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Choice Hotels International Enters Strategic Relationship with
UK Operator Akkeron Hotels Group Limited

Initially Converting Nine Properties Totaling 611 Rooms
to Choice Hotels Brands


SILVER SPRING, Md., Jan. 23, 2013-- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), announced today a strategic relationship with Akkeron Hotels Group Limited, a well-known regional hotel operator in the United Kingdom, that is expected to initially result in nine Akkeron hotels operating under Choice Hotels franchise agreements in the UK, representing an almost 25% increase in the Choice Hotels UK hotel portfolio and an additional 611 rooms.

This agreement forms a critical part of Choice Hotels' growth strategy to offer financial support to boost development in key international markets, such as Europe, by using the company's capital as a targeted incentive to hotel developers and operators to enter into franchise agreements located in strategic locations and markets.

Under the agreement, five Akkeron hotels in Bristol, Bury St. Edmunds, Colchester, Peterborough and Kings Lynn will be rebranded under the Quality brand and another four hotels located in Winchester, Darlington, Ringwood and Stevenage will operate under the Clarion Collection brand. The newly branded Choice hotels, Quality Hotel Bury St. Edmunds, Quality Hotel Peterborough and Clarion Collection Cromwell Stevenage, are anticipated to come online within the Choice Hotels Europe system by the end of February. The remaining Quality and Clarion Collection brand hotels are expected to come online throughout 2013.

"We are delighted to have entered into this relationship with Akkeron Hotels Group Limited. Akkeron is a strong hotel operator and an ideal company for Choice Hotels Europe to work with and grow its presence in the UK. The agreement initially will focus on rebranding nine hotels with the opportunity to discuss rebranding further Akkeron hotels in the future," commented Duncan Berry, UK CEO, Choice Hotels Europe.

"Our relationship with Choice Hotels is about developing a long term strategy of increasing UK marketshare for both companies. It is clear that Choice Hotels is prepared to invest in the UK market in terms of brand and distribution. Alongside the change in brand comes a significant investment into the nine hotels to reposition those businesses along with the conversion to the Clarion Collection and Quality brands," added Matthew Welbourn, MD of Akkeron Hotels Group Limited.

"This agreement underscores the fact that Europe is a key focus of growth for Choice Hotels, and in order to substantially increase the size of the portfolio we have made significant investments in technology in the European marketplace, " said Mark Pearce, senior vice president, International Division, Choice Hotels International. "This includes introducing choiceADVANTAGE, our cloud-based hotel property management system in the UK and Europe which provides our franchisees with a fully integrated solution to manage guest interaction from the moment a reservation is made through check-out and even after the stay."

The Choice Hotels European portfolio of franchised hotels offers business and leisure travelers a full spectrum of premium economy to luxury hotels. Choice Hotels Europe franchises nearly 500 hotels across Europe alone. Brands franchised by Choice Hotels Europe include Clarion, which is described as four to five star rated; Quality, which is three star rated and provides a mid-scale full service offering and Comfort, which is two to three star rated and is Choice Hotel's largest brand worldwide, known for value, customer service and reliability.

Benefits of operating under a Comfort, Quality or Clarion brand include increased reservations delivered through Choice Hotels International's central online booking system and third-party travel websites, the choiceADVANTAGE property management system, Choice's marketing support and powerful seasonal and national advertising campaigns, as well as the company's large and experienced sales force which is able to negotiate with major travel agents. Choice Hotels International also operates an award-winning global loyalty rewards program with more than 16.5 million Choice Privileges members.

About Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises approximately 6,200 hotels, representing more than 495,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 30 other countries and territories. As of September 30, 2012, 360 hotels, representing 29,000 rooms, were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States. Additionally, 75 hotels, representing approximately 7,000 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 as 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.

© 2013 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

About Akkeron Hotels Group Limited
Akkeron Hotels Group Limited is a growing UK focused mid-market and regional hotel business comprising 3* and 4* hotels. The Company intends to build a portfolio of up to 150 regional hotels and it is expected that Akkeron's interests in these will comprise a blend of freehold ownerships, leases and management contracts. Akkeron Hotels' portfolio consists of 34 hotels, employing 1,630 people, with a combined turnover of c£62m making it one of the largest regional hotel operators in the UK. Akkeron Group was formed in 2008 by James Brent, previously Global Head of Real Estate & Lodging Investment Banking at Citigroup, with a focus on real estate-based operational businesses.

Akkeron's key areas of activity include:
  • Management-intensive real estate portfolios e.g. hotels
  • Urban regeneration focused on the South and South West of the UK
  • Large-scale agriculture in emerging markets
Akkeron pursues a partnership approach to its investment programme, leveraging its skills across real estate, development, financing and corporate finance.

Contact:

Sally Brown
[email protected]
+ 44 (0) 208 871 0536
+ 44 (0)7917 091782
or
Sarah Lee
(301) 628-4397
[email protected]

Akkeron Hotels Group Limited
Nick Greaves
+44 (0) 7825 277 120

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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

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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

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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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