SILVER SPRING, Md.,
Feb. 13, 2013 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc.
(NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest lodging franchisors, announced
a considerable amount of system growth with the addition of 128 newly
opened franchised properties during the fourth quarter of 2012.
Further, the company has executed a total of 214 new domestic contracts
within the fourth quarter of 2012, a 67-percent increase over the same
period of the prior year.
46 of these new additions, which previously operated as Jameson Inns, opened in
mid-December under the Quality Inn, Comfort
Inn and Econo Lodge flags across the
southeast and midwest regions of the United States.
These openings represented the largest single conversion transaction in
the company's history, excluding the acquisition of an entire brand.
The fourth quarter openings included hotels in 33 U.S. states and 11
countries, adding nearly 10,000 guestrooms to the company's existing
495,000 rooms. Choice Hotels
welcomed these additional properties under a spectrum of flags -- Comfort
Inn, Comfort Suites, Clarion, Quality, MainStay Suites,
Suburban Extended Stay, Econo Lodge, Rodeway
Inn and Ascend Hotel Collection.
Year-to-date, the company has opened a total of 308 hotels.
"The fourth quarter hotel openings and development agreements reflect
the tremendous appeal of the Choice
Hotels array of brands," said David
Pepper, senior vice president of global development for
Choice Hotels
International. "We expect to continue that momentum through 2013
with further expansion, particularly in the upscale segment with more
highly desirable destinations for Ascend Hotel Collection
and the ongoing development of Cambria Suites in key urban markets."
Select properties that opened during this year's fourth quarter include:
The Postcard Inn on the Beach, an Ascend
Hotel Collection property – St. Pete Beach, Florida
The sea air and white-sand beaches of St. Pete Island
are right out your front door at this hip, chic, retro-casual boutique
property. Located just minutes from downtown St. Petersburg,
The
Postcard Inn on the Beach offers 196 rooms each and
every one uniquely designed to reflect a time when surfing was king and
road trips ruled. The retro feel is updated with modern amenities
including complimentary property-wide Wi-Fi, in-room workstations and
flat-screen TVs. Nearby local attractions include The Dali Museum
(the largest collection of Salvador Dali's art outside Spain),
major league sports and amusement parks. The on-site PCI Bar
& Grill offers excellent dining, and there's no better way to
end the day than to pull up a beach chair, sit back and enjoy a drink
around the property's beautiful fire pit. Kids will have a blast, and
for a fee, four-legged "kids" are welcome, too! The Ascend
Collection of Hotels welcomes The Postcard Inn,
an independent hotel owned by an affiliate of the Starwood
Capital Group.
Hotel Clifton, an Ascend Hotel Collection
property – Miami Beach, Florida.
The intimate, eco-friendly Hotel
Clifton is located in the heart of trendy South Beach. Although the
exterior keeps its historic Art Deco feel, this beautifully remodeled
property was Florida's first Gold-certified LEED
hotel. Each of its 35 rooms is equipped with the finest energy
conservation technology available including rainfall shower heads,
high-efficiency faucets, low VOC paint and an occupancy-sensing energy
management system to reduce consumption. Steps away from beaches and South Beach nightlife,
guests will also enjoy in-room amenities that include high-speed
wireless and wired internet, flat screen televisions, and two-line
speaker phones. With organic wines and cocktails, the Clifton's bar is
a unique treat. The morning's continental breakfast also offers locally
grown, seasonal organic specialties.
Clarion Inn – Arlanda, Sweden
Perfect for the business or vacation traveler, the 414-room Clarion
Hotel Arlanda Airport in
Stockholm-Arlanda, Sweden is
located near dozens of museums and historic sites, fabulous restaurants
and outdoor activities that include golf and horseback riding. The
property's 44 meeting rooms can easily accommodate banquets for 500 or
a conference crowd of 900. In-room, guests will be pleased to find
high-speed wireless internet access, high-definition cable television,
a mini-bar, desk, coffee maker, refrigerator and hair dryer. With
several dining options on-site – including a spectacular 12 th
story restaurant with jet-set views – guests will also enjoy a free
full breakfast, fitness center, and business center. Four-legged guests
are welcome for an additional fee.
Comfort Inn & Suites – Page, Arizona
Spectacular desert views await visitors at the new Comfort Inn & Suites property in Page, Arizona.
Located along the Colorado River close to Horseshoe Bend and Antelope
Canyon, guests will enjoy a range of outdoor sports
including water skiing, hiking, biking, fishing, golfing and raft
trips. At the end of the day, they'll be delighted by the chance to
relax alongside the indoor heated pool and indoor hot tub. A free hot
breakfast with eggs, meat, fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal and their choice
of waffle flavors will get the next day started right. Each of the
spacious guest rooms includes a coffee maker, desk, flat-screen
television with cable, hair dryer, iron and ironing board. Guests will
enjoy a well-equipped workout room, business center and free wireless
internet access.
