Ascend Hotel Collection Membership's Century House Hotel Pays It Forward

Upstate New York hotel exceeds half-million mark in serving community meals

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Dec 22, 2014, 10:00 ET

ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Century House in Latham, New York, a proud member of the Ascend Hotel Collection, a portfolio of distinctive independent hotels by Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), embraces the spirit of giving all year long. Through its Enjoy One Share One program, the hotel owners and staff generously give back to the community that has supported them for 65 years while providing some of the finest accommodations in the Albany region.

Century House volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club

Century House, an Ascend Hotel Collection member

Enjoy One Share One's The Book of Giving

This charming, family-owned hotel and restaurant, opened in 1949 by Jim and Dorothy O'Hearn, is steeped in the tradition to provide an inviting, comfortable place for friends, family, neighbors and travelers to enjoy a quality meal, share experiences and feel at home. From the very beginning, The Century House has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the community.

The property takes great pride in its dining experience which became the perfect platform to tackle one of the community's largest needs – hunger. In 2009 the hotel staff started the Enjoy One Share One program in which they donated one meal to a local food bank for each meal served in the restaurant. Success from the first year not only encouraged the hotel ownership and staff to continue the program, but also to invest more deeply and to expand the program. Now, the hotel donates one meal to a local food bank for each restaurant meal and each room night sold. To date, the hotel has donated more than half a million meals to feed adults and children in need throughout the Albany area.

"We love this program because our passion is hospitality – making people feel welcome and well cared for," said Colin DeMers, managing partner at The Century House. "We know that people can fall on hard times. I've seen regulars from our restaurant who now dine with us at the soup kitchen. That could be any one of us someday. We are proud that the Century House staff has the skills to be able to give back to our community in meaningful ways."

The hotel shares the story of the Enjoy One Share One program through its Book of Giving, a large leather bound volume of comments which chronicles the hotel's charity. Guests are encouraged to write in the "Book of Giving" at the end of their meal or stay, serving as a reminder of the donations made in the honor of hotel and restaurant patrons. The pages represent a written history of the Century House's generosity through the years. Guest comments include:

"Your generosity to your community is great evidence of your professionalism and caring. May God continue to bless your work and your people."

"Be blessed as you have blessed!"

"This is a beautiful idea that helps many!"

"This makes a very enjoyable meal much more meaningful! Thank you so much for your community involvement."

"Gives great meaning to great food, salut!"

"We feel blessed to have been able to dine here and help the food bank."

"I hope the people in your program can prosper and one day comes here as guests and share a meal with someone else."

"What a great example you are setting for all of us."

Further, through a partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Northeast New York, the staff makes monthly volunteer outings to a rotation of local soup kitchens to serve and give the regular soup kitchen staff a day off. During the month of December, the hotel staff will serve meals, host a holiday celebration and distribute donated gifts at the Sheridan Hollow Drop-In Center, which serves the chronically homeless, at-risk individuals and low income families, just two blocks from the New York State Capitol.

"This hotel has an impressive community service story and we are proud of the continued work and service they provide in the neighboring areas," said Michael Murphy, senior vice president of upscale brands for Choice Hotels International. "We hope that their success and philanthropic spirit will encourage other properties to look into giving back to their local communities."

The Enjoy One Share One program includes all hotel business activity including room nights and meals sold for large events. It continues to gain recognition throughout the region influencing guests to make conscious decisions to eat and stay at The Century House based on the program's generous record of giving.

For more information, visit www.ascendcollection.com and www.thecenturyhouse.com.

About Ascend Hotel Collection
The Ascend Hotel Collection membership program made its debut in late 2008 and now has 129 hotels open throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Central America, Australia and the Caribbean. The eclectic portfolio of upscale, independent hotels appeals to the growing number of people who like to immerse themselves in the destination and live like the locals when they travel. For more information, visit www.ascendcollection.com.

About Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises more than 6,300 hotels, representing more than 500,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 35 other countries and territories. As of September 30, 2014, 422 hotels, representing more than 32,000 rooms, were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States. Additionally, 94 hotels, representing approximately 8,600 rooms, were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in more than 15 other countries and territories. The company's Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria hotels & suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands, as well as its Ascend Hotel Collection membership program, serve guests worldwide.

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

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

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SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.