The first-time membership of Choice Hotels International, Inc., in the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) was big news. Now, AHLA counts the 10 largest hotel companies in the United States as members. Choice’s CEO and president, Pat Pacious, sat down with LODGING to cover a range of topics, including why Choice chose to sign on with AHLA now, the trends that are driving the extended-stay segment, the company’s new extended-stay brand, Everhome Suites, and what differentiates him as a leader and Choice as a hotel company.