During the fourth quarter of 2012, Choice Hotels opened this complete list of
properties:
- 10 new Comfort Inn,
Comfort Suites, Comfort Inn & Suites, and Comfort Hotel brand
hotels in Chandler, Arizona; Gallup, New Mexico; Page, Arizona;
Demopolis, Alabama; West Monroe, Louisiana; Indianapolis, Indiana;
Waco, Texas; Saint-Priest, France; and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
- 70 new Quality Inn,
Quality Inn & Suites, Quality Suites, and Quality Hotel brand
hotels in Prescott, Arizona; Stockbridge, Georgia; Oakwood, Georgia;
Pittsfield, Massachusetts; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Montgomery,
Alabama; North Little Rock, Arkansas; Greensburg, Indiana; Hernando,
Florida; Van Horn, Texas; Washington, Utah; Arkansas City, Kansas;
Bolingbrook, Illinois; Newport News, Virginia; Franklin, Ohio;
Columbus, Ohio; Escanaba, Michigan; Dayton, Ohio; Peoria, Illinois;
Rutland, Vermont; Live Oak, Florida; Waterbury, Connecticut; South
Bend, Indiana; Albertville, Alabama; Auburn, Alabama; Sylacauga, Alabama;
Newnan, Georgia; Lagrange, Georgia; Arab, Alabama; Jasper, Alabama;
Ocala, Florida; Decatur, Alabama; Selma, Alabama; Crestview, Florida;
Lancaster, South Carolina; Palm Bay, Florida; Auburn Hills, Michigan;
Cheraw, South Carolina; Seneca, South Carolina; Thomaston, Georgia;
Goldsboro, North Carolina; Johnson City, Tennessee; Laurinburg, North
Carolina; Lake City, Florida; Bessemer, Alabama; Bainbridge, Georgia;
Carrollton, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Rome, Georgia; Louisville,
Kentucky; Gallatin, Tennessee; Decherd, Tennessee; Greeneville,
Tennessee; Richmond, Kentucky; Conyers, Georgia; Alcoa, Tennessee;
Harrisonburg, Virginia; Pooler, Georgia; Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Oxford,
Alabama; Scottsboro, Alabama; Jesup, Georgia; Waynesboro, Georgia;
Kingsport, Tennessee; Memphis, Tennessee; Ballarat,Victoria, Australia;
High Level, Alberta, Canada; Winkler, Manitoba, Canada; and Lyon, France.
- 15 new Clarion Inn,
Clarion Inn & Suites and Clarion Collection brand properties
in Sacramento, California; Florence, Kentucky; Fort Wayne, Indiana;
Chattanooga, Tennessee; Terre Haute, Indiana; Essington, Pennsylvania;
Lafayette, Louisiana; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Secaucus, New Jersey; New
Cumberland, Pennsylvania; Aurora, Colorado; Blythe, California; Los
Angeles, California; Narbonne, France; and Arlanda, Sweden.
- 4 new extended stay
properties, Suburban Extended Stay brand hotels in Gainesville,
Georgia; Chester, Virginia; Tempe, Arizona; and Phoenix, Arizona.
- 25 Econo Lodge and Econo
Lodge Inn & Suites brand hotels in Canton, Georgia;
Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Manchester, Vermont; Pico Rivera, California;
Marietta, Georgia; Bridgeport, Michigan; Sheboygan, Wisconsin;
Anderson, Missouri; Madison, Alabama; Orlando, Florida; Bay City,
Michigan; Watertown, South Dakota; Minot, North Dakota; Lumberton,
North Carolina; Santee, South Carolina; Ridgeland, South Carolina;
Greenville, South Carolina; Iron Mountain, Michigan; Tupelo, Mississippi;
Batesville, Arkansas; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Pensacola, Florida;
Brooks, Alberta, Canada; Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; and Wanganui, New
Zealand.
- 11 new Rodeway Inn and
Rodeway Inn & Suites brand hotels in Bishop, California;
Martinez, California; Concord, North Carolina; Stratton, Colorado;
Wesley Chapel, Florida; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Colton, California;
Laurens, South Carolina; Dalton, Georgia; Santee, South Carolina; and
Encinitas, California.
- Three Ascend Hotel
Collection properties in Billings, Montana; Miami Beach, Florida;
and St. Pete Beach, Florida.
About Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels
International, Inc. franchises approximately 6,200 hotels,
representing more than 499,000 rooms, in the United States
and more than 30 other countries and territories. As of December 31, 2012, 394 hotels,
representing more than 31,000 rooms, were under construction, awaiting
conversion or approved for development in the United States.
Additionally, 88 hotels, representing approximately 7,800 rooms, were
under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in
more than 20 other countries and territories. The company's Comfort
Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn,
Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended
Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway
Inn brands, as well at its Ascend Hotel Collection
membership program, serve guests worldwide.
Additional corporate information may be found on the Choice Hotels International, Inc.
website, which may be accessed at www.choicehotels.com.
Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International,
Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep
Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban
Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, Rodeway
Inn and Ascend Hotel Collection are
proprietary trademarks and service marks of Choice Hotels International.
(C) 2013 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.
|