Building on its 15-year history of collection hotels globally, Choice Hotels EMEA has commenced a refresh of its Ascend Hotel Collection portfolio across the region which currently comprises a network of more than 70 unique, independent boutique hotels.
In 2008, Choice Hotels International became the first hotel group to launch a hotel collection in the US. The Ascend Hotel Collection quickly gained momentum thanks to four iconic hotels that joined the same year setting the foundation for its long-term growth and expansion in the US and Europe.
The refreshed EMEA Ascend Hotel Collection proposition will see hotels offer a ‘Haven of Hygge’ in some of the region’s most captivating destinations with a design direction that balances striking character with convivial warmth, and contemporary freshness with authentic neighbourhood touches.
The hotels’ unique story is at the heart of the refreshed Ascend brand, with each property free to develop its own hallmarks within the Ascend positioning framework.
Commenting on the Ascend Hotel Collection brand refresh, Choice Hotels EMEA CEO, Jonathan Mills, said: “Today marks the last milestone in our journey to re-energise our entire EMEA brand portfolio as our Ascend Hotel Collection now joins hundreds of Comfort, Clarion, and Quality hotels across the region that are already working to transition to the refreshed brands.
“Our refreshed Ascend Hotel Collection brand is carefully crafted to offer both clarity and definition, always keeping the customer experience at the forefront while driving revenue and optimising operational efficiencies.
“As part of Choice Hotels, every Ascend Hotel in the collection benefits from our global scale and distribution, while retaining the distinctive character and creative autonomy of a family-run independent. Whether it’s a centuries-old country estate or a contemporary urban design hotel, Ascend Hotels offer guests one-of-a-kind experiences and environments with the assurance of a warm and welcoming community.
“Guests staying at any of our wonderfully original Ascend Hotel Collection properties will find a modern, charismatic brand that welcomes every guest as family.”
The Ascend Collection refresh responds to independent consumer research conducted in the UK, France and Germany, which revealed upscale travellers in the EMEA region seek unique, character-rich environments that don’t follow a standard formula – along with a warm, homely atmosphere that inspires a sense of belonging.
Ascend Hotel Collection franchisees will begin shaping their unique identity and developing their brand stories over the next two years, with support from Choice Hotels EMEA.
Hotels will also benefit from Choice Hotels easy-to-use toolkit, designed to help franchisees capture their own narrative and transform it into authentic guest experiences.
Building on their stories, Ascend Hotels will be given the freedom to identify their own unique experience touchpoints or ‘hallmarks’ with each working to develop on three types of hallmarks that together will highlight their individuality and elevate their most distinctive qualities:
Choice Hotels EMEA portfolio now encompasses Clarion, Quality, Comfort, Sleep Inn, and the Ascend Hotel Collection. In Europe, the Ascend Collection currently comprises more than 70 hotels in the Nordic region, in Spain, in Ireland, in Italy, and in Turkey.
For further information on Choice Hotels, please visit: https://www.choicehotels.com/en-uk.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About Choice Hotels EMEA
Choice Hotels EMEA™ is represented under the Ascend Hotel Collection™, Clarion™, Quality™, Comfort™ and Sleep Inn® brands, in France, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With nearly 7,500 hotels, representing almost 630,000 rooms, in 47 countries and territories as of December 31, 2022, the Choice® family of hotel brands provides business and leisure travelers with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upper upscale, upper mid-scale, midscale, extended-stay and economy segments. The award-winning Choice Privileges® loyalty programme offers members a faster way to rewards, with personalised benefits starting on day one. For more information, visit: https://www.choicehotels.com
Forward-Looking Statement
This communication includes "forward-looking statements" about future events, including anticipated hotel openings and a brand refresh for the regional brand portfolio of Choice Hotels EMEA. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including construction delays, availability and cost of financing, acceptance of brands, and the other "Risk Factors" described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of Choice Hotels International, Inc., any of which could cause actual results to be materially different from our expectations.
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