Choice Hotels International Extended Stay Brands Join the Search for the Rebuilding Together Tradesperson of the Year™

SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) and its extended stay brands MainStay Suites and Suburban Extended Stay Hotel have joined WD-40, Sears, and On the House featuring the Carey Brothers, in supporting the 2010 Rebuilding Together Tradesperson of the Year^™. The inaugural Rebuilding Together Tradesperson of the Year™ award winner will recognize and individual who gives back to the community, and adds value to his or her skilled trade industry.

"MainStay Suites and Suburban Extended Stay Hotel are pleased to be able to work with Rebuilding Together and the other sponsors in finding our nation's most skilled and dedicated trades peoples with this new awards program," said Kevin Lewis, vice president of Ascend Collection and extended stay brands for Choice Hotels. "As a majority of our extended stay guests, skilled tradespersons are often overlooked for the credit and recognition they deserve and we're happy to be a part of that changing."

Individuals can nominate trade professionals at www.RTTradespersonOfTheYear.com from now until November 16, 2010. Six finalists will be chosen from specific skilled trade categories, including: carpenter, contractor, electrician, HVAC/plumber, painter and roofer. One grand prize winner will receive a "Big Game" getaway for two, and a package of products, tools, storage and garage organization products valued at $15,000 courtesy of WD-40 and the Sears Blue Tool Crew.

"Without the generosity and dedication of individuals and professional organizations in the skilled trades, Rebuilding Together could not accomplish its mission to improve the lives and communities of homeowners in need," said John White, vice president of business development and advocacy at Rebuilding Together.

The inaugural Rebuilding Together Tradesperson of the Year™ award program officially kicked off last month during Rebuilding Together's "Fifty for Five" in New Orleans, an event that recognized the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina by restoring 50 hurricane-devastated homes throughout the city. The event included more than 1,000 volunteers from Choice Hotels and others rehabilitating homes in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans.

For more information about the Tradesperson of the Year program or to nominate an individual for the award, please visit www.RTTradespersonOfTheYear.com.

About Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together is the nation's leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing extensive rehabilitation and modification services to those in need at no cost to those served.  With the help of everyday citizen volunteers, skilled trades people, the support of local business and major corporate partners, Rebuilding Together affiliates in America's largest cities and smallest towns make life considerably better for thousands of low-income homeowners and the communities in which they live by completing 10,000 projects per year. Rebuilding Together has programs dedicated to energy efficiency, veteran's housing, aging in place and gulf coast reconstruction.  For more information, visit www.RebuildingTogether.org. You can also follow Rebuilding Together on Twitter @rebldgtogthr or become a fan on Facebook at Facebook.com/RebuildingTogether.  

About Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises more than 6,000 hotels, representing more than 490,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 35 other countries and territories. As of June 30, 2010, more than 580 hotels are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States, representing more than 47,000 rooms, and approximately 100 hotels, representing approximately 8,700 rooms, are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in 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.

(C) 2010 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.