COVID-19 significantly altered the hospitality landscape as hoteliers responded to changing
market conditions and evolving pandemic-era guidelines. U.S. hoteliers have had to make tough decisions since March 2020, laying off or furloughing staff, scaling back amenities, and even shutting their doors. Although demand has begun to recover and has even outpaced pre-pandemic levels in some markets, recovery for the industry as a whole is still underway, and hoteliers will need to continue to make smart decisions for their businesses to make up for the past year’s losses and survive into the future. To help hoteliers looking to team up with a franchise partner, LODGING is this year spotlighting over 100 brands as part of its online guide to franchising.
The following companies are listed in alphabetical order.
Choice Hotels International
COMPANY SNAPSHOT
Total number of properties (Global): 7,138
Total number of franchised properties (Global): 7,133
Total number of properties (U.S.): 5,967
Total number of franchised properties (U.S.): 5,962
Rewards program: Choice Privileges
Contact: development@choicehotels.com
| BRAND | FRANCHISING SINCE | CHAIN SCALE | FRANCHISE FEES | PROPERTIES IN SYSTEM | ROOMS IN SYSTEM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascend Hotel Collection | 2008 | Upscale | Application: $5,000 Initial: $525 per room, $45,000 minimum Royalty: 5% GRR Marketing: 3% GRR | 219 | 27,864 |
| Cambria Hotels | 2007 | Upscale | Initial: $500 per room (new franchisees), $60,000 minimum; $750 per room (transfers/renewals), $65,000 minimum Royalty: 6% GRR Marketing: 3% GRR | 62 (5 owned; 57 franchised) | 8,058 |
| Clarion | 1986 | Midscale | Application: $5,000 Initial: $300 per room (new construction), $40,000 minimum; $550 per room (transfers/renewals), $45,000 minimum Royalty: 5.5% GRR Marketing: 3.25% GRR | 153 | 19,605 |
| Clarion Pointe | 2019 | Midscale | Application: $5,000 Initial: $400 per room (new construction), $40,000 minimum; $650 per room (transfers/renewals), $50,000 minimum Royalty: 5.5% GRR Marketing: 3.25% GRR | 30 | 2,346 |
| Comfort Hotels | 1981 | Upper-Midscale | Application: $5,000 Initial: $500 per room, $50,000 minimum; $750 per room (transfers/renewals), $65,000 minimum Royalty: 6% GRR Marketing: 3.5% GRR | 1,632 | 128,444 |
| Econo Lodge | 1990 | Economy | Application: $5,000 Initial: $250 per room (new franchise), $25,000 minimum; $500 per room (transfers/renewals), $35,000 minimum Royalty: 5% GRR Marketing: 3.5% GRR | 762 | 46,258 |
| Everhome | 2020 | Midscale Extended Stay | Application: $5,000 Initial: $50,000 (if more than 113 rooms, $300 per room additional; $500 per room for transfers/renewals) Royalty: 6% GRR Marketing: 2.5% GRR | 0 | 0 |
| MainStay Suites | 1996 | Midscale Extended Stay | Application: $5,000 Initial: $300 per room (new construction/conversion), $50,000 minimum; $550 per room (transfers/renewals), $50,000 minimum Royalty: 6% GRR Marketing: 2.5% GRR | 92 | 6,504 |
| Quality Inn | 1988 | Midscale | Application: $5,000 Initial: $400 per room (new construction), $40,000 minimum; $550 per room (transfers/renewals), $45,000 minimum Royalty: 5.25% GRR Marketing: 3.5% GRR | 1,691 | 128,093 |
| Rodeway Inn | 1990 | Economy | Application: $5,000 Initial: $125 per room (new construction), $15,000 minimum; $375 per room (transfers/renewals), $15,000 minimum Royalty: 5% GRR Marketing: 3.5% GRR | 544 | 31,212 |
| Sleep Inn | 1988 | Midscale | Application: $5,000 Initial: $300 per room (new construction), $40,000 minimum; $550 per room (transfers/renewals), $45,000 minimum Royalty: 5.5% GRR Marketing: 3.5% GRR | 409 | 28,831 |
| Suburban Extended Stay Hotel | 2005 | Economy Extended Stay | Application: $5,000 Initial: $225 per room (new franchise), $30,000 minimum; $475 per room (transfers/renewals), $30,000 minimum Royalty: 6% GRR Marketing: 2.5% GRR | 66 | 6,365 |
| WoodSpring Suites | 2015 | Economy Extended Stay | Application: $5,000 Initial: $50,000 (if more than 122 rooms, $300 per additional room) Royalty: 6% GRR Marketing: 2.5% GRR | 296 | 35,631 |
