“Choice Hotels International Deploys Innovative Web-Based Property Management System To 3,000th Hotel And Announces ...” plus 3 more

Choice Hotels International Deploys Innovative Web-Based Property Management System To 3,000th Hotel And Announces ...
Wichita firm wins extension on emergency lodging contract
8 Hotels in Scottsdale Have Now Been Awarded the Prestigious Green Eco-Leaf Rating
Council approves increase to transient lodging tax

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Choice Hotels International Deploys Innovative Web-Based Property Management System To 3,000th Hotel And Announces ...

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 12:40 AM PDT

One-of-A-Kind choiceADVANTAGE Software Solution Is Industry's Most-Widely Distributed Web-Based Proprietary System

Silver Spring, MD /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) announced today that it has deployed its proprietary Web-based hotel property management system, choiceADVANTAGE, to its 3,000th franchised hotel. The easy-to-use choiceADVANTAGE solution provides Choice brand franchisees with advanced hotel management functionality, including efficient guest servicing, sophisticated revenue management, complete groups functionality, remote access and full integration with Choice's programs. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100520/PH08377LOGO-b)

choiceADVANTAGE is currently deployed to Choice Hotels franchised properties in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The company anticipates full deployment of the solution to its entire domestic hotel portfolio of nearly 5,000 hotels by 2012. The company is also planning to roll out the system to its properties in Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, France and Germany beginning later in 2010.

"choiceADVANTAGE is an above-property, private cloud based technology solution, purpose built for use on the Internet," said Todd Davis, chief technology officer, Choice Hotels International. "The full integration with our central reservation and customer relationship management system and rate and revenue management tools provides additional value to our franchisees. choiceADVANTAGE provides a fully integrated solution to manage guest interaction, from the moment a reservation is made through the time of check out and after the stay. We look forward to deploying the solution to all of our domestic hotels and to expanding its footprint further across the globe."

As an above property, Web-based solution, choiceADVANTAGE requires a minimal initial investment for hotel owners. Consequently, there is no need to purchase and maintain costly infrastructure and hardware associated with traditional property management systems. This lower total cost of ownership continues to be of tremendous appeal to prospective Choice franchisees that also benefit from being able to access the system from any computer with Internet access.

"choiceADVANTAGE is an incredibly powerful, easy-to-use property management system, the most robust I've worked with in my hospitality career," said Jay Patel, general manager, Quality Inn & Suites, Greenville, Alabama, the hotel at which the 3,000th choiceADVANTAGE system was deployed. "It is very easy to learn and navigate around due to its user-friendly, intuitive design."

"Again and again, Choice Hotels International has proven itself as a thought leader and innovator in the use of technology to help its franchisees succeed," said Fred Bentfeld, general manager, U.S. Distribution & Services, Microsoft Corp. "We are very pleased with Choice's success with choiceADVANTAGE and use of Microsoft software to help empower its franchisees with access to the resources and information they need to improve productivity, guest satisfaction and financial performance."

The company is also currently beta testing its Rates Center management tool, developed for choiceADVANTAGE. Rates Center allows hotels to more effectively manage pricing and inventory and will be deployed beginning later in 2010.

About Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises more than 6,000 hotels, representing more than 485,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 35 other countries and territories. As of March 31, 2010, more than 600 hotels are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States, representing more than 52,000 rooms, and more than 100 hotels, representing approximately 8,200 rooms, are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in more than 20 other countries and territories. The company's Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands serve guests worldwide. In addition, via its Ascend Collection membership program, travelers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean have upscale lodging options at historic, boutique and unique hotels.

Additional corporate information may be found on the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Web site, which may be accessed at www.choicehotels.com.

Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and Ascend Collection are proprietary trademarks and service marks of Choice Hotels International.

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.

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Wichita firm wins extension on emergency lodging contract

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 07:32 AM PDT

BY JERRY SIEBENMARK

The Wichita Eagle

Corporate Lodging Consultants said it has received an extension on its contract with the federal General Services Administration to provide emergency lodging services and support during national catastrophes and emergencies.

The Wichita-based division of FleetCor said it has won a blanket purchase agreement from the GSA to provide services for about a year, beginning Sept. 7, with four, one-year options.

The company holds the current agreement with the GSA and has since it was awarded in 2005.

During hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Corporate Lodging provided lodging services for more than 700,000 people.

Through the contract, Corporate Lodging negotiates contracts with hotels and motels at managed rates and handles reservations and billing.

Corporate Lodging also provides travel services for private companies.

