ROCKVILLE, Md. - Nov. 4, 2013 // PRNewswire // - Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, added 107 properties globally during the third quarter of 2013. Additionally, the company experienced robust franchise sales activity in US, executing a total of 129 new domestic franchise agreements during the third quarter of 2013, a 45-percent increase over the same period last year.
Hotel openings this quarter included properties in 36 U.S. states and 11 countries. This development activity adds more than 9,700 guestrooms to the company's existing rooms, which now stand at more than half a million. The Choice Hotels International portfolio of franchised hotels offers leisure and business travelers a full spectrum of options from economy to upscale hotels and resorts.
Development for Choice Hotels International's iconic Comfort family of brands continues to grow. The third quarter witnessed more hotels opening with the new generation "Truly Yours" design for both the Comfort Inn and Comfort Suites brands. These prototypes for the Comfort brands were created in collaboration with Gensler, a leading architecture, design and strategy firm with world-renowned brand and hospitality practices. The overall new aesthetic is contemporary while still maintaining the Comfort brand's signature warm and inviting look and feel.
Interest in the brand has been strong, particularly since the roll-out of the Comfort Re-Imagined brand improvement program. At its annual convention in May, Choice Hotels International announced that it would commit $40 million in incentives to the Comfort brands' landmark property improvement incentive program, which is intended to accelerate and expand re-investment in the core system. Licensees have expressed a high level of enthusiasm for this program, as evidenced by the several hundred incentive applications received during this past quarter.
"Choice's flagship Comfort brands have a tradition of success and continue to perform. This quarter, with our Comfort Re-Imagined brand improvement program gaining momentum, we experienced significant development activity for both Comfort Inn and Comfort Suites," said David Pepper, senior vice president of global development for Choice Hotels International. "That solid foundation allows Choice Hotels to continue to advance into the upscale tier and more international markets through the strategic growth of our emerging Cambria Suites brand and the rapid expansion of Ascend Hotel Collection."
Ascend Hotel Collection, Choice's fast growing portfolio of independent upscale hotels and resorts, continues to gain prominence as it expands into more key destinations. Ascend Hotel Collection properties can now be found throughout the world in North America, Europe, the Caribbean, Central America, and Australia. During the third quarter of 2013, the first Ascend property opened in Ireland, the gibson hotel in Dublin; and the Collection added another property in Australia, The Castlereagh Boutique Hotel in Sydney.
Choice Hotels International's emerging, all new-construction upscale brand, Cambria Suites, continues its strategic expansion into major markets. During the third quarter of 2013, the brand celebrated a groundbreaking event for the Cambria Suites Phoenix-Desert Ridge in Arizona. Desert Ridge is one of Arizona's largest master planned communities. Cambria Suites Phoenix-Desert Ridge will also serve as home to the brand's national training kitchen for its on-property restaurants, called Reflect, and its new innovative business catering concept, which was also unveiled during the third quarter of 2013.
Select properties that opened during this year's third quarter include:
Comfort Suites Fargo, N.D. – This 82-suite, new construction hotel is among the first new generation prototype Comfort-branded hotels to showcase the brand's new, more contemporary look and feel. The Comfort Suites Fargo, North Dakota is conveniently located off Interstate 94 in the heart of the rapidly growing south side of Fargo. Guests have easy access to West Acres Shopping Center, Scheels Arena and Red River Zoo. This Fargo, ND hotel is also convenient to the Fargodome, The Children's Museum at Yunker Farms, the Roger Maris Museum and the new Sanford Health Medical Center, a $500 million, 371 bed state-of-the-art facility scheduled to open in 2016. This property offers guests free services and amenities, which include hot breakfast, a daily newspaper, and wireless high speed internet access. The Comfort Suites Fargo, North Dakota also features a heated indoor pool, plenty of free parking, state of the art fitness center, and a 24/7 business center with access to printing, faxing and copying services. All guest rooms include a microwave and a refrigerator. Some suites include a pull-out sofa.
Sleep Inn & Suites, Hennessey, Okla. – This 50-room hotel is conveniently located near the Roy Cashion Monument Chisholm Trail, Memorial Park and Turkey Creek Golf Course. Newly constructed, this property showcases the brand's simply stylish Designed to Dream design concept, which was also developed in collaboration with leading architecture, design and strategy firm with world-renowned brand and hospitality practices, Gensler. Designed to Dream offers guests a welcoming and restful environment with warm colors, fresh graphics and soothing nature-oriented art. At the Sleep Inn & Suites Hennessey, Oklahoma, travelers can expect a relaxing stay as well as the following free services and amenities: hot breakfast, wireless high-speed Internet access, daily newspaper and fitness center. Meeting space can accommodate groups of up to 20 people.
