Lodging giant Choice Hotels International announced the addition of 46 hotels to its family of brands.
Under
an agreement reached with affiliates of Colony Capital, LLC,
including Colony Financial, Inc., and hospitality management company
Aimbridge Hospitality, the properties will be franchised under the
Quality Inn, Comfort
Inn and Econo Lodge brands. The addition of
these hotels, which all formerly operated as Jameson Inns, isChoice
Hotels' largest single conversion transaction, excluding brand
acquisitions.
"This
is a significant addition of hotels to our system and a true
testament to the strength of our brands," says Steve Joyce ,
President and CEO of Choice Hotels International.
"Investors, developers and franchisees know the great value our
brands deliver. We are thrilled to bring these hotels into our system
and to be working with two prominent hotel companies."
Thomas
J. Barrack, Jr. , Chairman and CEO of Colony, said, "While we
considered many brands for our hotels, we recognized that Choice is a
leader in the midscale lodging segment and are delighted to be
franchising with them."
The
newly Choice-branded hotels are located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Under this agreement, the
hotels will be managed by Dallas-based Aimbridge Hospitality, one of
the nation's leading hotel management firms.
"We
view this as a tremendous opportunity to reposition these properties
and enhance their operating performance as well as expand our
relationship with Choice Hotels," said Dave Johnson ,
President and CEO of Aimbridge Hospitality. "In doing so this
collaboration will help open the
door to pursue additional investment and
management opportunities together."
Under
the Quality Inn, Comfort Inn and Econo Lodge brands, the
renovated hotels will provide for an enhanced guest experience.
Forty-two properties will operate as Quality Inn hotels, two
as Comfort Inn hotels and two will be branded as Econo
Lodge hotels.