SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 30, 2006 - The executive leadership
team of Choice Hotels International, Inc., (NYSE: CHH) today announced
that the company has reorganized to a brand-centric structure in order
to drive systemwide growth, strategic agility and financial performance
over the long term. The new organizational structure consists of brand-
category management teams, which include the company's upscale and extended
stay market brands (Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites and Suburban Extended
Stay Hotels), mid-market brands (Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites and Sleep
Inn), full- service market brands and international operations (Quality
Inn, Clarion, Clarion Collection and the company's international division),
and the economy market brands (Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn).
These category-specific brand divisions are responsible for brand strategy,
operations, sales and service, and are supported by strategic services
and centralized business units providing global support in the areas of
business intelligence, marketing, information technology, hotel property
performance, product innovation, and hotel procurement services.
"These changes support our efforts to build a high-performance organization
and position us to leverage our brand equity and core strengths in order
to take advantage of opportunities for further growth, innovation and leadership
in the lodging industry," said Joseph M. Squeri, president and COO. "Our
brand centric approach fully integrates our brands and our business strategies
and allows our brand teams to place singular focus on understanding, anticipating
and meeting the unique needs of key customer segments across all touch
points," Squeri added.
In support of this reorganization, the following members of Choice's
management team will provide broad oversight and leadership over the company's
10 brands:
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David Pepper (formerly senior vice president, franchise growth and performance)
has been named to the newly created position of division president, Cambria
Suites and extended stay market brands, which currently include Cambria
Suites, MainStay Suites and Suburban Extended Stay.
-
Janna Morrison (formerly senior vice president, customer care and technology
services) has been named to the newly created position of division president,
mid-market brands, which include Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites and Sleep
Inn.
-
Bruce Haase (formerly senior vice president, international) has been named
division president, select market brands (which include Quality and Clarion)
and international operations.
-
Kevin Bradt (formerly senior director, economy brands) has been named
division president, economy market brands, which include Econo Lodge and
Rodeway Inn.
In addition, the following members of Choice's management team will provide
leadership and oversight for the company's strategic services and centralized
business units:
-
Wayne Wielgus will continue to lead the company's marketing strategies
as executive vice president and chief marketing officer, providing oversight
for marketing services, including revenue growth, frequent traveler loyalty
programs, eCommerce, intermediary marketing, and advertising.
-
Dave Goldberg (formerly senior vice president, brand value) has been named
senior vice president, brand solutions. In his new role, he will
be responsible for driving new product and service innovations to increase
profit opportunities for the company's franchised hotels, enhance the guest
experience, and build greater brand equity for the company's portfolio
of hotels. Such product and service innovations include those related
to hotel design, hotel openings, and the company's business to business
procurement services for Choice's franchised hotels.
-
Dan Head will continue in his position as senior vice president, business
intelligence and strategy, providing oversight for strategic initiatives
and information technology. In addition, he will take on the added
responsibility of providing technology-related property systems support
to the company's franchised hotels.
-
Alexandra Jaritz (formerly vice president, franchise operations) has been
named to the newly created position of vice president, property level performance.
In her new role, Alexandra will focus on initiatives to drive hotel property
performance, including oversight for quality ssurance, revenue management,
and training.
-
Aaron Katz (formerly vice president, brand value) has been named to the
newly created position of vice president, development and real estate operations.
In his new role, Aaron will manage the company's development marketing
efforts, including relicensings and business development analytics, and
work with the real estate development function to seek opportunities to
strategically grow the business.
"By taking a more holistic approach to brand management, we will be able
to leverage the collective strength of our brands, as well as build collaboration
across the entire organization in order to improve the speed and quality
of our decision-making," said Charles A. Ledsinger, vice chairman and CEO.
"I am confident that the combination of our high-caliber management teams,
sound business strategies and newly aligned brand organization will enable
us to take advantage of the many opportunities for growth and innovation
in the industry for the benefit of our shareholders, franchisees, hotel
guests and associates," said Ledsinger.
About Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels International franchises more than 5,200 hotels,representing
more than 430,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 40 countries
and territories. As of June 30, 2006, 687 hotels are under development
in the United States, representing 53,765 rooms, and an additional 65 hotels,
representing 5,993 rooms, are under development in more than 20 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.
Certain matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-
looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities law. |