Located waterfront on the Crystal River, the 196-room Plantation is widely known for offering guests the rare experience of swimming with manatees in their natural habitat as the only location in North America where humans can legally interact in the wild with the endangered animals. In addition to the natural springs of King's Bay and more than 25,000 surface acres of pristine lakes, rivers, wildlife refuges and state parks, the Plantation offers a number of exceptional amenities, including an Aveda spa; three dining outlets; waterfront pool; The Adventure Center and Dive Shop with boat and kayak rental, snorkel tours, scalloping adventures and manatee encounters; an 18-hole championship golf course and 9-hole lagoon course; and more than 12,000 square feet of newly-renovated flexible event space.
the gibson, An Ascend Hotel Collection Member, Dublin, Ireland
Located in Dublin's new cultural hub, the gibson hotel is a short stroll along the Liffey River to the city center. The 252-room property features cutting-edge design, high energy ambiance and guest comfort. Visitors to the hotel can enjoy a destination restaurant and bar; state-of-the-art gym; relaxation areas; courtyards; business center; and extensive square feet of meeting space with sweeping views of the Dublin cityscape.
Spanning two floors, the conference area has nine contemporary meeting rooms accommodating up to 300 people and is equipped with free Wi-Fi and the latest audio-visual technology. Also part of the gibson hotel experience: a relaxation area with sauna and steam room; Japanese copper baths on the terrace with mountain vistas; and courtyards, with towering bamboos and water features. Guests can enjoy a Zen-like atmosphere in the heart of the bustling city. Guestrooms feature custom furnishings, a soothing neutral color palette, plush beds and natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows. Many rooms include private balconies with stunning views of tranquil interior courtyards or the Dublin skyline.
DOMESTIC
Ascend Resort Collection and Ascend Hotel Collection
View Original for Full Data Table
Comfort Inn and Comfort Inn & Suites
View Original for Full Data Table
Comfort Suites
View Original for Full Data Table
Sleep Inn & Suites
View Original for Full Data Table
Clarion
View Original for Full Data Table
Econo Lodge and Econo Lodge Inn & Suites
View Original for Full Data Table
Quality Inn and Quality Inn & Suites
View Original for Full Data Table
Rodeway Inn and Rodeway Inn & Suites
View Original for Full Data Table
Suburban Extended Stay Hotel
View Original for Full Data Table
INTERNATIONAL
Ascend Hotel Collection
View Original for Full Data Table
Clarion
View Original for Full Data Table
Quality
View Original for Full Data Table
Comfort
View Original for Full Data Table
Econo Lodge
View Original for Full Data Table
Certain matters discussed in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, our use of words such as "expect," "estimate," "believe," "anticipate," "will," "forecast," "plan"," project," "assume" or similar words of futurity identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current beliefs, assumptions and expectations regarding future events, which in turn are based on information currently available to management. Such statements may relate to projections of the company's revenue, earnings and other financial and operational measures, company debt levels, ability to repay outstanding indebtedness, payment of dividends, and future operations, among other matters. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors.
Several factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements of the company to differ materially from those expressed in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, changes to general, domestic and foreign economic conditions; operating risks common in the lodging and franchising industries; changes to the desirability of our brands as viewed by hotel operators and customers; changes to the terms or termination of our contracts with franchisees; our ability to keep pace with improvements in technology utilized for reservations systems and other operating systems; fluctuations in the supply and demand for hotels rooms; and our ability to manage effectively our indebtedness. These and other risk factors are discussed in detail in the Risk Factors section of the company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2013 and our quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises more than 6,300 hotels, representing more than 500,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 30 other countries and territories. As of September 30, 2013, 371 hotels, representing more than 29,000 rooms, were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States. Additionally, 84 hotels, representing approximately 7,200 rooms, were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in more than 15 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. All hotels are independently owned and operated.
SkyTouch Technology is an initiative of Choice Hotels International, Inc. that develops and markets cloud-based technology products to help industry-wide hoteliers improve their efficiency and profitability.
Choice Hotels International offers the Choice Privileges rewards program. With more than 18 million members worldwide, is one of the fastest growing hotel loyalty programs in the travel industry.
Additional corporate information can be found on the Choice Hotels International, Inc. web site, which may be accessed at www.choicehotels.com.
Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Choice Privileges, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, Ascend Hotel Collection and SkyTouch Technology are proprietary trademarks and service marks of Choice Hotels International, Inc.
© 2013 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.
SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.
Choice Hotels International is one of the largest and most successful lodging franchisors in the world.