smoke � that information is undoubtedly influencing where our guests stay." 

With its 433 domestic Comfort Suites hotels, Choice Hotels marks the second largest smoke-free commitment from a hotel chain in the U.S., behind only Marriott�s 2,300 properties comprising 400,000 guestrooms in the United States and Canada that went smoke-free last summer. Westin-brand properties rank third, with 77 hotels in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean that went smoke free in January 2006.

Now That�s Refreshing

When Comfort Suites smoke-free policy goes into effect on May 1, 2007, the move will certainly bulk the ever-growing ranks of FreshStay® (www.FreshStay.com), an online directory of smoke-free lodging facilities worldwide.

�The number of completely smoke-free hotels in the United States grew more than 2,700 percent in 2006, and with Choice Hotels Comfort Suites brand coming into the fold, we�re already off to a great start for 2007,� says Ray Burger, president of Pineapple Hospitality, which founded FreshStayTM. �Studies show that at least four out of five hotel guests prefer to stay in a smoke-free environment. It�s encouraging  that the number of smoke-free hotels continues to grow.�

�With Comfort Suites 34,000 soon-to-be-smoke-free guestrooms, nearly 10 percent of the United States� 53,000 hotels will have gone 100% non-smoking in answer to guests� demands for cleaner, fresher stays and healthier accommodations.

�With the leadership and success of companies the caliber of Marriott,  Choice Hotels and Westin paving the way, we�re sure to see more and more hotel managers realize the smoke-free movement is not just a fad. It�s a trend that is part of doing business today,� Burger added.

Fresh Testimonials

Even before the policy change was announced, 10 percent of Comfort Suites hotels already were smoke-free. The owners of those Comfort Suites hotels report being positively affected by their smoke-free switch. 

Choice Hotels says the smoke-free move was customer-driven.. Eliminating smoking rooms also accelerates the registration andcheck-in process, and cuts down on cleaning time and costs.

"Since going smoke free, I've been pleasantly surprised. Not only have my regular smoking guests remained loyal, but for every potential smoking customer that chooses another hotel, we gain two non-smoking customers," said Adam Gough, general manager of the Comfort Suites Davis in Davis, Calif. 

Healthy Decision

In response to Comfort Suites decision, John R. Seffrin, Ph.D., chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society, applauds the growing movement to smoke-free hotels. 

�The decision to make Choice Hotels Comfort Suites 100-percent smoke-free will remove a major threat to the health of all Comfort Suites guests and workers,� Dr. Seffrin said. �In the United States alone, secondhand smoke is estimated to cause 35,000 to 45,000 deaths from heart disease and 3,000 deaths from lung cancer among nonsmokers each year. Former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona said it himself last June: There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.�

Given what we know about the dangers of secondhand smoke, Choice Hotels has made �a socially responsible decision in the best interests of its franchisees and their guests� at its 433 Comfort Suites hotels in the United States, Dr. Seffrin said. 

With an estimated 70 percent of the public � smokers and non-smokers alike � favoring smoke-free facilities, Choice Hotels new policy makes good business sense as well. Smoke-free policies have been shown to increase tourism in cities such as Los Angeles and New York City, Dr. Seffrin added. The top 10 travel destinations in the United States have all enacted smoke-free laws. 

�Corporate smoke-free policies are gaining popularity,� Dr. Seffrin said. �Comfort Suites new smoke-free policy follows the adoption of similar policies by Disney Resorts, Marriott and Westin Hotels in 2006. We hope the example set by these and other companies will encourage additional businesses to follow suit.�

Butt Out

States and districts
These states have laws banning smoking in public places (in many cases, there are exceptions, and definitions vary): 

Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota (bars and casinos exempted), Utah, Vermont, Washington, D.C. (banned in government buildings, except in Congress), and Washington. 

Cities 
Some popular tourist destinations with bans enacted on local level, often targeting smoking in restaurants and bars:

Anchorage, Alaska; Chicago (bars and restaurants exempt till July 1, 2008); Lexington, Ky; Minneapolis; Albuquerque, N.M.; Columbus, Ohio; Eugene, Ore.; Philadelphia; Burlington, Vt.; Madison, Wis.; Cheyenne, Wyo.; and Laramie, Wyo. 

Hotels
Westin, Marriott, Choice Hotels Comfort Suites brand domestic properties and Heartland Inn hotels are all 100 percent smoke-free, from guest rooms to restaurants and bars. Westin�s policy applies to hotels in North America, the Caribbean, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand and Fiji as well. The Marriott policy applies to all its brands, including Renaissance Hotels, Ritz-Carltons, Fairfield Inns, Courtyard by Marriotts, Residence Inns and Spring Hill Suites. All three Disneyland hotels are 100 percent smoke-free; Walt Disney World resorts allow smoking in designated areas. 

