Choice Hotels, National Park Foundation Align to Promote Tourism, Volunteerism at National Parks.

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- Worldwide lodging franchisor Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) has joined forces with the National Park Foundation (NPF) to support programs, promotions and initiatives that foster visits to and volunteerism at America's national parks.

Choice Hotels' President and CEO Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr., launched the partnership with the presentation to NPF of a $100,000 contribution from the Choice Hotels Foundation; these funds will be used in support of volunteerism initiatives within the national parks.

Choice Hotels will also provide tactical marketing support to the NPF, to include the creation of a first-ever quarterly e-newsletter promoting volunteerism at the parks and disseminated via Choice Hotels' online communications channels; the opportunity for members of the company's Choice Privileges guest rewards program to convert awards points for National Park Passes; and the development of a discounted rate program for park volunteers who stay at Choice brand hotels.

"Almost two-thirds of the hotels in our domestic system - roughly 2,500 properties - are located within a 50-mile radius of one of America's national parks," said Ledsinger. "Aligning our resources with NPF's volunteerism goals has the potential to greatly enhance our environment and our nation."

"We're grateful to Choice Hotels for their leadership in supporting America's national parks," said Michael Bento, NPF senior vice president, marketing & communications. "Volunteerism not only benefits the national parks, it enriches the lives of our volunteers. We're very pleased that we'll be able to recruit more volunteers thanks to the support of Choice Hotels."

Choice Hotels' support of NPF's volunteerism initiatives targets three primary constituencies: the company's associates, its franchisees and guests who stay at Choice brand properties. Associates and franchisees will be encouraged via regular communications and direct links to Choice Hotels' intranet site to volunteer at the parks. They will also be able to purchase Park Passes via a direct link from the intranet site.

Guests at Choice brand hotels will also be encouraged to volunteer at the parks via a direct link from choicehotels.com, the company's proprietary web site; they will also be able to purchase Park Passes via the site link.

"In the aggregate, our millions of hotel guests, franchisees and associates represent a tremendous pool of potential volunteers, contributors, and visitors to national parks," Ledsinger said. "Choice Hotels is proud to join NPF in promoting these cherished national resources as places to visit and to volunteer."

Worldwide lodging franchisor Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) markets more than 5,000 hotels in over 40 countries under the brand names Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, MainStay Suites, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn. The company's newest brand, Cambria Suites, launched in January 2005. For more information on Choice, visit the company's web site at choicehotels.com.

The National Park Foundation (www.nationalparks.org), chartered by Congress in 1967, is the official nonprofit partner of America's national parks. The National Park Foundation strengthens the enduring connection between the American people and their national parks by raising private funds, making strategic grants, creating innovative partnerships and increasing public awareness. Over the past seven years alone, the Foundation has contributed more than $135 million in total grants and program support to national parks across the country.

Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, MainStay Suites, Cambria Suites, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and Choice Privileges are proprietary trademarks and service marks of Choice Hotels International.

(C) 2005 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.