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CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL 2005 ANNUAL REPORT 7
JULY
■ ChoiceCaribbean.com, once maintained by a Caribbean-based company, receives a redesign and is brought
in-house to be hosted and maintained by Choice.
■ The Endorsed Vendor Directory is reorganized into more descriptive categories to assist hotels in fi nding the
right company for their specifi c needs.
AUGUST
■ In an effort to drive more business to its hotels, Choice partners with the American Express Corporate
Card division to be the exclusive mid-scale hotel chain in the American Express Savings at Work program.
■ In response to the hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast region, Choice establishes a program for relief efforts,
which results in Choice, its associates, and franchisees contributing nearly $300,000 to the American
Red Cross, as well as providing an additional $160,000 in contributions from Choice and its franchisee
associations for relief to employees of the company’s franchised hotels affected by the hurricanes.
SEPTEMBER
■ Choice acquires Suburban Franchise Holding Company Inc., and its subsidiary, Suburban Franchise Systems Inc.
With the addition of the 67 properties in the Suburban Extended Stay Hotels chain, Choice enters the economy
extended-stay lodging segment and immediately becomes its largest franchisor with nearly 9,000 rooms online.
■ The company celebrates the grand opening of its 5,000th franchised hotel as Choice President and Chief Executive
Offi cer Charles A. Ledsinger Jr. presides at ceremonies for the Comfort Suites hotel of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
■ Choice’s Board of Directors names John T. Schweiters, a prominent Washington D. C. businessman, as a
director, replacing long-time member Dr. Jerry Robertson.
■ The Board also announces a two-for-one stock split, effected in the form of a stock dividend, and also raises
the dividend more than 15% to a post-split payout of 13 cents per share per quarter.
OCTOBER
■ The Summit Group breaks ground for the fi rst Cambria Suites hotel, which will be located in Boise, Idaho.
■ The Rodeway Inn brand launches a new fee structure that greatly enhances ease of entry into the Rodeway
Inn system, and jumpstarts the brand’s growth potential in the burgeoning budget hotel segment.
NOVEMBER
■ In a survey of AAA travel agents, Choice receives a 92% rating – the highest score received by a hotel brand in the
mid-scale segment – when respondents say they are “Satisfi ed” or “Very Satisfi ed” with Choice as a hotel partner.
DECEMBER
■ Choice’s Board authorizes a three million share increase in the share repurchase program.
■ The Board also extends the employment agreement with Charles A. Ledsinger Jr., president and chief
executive offi cer, for four years. Under the extension, his contract runs until December 2009.
■ Choice Club Plus, the frequency program for Choice Hotels Canada, becomes part of the Choice Privileges
rewards program, offering Choice Privileges members in the United States the ability to earn points at
Choice hotels in Canada, and Canadian residents the ability to earn points at both mid-scale hotels in the
United States and Canada.