Over Half of American Summer Travelers Would Spend Bonus Dollars on Gas or Dining

Two Stays Pays with a $50 Gift Card for Consumers this Summer at Choice Hotels*

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May 16, 2012, 09:00 ET

SILVER SPRING, Md., May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent survey conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Choice Hotels among over 2,100 U.S adults, over four-in-five (87%) of Americans planning to travel for leisure this summer report that if they had an extra $50 to spend on their vacation, they'd be most likely to spend it on gas (31%), dining (25%), entertainment (21%), or retail shopping purchases on their trip (10%).

Well good news for those consumers, because this summer, two stays pays! Travelers who stay just two separate times at a Choice brand hotel will earn a $50 gift card that can be used at their choice of either a gas station, restaurant, retail store, or more.* Guests who book at least two separate stays for arrival between May 17 and August 15, 2012 will be able to earn enough bonus Choice Privileges rewards points to redeem them for a $50 gift card at select promotional merchants.

"At Choice Hotels, we're all about value and this is a way for us to deliver more of just that for our guests when they stay with us by giving them extra funds to spend on the rest of their vacation," said Greg Brown, vice president of loyalty, promotion, and relationship marketing for Choice Hotels.

Americans planning to take vacations this summer also report that they consider breakfast to be the number one area where hotels can provide the most value for guests' money (75%). Most Americans also indicate that comfortable beds (62%), a best rate guarantee (62%), free parking (60%), free high-speed Internet access (58%), and discounted advanced purchase rates (51%) are the highest ranked areas where hotels can provide good value.

"Guests at most of our hotels already benefit from the savings of free Wi-Fi, free breakfast and free parking but now that Two Stays Pays, they'll have an extra $50 or even more in their pockets this season—and that can make all the difference for a family out on the road traveling," added Brown.

U.S. and Canadian residents who travel throughout North America, Europe, Mexico, Central America, Australasia, and the Caribbean can participate in the Two Pays Stays promotion.** Consumers only need to be members of the Choice Privileges rewards program and register at ChoiceHotels.com to qualify for this summer promotion and make their reservations through ChoiceHotels.com or 800.4CHOICE. There's no limit to the number of $50 gift cards that members can earn during the promotion when they register first at ChoiceHotels.com, which also offers the assurance of its Best Internet Rate Guarantee so guests know they're getting the lowest rate for their hotel anywhere online—or they get a free night on us!***

Choice Privileges is the rewards program from Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) and one of the industry's fastest-growing loyalty programs. Membership is free and offers points good towards free nights, airline miles, gift certificates and more while staying at more than 6,000 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 Collection member hotels.

For more information or to register for the promotion and earn an unlimited number of gift cards this summer, visit ChoiceHotels.com.

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Choice Hotels International from April 13-17, 2012 among 2,199 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Rocco Loverro at Choice Hotels. For the context of this survey and news release, "vacation trip" will be defined as 100 miles or more roundtrip from home and "summer" as the months of June, July, and August.

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through our North American and European offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us – and our clients – stay ahead of what's next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

About Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises more than 6,100 hotels, representing more than 495,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 30 other countries and territories. As of December 31, 2011, more than 400 hotels were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States, representing more than 30,000 rooms, and approximately 80 hotels, representing approximately 7,000 rooms, were 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. website, 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.

*Member must register at ChoiceHotels.com before arrival and book their stays at ChoiceHotels.com or 800.4CHOICE at qualifying rates. Choice Privileges member number must be provided upon check-in. After a second qualifying stay with arrival between 5/17/12 and 8/15/12, you will be awarded enough bonus points to reach the 8,000 point level, which can be redeemed until 9/30/12 for one (1) $50 gift card at defined retailers on ChoiceHotels.com/giftcard. For Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality®, Sleep Inn®, Clarion®, Cambria Suites® or Ascend Collection® hotels, a stay is defined as any number of consecutive nights at one hotel regardless of check-ins or check-outs. For Econo Lodge®, Rodeway Inn®, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel®, or MainStay Suites® hotels, a stay is defined as two (2) or more consecutive nights at one hotel regardless of check-ins or check-outs. Allow 72 hours from check-out for points to post. Only members earning this bonus qualify to redeem for the $50 gift card. Only members that register for the promotion are eligible to earn the defined promotional gift cards during the promotion. Terms and conditions apply to $50 gift card options. See card for details. You must maintain an address in the U.S. (including U.S. territories) or Canada to be eligible for this promotion. For Choice Privileges program details, eligible rates, eligible countries and point redemption rules, visit choiceprivileges.com.

** Excluding Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden and including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.