Choice Hotels Adds Five More Hotels To Its UK And Ireland Portfolio

Choice Hotels Europe, part of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, today announced five more properties, located in TheMidlands andHampshire inEngland and inDublin, Ireland, have been added to its portfolio.

TheMidlandsnow benefits from two more Choice Hotels brand properties with the addition of Quality Hotel Wolverhampton, formerly The Connaught Hotel, and Quality Hotel Birmingham Airport/NEC, re- opening its doors for business under new management. This brings the number of Choice Hotels properties in the region to seven.

The 60-room Quality Hotel Wolverhampton is a short walk from Wolverhampton City Centre and offers easy access to major roads and highways. Quality Hotel Birmingham Airport/NEC is now owned and operated by Hospitality First, under a franchise agreement with Choice Hotels Europe. The hotel is a short distance fromBirminghamInternational Airport, Birmingham National Exhibition Centre and the City Centre.

The Makeney Hall Hotel is now Clarion Collection Hotel Makeney Hall. The magnificent, 46-room Victorian country mansion is situated in the heart ofDerbyshireand set in six acres of landscaped gardens. Close to East Midlands Airport, the property is ideally situated for local business destinations and the nearby Peak District National Park.

Clarion Collection Hotel Winchester Royal dates back to the 16th century. This distinctive property is located near the center of the historic town and close to major roadways, theHampshirebusiness destinations and the scenic South Hampshire Coast.

Both the Winchester and Makeney properties are part of the strategic agreement signed with Akkeron Hotels Group Limited earlier this year, which has so far resulted in seven Akkeron hotels operating under Choice Hotels franchise agreements in the UK.

Dublin'sgibson hotel has joined Choice's Ascend Hotel Collection, a portfolio of distinctive hotels, providing guests with an upscale boutique hotel experience backed by one of the world's largest hospitality franchisors. Located inDublin'snew cultural hub, the 252-room hotel is 10 minutes from the airport and a short stroll along the Liffey River to the city center. The property features cutting-edge design, and many rooms include private balconies with stunning views of interior courtyards or theDublinskyline.

Since the beginning of this year, Ascend Hotel Collection has opened 38 hotels, many in top business and leisure destinations likeNapa Valley,MiamiandCape Cod. TheDublinproperty brings the Ascend Hotel Collection roster to 108 independent hotels worldwide. The gibson hotel is now one of four Choice brand hotels located in the Irish capital city.

In addition to the five properties joining the network, the current Comfort Hotel St. Albans has become the four-star Clarion Collection Hotel St. Albans. The former home ofSamuel Ryder, founder of the Ryder Cup, dates back to the Edwardian era. The 60-room hotel has undergone extensive refurbishment to provide greatly enhanced hotel facilities.

All six properties offer meetings and conference rooms with facilities for 80 – 500 guests and free wireless Internet access throughout.

Duncan Berry, UK CEO, Choice Hotels Europe commented: "We are pleased to welcome these five hotels to our system of European properties, which offer outstanding service and facilities to leisure and business travelers alike."

The Choice Hotels Europe portfolio of franchised hotels offers business and leisure travelers a full spectrum from premium economy to luxury hotels. Choice Hotels Europe franchises nearly 500 hotels acrossEuropealone. Brands franchised by Choice inEuropeinclude Clarion, described as four- to five- star, Quality, which sits in the three-star bracket and provides midscale full-service offerings, and Comfort, Choice Hotels International's largest brand worldwide and known for value and reliability.