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8 Hotels in Scottsdale Have Now Been Awarded the Prestigious Green Eco-Leaf Rating

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 03:15 AM PDT

11 Hotels in Scottsdale are listed as environmentally friendly and 8 have recently been awarded the Green Eco-Leaf Rating by completing a 70 point comprehensive eco-audit survey administered by iStayGreen.org - the online social network of environmentally friendly travel.

Scottsdale, Arizona (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 16, 2010 -- Currently 11 hotels in Scottsdale, AZ (istaygreen.org/getcityus.cfm/city/Scottsdale/st/AZ) are listed as environmentally friendly with iStayGreen.org. 8 of the 11 properties have completed the comprehensive environmental audit administered by iStayGreen.org. Ratings range from 1 Green Eco-Leaf to 5 Green Eco Leaf and are summarized as follows:

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Properties that have completed the 70 point comprehensive eco-audit survey are Sonoran Suites of Scottsdale, Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, The Phoenician Scottsdale, Scottsdale Thunderbird Suites, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Scottsdale Camelback Resort, Hotel Valley Ho, and Comfort Inn Scottsdale. Other Scottsdale properties that are listed in the iStayGreen.org Directory of Environmentally Friendly Lodging as "Green" include Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, Best Western Papago Inn and Resort, Comfort Inn Scottsdale, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Firesky Resort & Spa A Kimpton Hotel, Hotel Valley Ho, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa, Scottsdale Camelback Resort, Scottsdale Thunderbird Suites, Sonoran Suites of Scottsdale, and The Phoenician Scottsdale .

All Green Eco-Leaf Rated properties are committed to environmentally friendly initiatives. Richard Varner, founder of iStayGreen.org states: "Simple changes helped these properties to earn their Green Eco-Leaf Rating and take the environmental lead among the 64 lodging properties in Scottsdale. It's great to see they're intent on insuring a more sustainable future in travel."

To insure a more sustainable future some of the eco-initiatives put in-place at the property include: an on-site Green Team has been created - guests are offered the ability to carbon offset their stay - low energy lighting initiatives are in-place - energy efficient lighting is installed when replacing old lighting - energy sensor initiatives are in-place - HVAC control system installed - off-grid alternative energy source utilized - sheets reuse option for multiple night stays - towels reuse option for multiple night stays - eco-initiatives are actively promoted to the public - eco-incentive programs have been created for staff - water conservation initiatives are in-place - water conserving devices are installed when replacing old fixtures - gray water is recycled - low water consumption landscaping has been installed - recycle containers are located inside guestrooms - recycle containers are located around the property common areas - reusable food & beverage service is used in lieu of disposable service items - compostable disposable service items are utilized - recycled paper products (bath tissue, facial tissue, paper towels, napkins, etc) are utilized - environmentally friendly chemicals are used in cleaning - environmentally friendly detergents are used for laundry - environmentally friendly chemicals are used for carpet cleaning - the entire property is non-smoking - cotton bedding and towels (non-synthetic) are utilized - low VOC materials (paint, adhesives, air freshener, carpet) are used at the property - bulk amenities and soaps are dispensed in guestrooms - plus much more. . iStayGreen.org allows you to filter your search to show only the environmentally friendly hotels in Scottsdale.

The lodging industry recognizes the need to create a sustainable future for travel. While there are currently only 11 Scottsdale lodging properties that have achieved the Green Eco-Leaf Rating, it is anticipated that many other properties in the area that are promoting eco-friendly initiatives also will seek to be rated. This eco-rating allows the public to know the specific environmental initiatives in place at a property, which enables the environmentally conscious traveler to make informed lodging decisions.

To find out how a property can earn the Green Eco-Leaf Rating, contact Richard Varner at 602-864-5553 or visit iStayGreen.org.

About iStayGreen.org:
With iStayGreen's rapidly growing searchable directory of 100,000 lodging properties and over 4,500 already Green Eco-Leaf Rated, it's easy for anyone to quickly locate and compare "Green" lodging worldwide. To earn a Green Eco-Leaf Rating, hotels must complete a thorough self-audit, and then are rated based on their eco-initiatives. The site also provides an effective way for hotel owners and operators to promote all of the good "Green" things they are doing. Visitors to the site can create their own profiles, add friends, recommend properties, upload photos, form groups, create and respond to forum threads, make reservations, and add comments and reviews to hotel profiles.

Contact:
Richard Varner
602-864-5553
rvarner(at)istaygreen(dot)org

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Council approves increase to transient lodging tax

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 03:01 PM PDT

Hotels Lodging

Wednesday, June 16, 2010