Choice Hotels International Participates in 2nd Annual 'Room to Rebuild' Project in Montgomery County

SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, October 22, 2010, leading worldwide lodging franchisor Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) joins signature cause partner, Rebuilding Together for the second annual "Room to Rebuild" project, revitalizing two Montgomery County homes.

Choice Hotels has been a partner of Rebuilding Together since September 2009, debuting its "Room to Rebuild" partnership to help revitalize homes nationwide and in its own backyard. Since that time, the company has sponsored, and its associates volunteered, for numerous rebuilding projects, and in 2009 alone almost 1000 volunteers from Choice Hotels spent more than 6,000 hours on Rebuilding Together projects across the country. This year Choice Hotels associates and franchisees will focus their energy, volunteering to work on two Montgomery County homes in the Glenmont neighborhood of Silver Spring, Md.

"Over the last year, Choice Hotels made a major commitment to Rebuilding Together and it has been great to see our associates and franchisees embrace this organization and really work together to help make a difference in the communities in which we all live and work," said Bruce Haase, executive vice president of global brands, marketing and operations for Choice Hotels, who has recently joined Rebuilding Together's National Board of Directors.

The first house belongs to a 66-year-old woman, working a part-time job to take care of her son with special needs. Volunteers will make necessary repairs including replacing her furnace, air conditioning, water heater and washer/dryer, and landscaping her yard. The electric connection in her house has become a fire hazard and will also be re-wired.

The second house belongs to a young woman with a 9-year-old child and a baby due in November. She bought her grandparents' home two years ago and is struggling to make enough to pay the mortgage and other expenses. She has recently been cited for fire code regulations that need immediate attention. Volunteers will dismantle a garage that has collapsed, rebuild and repair walls, replace windows, construct a driveway and help landscape her yard. Her basement will also be analyzed by a structural engineer and reconstructed.

"Choice Hotels has become an integral part of our work to revitalize communities and restore homes across America," said Gary A. Officer, President and CEO of Rebuilding Together. "We are happy to continue our relationship with Choice Hotels for the second annual 'Room to Rebuild,' and look forward to another successful event."

Lunch and remarks will be given at the second house located at 2804 Randolph Rd, Silver Spring, Md. 20902. Media and the public are invited to attend from at 1:20 p.m.

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.

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.

© 2010 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.