ROCKVILLE, Md.—Choice Hotels International announced that its Suburban Extended Stay Hotel brand is supporting services for those who have served the country. The hotel brand is partnering with Warrior Canine Connection, a Veterans’ therapy organization, as they build a new headquarters, retreat and training facility complete with lodging for Warrior trainers. In this partnership, the hotel brand is bringing some “talent and treasure” to help America’s bravest.
Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) is unique in its utilization of Canine Connection Therapy to assist returning combat Veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while on active duty. This therapeutic service dog-training program aims to help address symptoms of post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries, while assisting recovering service members as they reintegrate back into their families and communities. The organization also trains veterans in a career path as a service dog trainer, which will help to reduce long wait times for clients in need of these highly trained animals.
“Choice Hotels and Suburban Extended Stay have the deepest gratitude for the sacrifices all veterans have made in service to our country. Many of our hotels are located close to military installations, so we feel strongly about supporting this community,” said Caragh McLaughlin, head of domestic brand management for Suburban Extended Stay Hotel. “The Suburban Extended Stay Hotel brand is proud to be able to partner with a pioneering organization such as Warrior Canine Connection. WCC is not only offering a form of therapy for veterans, it is also empowering them with sustainable skills toward a new vocation.”
The hotel brand has pledged $20,000 plus architectural expertise to WCC as they plan, design, and build their new training center about 25 miles north of Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Md., which will include a lodging facility for veterans, helping to develop training skills and close bonds with the service dogs. The Suburban Extended Stay Hotel brand will provide consulting services as the structure is built as well as access to the hotel brand’s qualified vendors for items such as furnishings and fixtures.
The Suburban Extended Stay Hotel brand is committing the $20,000 to the organization in two phases. The first pledge came through participation in the online crowd-sourced fundraising competition called Veterans Charity Challenge 2, hosted on the fundraising platform, Crowdrise. With the help of Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Warrior Canine Connection was able to win the Veterans Charity Challenge and was awarded an additional $20,000 prize—raising more than $100,000 in total.
“We are so grateful to have Suburban Extended Stay and Choice Hotels International join with us in our mission to heal recovering Warriors,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director of Warrior Canine Connection. “Their experience in building and providing comfortable, affordable hotels and extended stay accommodations will provide us with valuable expertise as we plan and build our new headquarters. We are especially excited to have them partner with us in creating accommodations for our Warrior trainer apprentices.”