Other resources

www.smokefreeworld.com/nrtha.shtml
www.tobacco.org
www.smokefree.net
www.lungaction.org
About Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels International franchises more than 5,300 hotels, representing more than 435,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 40 countries and territories. As of December 31, 2006, 860 hotels are under development in the United States, representing 66,238 rooms, and an additional 70 hotels, representing 6,317 rooms, are under development in more than 15 countries and territories. The company's Cambria Suites, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, MainStay Suites and Suburban Extended Stay Hotel brands serve guests worldwide.

Additional corporate information may be found on Choice Hotels' Internet site, which may be accessed at http://www.choicehotels.com.

About Pineapple Hospitality

Headquartered in Saint Charles, Missouri, Pineapple Hospitality� is an EPA ENERGY STAR� partner bringing fresh ideas to hospitality guests� doors and owner/operators� bottom lines � including FreshStay� (www.freshstay.com), Environmentally Sensitive Amenities�, the greenSPA� luxury amenity and dispenser system, Numi� Organic Teas, Project Planet� Linen Re-Use programs, Guestat� programmable thermostats, Oxygenics� water-efficient showerheads, the Nature�s Mist� deodorization system, and dozens of other products and programs. To get a taste of Pineapple�s sweet solutions helping hundreds of hotels bolster business and cut costs, please visit www.pineapplehospitality.net, or call Ray Burger at 636-922-2285.

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Contact:

Ray Burger
President & Founder
Pineapple Hospitality, Inc.
[email protected]
 (636) 922-2285
www.pineapplehospitality.net
 

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Also See: Better Designs Today For a Greener Tomorrow; Design sustainability expert David Oakey to headline the March 14th Green Hospitality Conference hosted by Lodging Hospitality and Pineapple Hospitality, Inc. / March 2007
Bacteria-Ridden Remote Controls Are The Likely Place for Guests to get a Cold or Flu / February 2007
The Triple Win: greenSPA� Amenities Benefit Hotels'Guests, Properties' Profits and the Environment; Hotels from coast to coast reduce waste to preserve our planet / January 2007
The Triple Bottomline: Fresh BulbTM Eliminates Odors, Cuts Energy Costs and Reduces Global Warming; Pineapple Hospitality announces its Winter Light Sale / January 2007
Global Growth; The FreshStay.com online directory/network of smoke-free lodging properties connects a growing number of owner/operators with travelers from across the globe / December 2006
FreshStay® Reports 2,700% Gain in Smoke-free Hotels; With 2,300 Marriott properties' going smoke free, more than 5% of U.S. hotels will be 100% non-smoking / August 2006
Springfield�s Krystal Aire Inn & Suites Introduces Another Fresh Idea; All Non-Smoking Hotel Installs Energy Efficient, Odor-Neutralizing Light Bulbs / August 2006
FreshStay® Online Network Unites Hotels Worldwide,Fuels Smoke-Free Movement: Kentucky is the 48th state to join the FreshStay® union of nonsmoking lodging properties / June 2006
Turn Trash into Cash; Pineapple Hospitality® and Midas Consulting Identify Eight Red Flags For Hotel Operators to Improve Environmental Practices and Reduce Waste Management Expense / June 2006
PURE Solutions Signs On As A Corporate Sponsor Of FreshStay�; FreshStay�'s rapidly growing online directory of non smoking hospitality properties is the perfect match for the PURETM Rooms program, which converts guestrooms to allergy-friendly rooms within 24 hours / May 2006
Pineapple Lights Up Hotels' Bottom Lines; Hospitality Properties Reap Significant, Sustained Economic Benefits By Embracing Environmentally-Friendly, Energy-Efficient Bulbs; Lighting Retrofits Reduce Costs & Bolster Guest Satisfaction / May 2006
Top 5 States and Top 10 cities for Non Smoking hotels in the U.S.; www.freshstay.com adds 25 non-smoking properties during April -California is the number 1 state and Seattle the number 1 city / May 2006
Zontec� Sponsors FreshStay.com to Identify Best Places Where Guests Can �Breath Easy, Sleep Great�� / April 2006
200 Smoke Free Hotels Join the www.freshstay.com Online Directory in 1st Month / March 2006
120 Smoke Free Hotels Join the www.freshstay.com Online Directory in 1st Month / February 2006
Fresh Air: The New Hospitality Amenity; Pineapple Hospitality Launches FreshStay�, an Online Directory of Hotels Offering Better Indoor Air Quality / January 2006
Gift of the Year: Pineapple Hospitality�s Energy $aving Trifecta / December 2005
Pineapple Hospitality is Now the Exclusive U.S. Supplier of Environmentally Sensitive Amenities�  / November 2005
Got Pineapple? Hotelier-turned-industry-innovator Ray Burger Launches Pineapple Hospitality� � bringing fresh ideas and business-building products and programs to your guests� doors and your bottom line / September 2005


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