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Econo Lodge Hotels to be the First National Economy Hotel Chain to
Promote Green Practices Across an Entire Lodging Portfolio

The Nearly 900 U.S. Properties will Implement Choice Hotels
Room to be Green Program in 2013


SILVER SPRING, Md., Feb. 20, 2013 -- Econo Lodge hotels, franchised by Choice Hotels International, one of the world's largest hotel companies, today announced it will be the first national economy hotel chain to promote Green practices across an entire lodging portfolio. All Econo Lodge hotels in the U.S. will implement the Choice Hotels Room to be Green (RTBG) program in 2013. The program is designed to reduce environmental impact and waste, meet the changing expectations of today's environmentally conscious guests and potentially lower operational expenses, (including energy and water costs) at the property level.

Econo Lodge, which currently has almost 900 domestic hotel properties open or under development, will require every hotel to implement the RTBG program. The RTBG program, which is available to all hotels in the Choice Hotels system, was developed based on extensive research. The program outlines three mandatory elements of its Room to be Green initiative; additionally, the program includes optional steps that each property may undertake with its Green practices. The following three elements will be mandatory for all Econo Lodge hotels:
  • Energy Conservation: Hotels must use energy efficient indoor lighting solutions, such as compact fluorescent (CFL) or LED bulbs in all guest fixtures, excluding ceiling lights.
  • Water Conservation: Hotels must offer all guests a towel / linen re-use program.
  • Recycling and Waste Reduction: Hotels must also provide a recycling program for staff and guest use.
"The Econo Lodge brand is proud to be rolling out this program – it shows that at the economy level we take sustainability and operational efficiency very seriously. Going Green is important to our guests who range from millennial through to baby boomers -- they are conscious of how we treat the earth. We listened to what they wanted and what our franchisees wanted and we are delivering," stated Craig Mustard, head of domestic brand management for Econo Lodge.

Across the Econo Lodge portfolio, this conservation initiative could potentially reduce annual water usage by six million gallons and energy usage by twelve million kWh (*calculations noted below). Econo Lodge is also making a contribution to plant 817 trees (representing one for each of the Econo Lodge hotels currently open) in tandem with American Forests, an organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of forests around the world.

To date, approximately 100 Econo Lodge hotels have already joined the Room to be Green program. The compliance deadline for all hotels to be enrolled in the program is December 31, 2013. Hotels that participate in and meet all requirements receive a designation from Choice Hotels as a hotel that "Supports Green Practices" which guests will see when shopping EconoLodge.com. For more information about Econo Lodge, visit www.EconoLodge.com.

*Methodology used for the calculation of energy and water reduction is based on data and assumptions taken from the AHLA Green Guidelines and Econo Lodge specific criteria.

About Econo Lodge
Econo Lodge hotels are easy on the wallet for both leisure and business travelers. With over 800 locations, we are easy to find. We don't charge extra for high-speed Internet or premium movie channels. Start your day with our free "Easy Starts™ continental breakfast featuring coffee, juice and baked goods. Econo Lodge makes it Easy when you're on the road.

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.

Contact:

Sarah Lee
(301) 628-4397
[email protected]

www.choicehotels.com

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Also See: Choice Hotels International to Add 46 Hotels through Agreement with Colony Capital and Aimbridge Hospitality; The Former Jameson Inns will be Franchised under the Quality Inn, Comfort Inn and Econo Lodge Brands / January 2013

Cambria Suites Enters New York with Construction Beginning on Three New Hotels in Times Square, Chelsea and White Plains; Choice Hotels International, Concord Hospitality, We Care Trading Co. and Meyer Jabara Hotels Celebrate Ground Breaking for Properties Slated to Open 2013-2014 / December 2012

Cambria Suites Brand to Expand to New Markets; Enters Development Agreements for Hotels in West Orange, New Jersey; West Palm Beach, Florida; and Williamsport, Pennsylvania / October 2012

Choice Hotels International Names C.A. Anderson as Vice President of Development for Cambria Suites / August 2012

Choice Hotels International Opens 88 New Hotels in Q2 2012 / August 2012

Choice Hotels International Names Louise Slark as Vice President, Compensation and Benefits / June 2012

