SILVER SPRING, Md., Feb. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Choice Privileges® is giving their loyal members the opportunity to get more from their Choice Privileges points. Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE :CHH ) one of the world's largest lodging franchisors, and RewardsPay, an innovative new online payment service company, are teaming together to enable Choice Privileges members to redeem their points for instant redemptions for popular digital goods and services at leading online merchants.

With RewardsPay, Choice Privileges points can now be redeemed for music, movies, e-books, games and more from popular merchants including: iTunes™, Aeria Games, Bigpoint, Grooveshark and many others. Redeeming points with merchants couldn't be easier. Choice Privileges members simply select the RewardsPay payment button on the checkout page of a participating merchant's website or through the Choice Privileges rewards portal, and RewardsPay facilitates a real-time transaction that lets members pay with Choice Privileges points and receive their preferred redemption reward via a real time email to the member's account.

"At Choice Hotels, we are constantly looking at relationships that can enhance our offerings to our Choice Privileges members," said Greg Brown, vice president of loyalty, promotion and relationship marketing for Choice Hotels International. "By leveraging the RewardsPay relationship, we can also extend the reach of Choice Privileges to new audiences and industries, while expanding the value of members' points beyond traditional redemption options."

This new redemption option gives Choice Privileges members even more reasons to increase their point balance. Aside from great rewards like free nights, gift cards, travel rewards and more, they can redeem points for some of the best online merchandise.

Choice Privileges is one of the industry's fastest-growing loyalty programs.  With 17 million members worldwide, the program membership has tripled in just over five years.  Membership is free and offers points good towards free nights, airline miles, gift certificates and more while staying at more than 5,500 Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brand hotels as well as Ascend Hotel Collection member hotels. For more information, visit choiceprivileges.com.

About Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises approximately 6,200 hotels, representing more than 499,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 30 other countries and territories.  As of December 31, 2012, 394 hotels, representing more than 31,000 rooms, were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States.  Additionally, 88 hotels, representing approximately 7,800 rooms, were 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, as well at its Ascend Hotel Collection membership program, serve guests worldwide.

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.

© 2013 Choice Hotels International, Inc.  All rights reserved.

About RewardsPay

RewardsPay is a consumer payment service that enables consumers to use credit card reward points, cash rewards, hotel points, and airline miles to pay for items at leading merchant websites and applications. Consumers can use RewardsPay to purchase music, movies, books, games and more from online merchants including iTunes™, Kongregate, Aeria Games, Bigpoint, Grooveshark and many others. RewardsPay enables reward programs including Discover's Cashback Bonus®, Choice Hotels Choice Privileges® and others to improve customer loyalty and redemption, while merchants benefit from a boost in sales conversions and increased basket sizes. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, RewardsPay has a seasoned managed team with decades of combined experience in alternative payments, loyalty and rewards, payments, and games. For more information, visit www.rewardspay.com. 

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.