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Choice Hotels' News

Choice Hotels International Announces Companywide Reorganization for Greater Growth and Agility
Company Moves to a Brand-Centric Organizational Structure
PRNewswire-FirstCall
SILVER SPRING, Md.

The executive leadership team of Choice Hotels International, Inc., 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:

  * 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
    assurance, 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/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward- looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities law. Such statements are based on management's beliefs, assumptions and expectations, which in turn are based on information currently available to management. Actual performance and results could differ from those expressed in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond Choice's ability to predict or control. The company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 details some of the important risk factors that you should review.

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, Inc.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: david_peikin@choicehotels.com

SOURCE: Choice Hotels International

CONTACT: Anne Madison, Vice President, Corporate Communications, +1-301-
592-6723, or David Peikin, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, +1-301-
592-6361, both of Choice Hotels International, Inc.

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The Radisson brands, including Park Plaza, Country Inn & Suites, and Park Inn by Radisson, are owned in the Americas regions by Choice Hotels.
Outside of the Americas, the brands are owned by Radisson Hotel Group, an unaffiliated company headquartered in Belgium.