Choice Hotels International Recognizes its Top Franchise Hotels & Owners at 2012 Convention; Woman of the Year Awarded to Kitty Friere, Top Hotels Awarded Hotel of the Year, Premier Alliance and Developer of the Year Recognitions / May 2012

Choice Hotels International Opens 46 New Hotels in Q1 2012; A 14% Increase over Q1 2011 / May 2012

Choice Hotels Promotes Stephanie Lykins to Vice President, Talent Development / April 2012

Choice Hotels International Appoints Alexandra Jaritz and Michael Murphy as Company Officers / March 2012

Robin Pence Appointed as Vice President of Public Relations for Choice Hotels International / March 2012

Choice Hotels Opens 5,000th Domestic Franchised Property with the Opening of the Comfort Suites in Katy, Texas / February 2012

Choice Hotels International Appoints Barbara T. Alexander to its Board of Directors / February 2012

Choice Hotels Names Simone Wu as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary / February 2012

Choice Hotels Promotes Sarah Searls to Vice President of Business and Analytic Services / February 2012

Choice Hotels Launches Plan to Redefine and Redesign its Comfort Brand Family / January 2012

Choices Hotels Appoints John Tague to its Board of Directors / January 2012

Membership with Ascend Collection from Choice Up by Nearly 35% over 2010 / December 2011

Ascend Collection from Choice Adds The Wesport Inn in Connecticut and the GreenLinks Golf Villas at Lely Resort in Naples, Florida / November 2011

Ascend Collection from Choice Adds Three New Properties in October 2011 in California, Michigan and Pennsylvania / October 2011

The 431-room Xona Resort Suites in North Scottsdale, Arizona Becomes Zona Hotel & Suites Scottsdale as Part of Multi-Million Dollar Renovation and Reflagging; With Membership in Choice Hotel's Ascend Collection, the Property is Owned by Sunstone US Hotel and Operated by O'Neill Hotels & Resorts / October 2011

Ascend Collection from Choice Hotels Debuts in Washington, D.C. Market with the 261-suite Virginian Suites Arlington Owned by Virginian Associates, LLC and Operated by Modus Hotels, LLC / September 2011

Choice Hotels International and Foulger-Pratt Companies Break Ground for New Choice Hotels Corporate Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland / August 2011

Choice Hotels International Opens 28 New Hotels in July 2011 / August 2011

Ascend Collection from Choice Hotels Debuts in Arizona with the 431-room Xona Resort Suites in North Scottsdale Owned by Sunstone US Hotel and Operated by O'Neill Hotels & Resorts / July 2011

Choice Hotels Executes Lease for New Corporate Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland / July 2011

Choice Hotels International Opens 27 New Hotels in June 2011 / July 2011

Ascend Collection from Choice Hotels Debuts in New Hampshire with the 40-room Lane Hotel in Keene Operated by Colwen Management / June 2011

99-key Ben Lomond Suites Historic Hotel in Ogden, Utah, Joins Ascend Collection from Choice Hotels / March 2011

New Owner of XONA Resort Suites in Scottsdale, Arizona, Sunstone Realty Advisors, Chooses Tower Rock Hotels and Resorts to Manage Property / February 2011

Ascend Collection by Choice Hotels Continues Growth with Addition of Eleven Properties in Final Months of 2010 Bringing Total to 70 Open or Under Development / February 2011

Three Canadian Properties Join Choice Hotels Ascend Collection; The Château Moncton and Château Saint John, New Brunswick, and Hotel Royal William, Québec / January 2011

Choice Hotels International Opens 33 Hotels in November in 14 States and Seven Countries Adding More than 2,500 rooms / December 2010

Choice Hotels International Opens 24 New Hotels in October Adding More than 1,600 rooms / November 2010

Choice Hotels Offers Significant Incentives for Hotel Owners Interested in Converting an Existing Hotel to the Quality, Clarion or Econo Lodge Brand; Incentives Include Discounted Application Fees, No Royalty Fees and Cash Back Upon Opening / August 2010

To Stimulate Brand Growth Econo Lodge Offering Up to $25,000 in Incentives for Conversion Properties / Aug 2003

Choice Offers Development Incentive for Conversions to Quality Brand; Up to $85,000 in Savings for Conversion Properties / Aug 2002
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