Choice Hotels Continues To Expand Presence In Caribbean

(Friday, January 13, 2006) - Choice Hotels continues to increase its presence in the Caribbean with 8 hotels already open and 3 more under development in the region. "The opening of the Clarion International hotel in Curacao marks the continuation of a corporate initiative to expand the presence of Choice branded hotels in the Caribbean," said Ron Burgett, national vice president of Franchise Sales and Development. "Our focused sales and development efforts have really paid off."

Current Choice properties open in the Caribbean include: Quality Inn Governors Harbour, Bahamas; Comfort Suites Paradise Island, Bahamas; Quality Inn Nassau, Bahamas; Comfort Suites Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands; Quality Hotel Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Clarion Hotel Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Comfort Suites, Turks & Caicos Islands Providenciales; and the Comfort Inn San Juan, Puerto Rico.

"I think hoteliers are realizing the benefits of partnering with one of the world's largest hotel franchise companies," Burgett added. "All the properties in the Caribbean region benefit from Choice's high-producing Central Reservations System, a regional marketing co-op that serves all Choice Caribbean properties, operations training and quality assurance management."

"Choice Hotels' marketing and development efforts in the Caribbean are now coming to fruition," said Patrick Thomas, director of Caribbean Development. "We're now seeing multiple development interest in many of the islands."

Part of Choice's efforts to expand its presence in the Caribbean region includes the creation of a minority incentive program, which offers financial incentives to African-American, Hispanic/Latino and Native American entrepreneurs who franchise a Choice branded hotel and hold a 51% ownership stake in the franchise.*

"Increasing the number of Hispanic/Latino hotel owners in our system is a key corporate initiative," said Raul Fuentes, manager, Emerging Markets and Customer Segmentation. "The incentive helps potential minority franchisees take advantage of a powerful opportunity to build a business that can become a solid foundation for future growth and success".

Representatives from Choice Hotels will be on hand at the Caribbean Hotel Associations' Marketplace event to answer questions and discuss development opportunities in the region. The event will take place January 15 - 17 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

For more information about Choice Hotels Development opportunities, please contact: Patrick Thomas, director of Caribbean Development, at (301) 495-0888; or Raul Fuentes, manager, Emerging Markets and Customer Segmentation for Hispanic/Latino Development, at (240) 626-5970.

About Choice Hotels International. Choice Hotels International is one of the world's largest lodging franchisors, marketing more than 5,000 hotels open or under development in more than 41 countries under the Cambria Suites, Clarion, Quality, Comfort Suites, Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brand names. For more information on Choice, visit the company's Web site at choicehotels.com.

Media Contact:
Robin Ferrier
Tel: (301) 592-6719
Fax: (301) 592-6177
robin_ferrier@choicehotels.com


Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Cambria Suites, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn are proprietary trademarks and service marks of Choice Hotels International.

* In order to qualify for the incentive, the franchisee must meet Choice's current qualifications for new franchisees. This allowance is payable when the hotel opens for business. Terms and Conditions are available at choicehotelsfranchise.com.

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