Silver Spring, MD (July 16, 2008) � Worldwide lodging franchisor Choice Hotels International (NYSE: CHH) today announced that it has entered into an area representative agreement with Ireland-based Kasterlee Limited for the exclusive right to license and develop Choice�s Clarion brand in the United Kingdom, Germany and Russia.  Under the agreement, Kasterlee will develop a minimum of 16 Clarion branded hotels within eight years.  Kasterlee is the company�s master franchisee for its Clarion, Quality and Comfort brands in Ireland. 

There are 45 Clarion properties open across Europe, representing over 8,000 rooms.  In Europe, Clarions are full-service, 4-star luxury properties offering restaurants, room service, meeting space, fitness facilities and a number of other amenities.  Two of Europe�s most luxurious hotels to open in recent months are both Clarion brand properties: the 560-room Clarion Congress property in Prague, Czech Republic and the 558-room Clarion Hotel Sign in Stockholm, Sweden. Recognized for its quality, the Clarion brand ranked �Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Mid-Scale Full Service Hotels� in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2007 European Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study. 

�We are committed to expanding the Clarion brand throughout Europe, and this agreement will help drive the brand�s growth in three major markets,� said Mark Pearce, vice president, international, Choice Hotels International.  �We have worked closely with Kasterlee in Ireland and are extremely confident in the organization�s ability to develop and operate Clarion hotels that meet the brand�s strong commitment to guest service and operational excellence.�

�We are very excited to have the opportunity to franchise the Clarion brand in these three key markets,� said Frankie Whelehan, managing director, Kasterlee, Ltd.  �We�ve had great success with the Clarion brand in Ireland, and we are confident that this brand will be very well-received by both consumers and hotel developers in the United Kingdom, Germany and Russia.  We are now engaged in reviewing a number of sites in prominent cities that would represent great markets for the Clarion brand.�

Choice Hotels International franchises more than 5,600 hotels, representing more than 455,000 rooms, in the United States and 38 countries and territories. 

Choice Hotels:
David Peikin
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Tel: (301) 592-6361
[email protected]