ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Part of the company's longstanding commitment to diversity, Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) announces the creation of the Choice Hotels Owners African American Alliance (CHOAAA). As the hotel industry's only franchisee-focused group dedicated to Black and African American hoteliers, CHOAAA will provide ongoing representation, support and advocacy for these underrepresented entrepreneurs.
"The racial and social inequality challenges facing our nation and industry have moved us as a company to do more, building on the work we've been committed to for decades," said Patrick Pacious, president and chief executive officer, Choice Hotels. "As part of our pledge to cultivate a culture of diversity, equity and belonging, we have taken steps to decisively move us forward — including creating a franchise owner's council supporting Black and African American hoteliers. It is our goal to provide a platform for owners to express their voices and unique experiences directly with us, and we look forward to working together with this dynamic group of leaders to advance diversity across the hospitality industry."
CHOAAA's mission is to provide a forum for Black and African American hotel owners of Choice-brand hotels to engage directly with the company's leadership and emerging markets team in the development and execution of key initiatives. This dialogue is intended to help enhance the diversity of Choice Hotels' ownership base by increasing representation of the Black and African American community. The objectives of CHOAAA include:
"As the only lodging company with a team dedicated exclusively to growing a diverse franchisee base, we take great pride in our history of inclusion. However, we recognize there is always room to do more. The creation of CHOAAA is a vital step towards achieving our vision," said John Lancaster, regional vice president, emerging markets, franchise development and owner relationships. "CHOAAA will help us grow an even more diverse owner base so we can further extend the well-deserving opportunity of hotel ownership to those who have historically been less represented in the hospitality industry."
Choice Hotels recently held its inaugural CHOAAA meeting, which included the following eight delegates as part of its initial membership:
"Our hats are off to Choice for initiating the Choice Hotels Owners African American Alliance. I believe Choice is the only major hotel company focused on this area and it is an honor to head this group of inaugural delegates," said Nesbitt. "I expect to determine, directly from fellow African American owners, what the barriers to growth are and to lead the group in collaborating with Choice leadership to dissolve those barriers and develop solutions. We, as owners, must capitalize on this unique opportunity."
Choice Hotels has a long history of creating and supporting a diverse franchisee base. For nearly 15 years, the company's emerging markets team has been dedicated to making small business ownership a reality for underrepresented minority entrepreneurs. Since the program began, the company has awarded and financially supported over 250 franchise agreements, including 34 deals in 2019. This year, the company has awarded 22 contracts to Black, Hispanic and Native American entrepreneurs so far, despite the pandemic. In addition, Choice is introducing a hospitality internship program for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which will debut in 2021.
For more information about Choice Hotels' emerging markets program and development opportunities, visit choicehotelsdevelopment.com/incentives. In addition, to learn more about Choice's initiatives and efforts to promote diversity, equity and belonging throughout its organization and beyond, view the company's 2020 Environmental, Social and Governance Report.
About Choice Hotels®
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With more than 7,100 hotels, representing nearly 600,000 rooms, in over 40 countries and territories as of September 30, 2020, the Choice® family of hotel brands provide business and leisure travelers with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upscale, midscale, extended-stay and economy segments. The award-winning Choice Privileges® loyalty program offers members benefits ranging from everyday rewards to exceptional experiences. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
This communication includes "forward-looking statements" about future events, including anticipated development and hotel openings. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including construction delays, availability and cost of financing and the other "Risk Factors" described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, any of which could cause actual results to be materially different from our expectations.
Addendum
This is not an offering. No offer or sale of a franchise will be made except by a Franchise Disclosure Document first filed and registered with applicable state authorities. A copy of the Franchise Disclosure Document can be obtained through contacting Choice Hotels International at 1 Choice Hotels Circle, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20850, development@choicehotels.com.
© 2020 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.
SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.
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