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ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING points are becoming a standard amenity at hotels, akin to the rise of Wi-Fi in the early 2000s. Benefits for the hotel owners and franchisers can include additional revenue, carbon credits as well as attracting guests from the growing number of electric vehicle drivers. A 2022 Green Lodging survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association revealed a surge in the deployment of EV chargers within the hospitality sector, with 26.6 percent of all U.S. hotels equipped with charging stations. The EV charging facilities are more commonly found at luxury hotels (nearly 90 percent offer them), while only about one in five limited-service hotels provides charging, representing significant growth opportunities. Hotel brands such as Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, BWH Hotel Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Choice Hotels International, Hyatt Hotel Corp. and G6 Hospitality have prioritized deploying EV charging based on customer preferences. Their franchisees have begun incorporating EV charging infrastructures into their properties. "We've heard from our owners that offering EV charging solutions is increasingly influential for guests when choosing hotels," said Brian McGuiness, IHG's senior vice president of global guest experience. "This is backed by our observation of guests using EVC filters on the IHG One Rewards mobile app and website. Our integrated EV-charger search filter within the IHG One Rewards mobile app allows travelers to easily find properties with EV charging capabilities, empowering them to plan their journeys conveniently and confidently."

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL has completed its acquisition of Radisson Hotels Americas for $675 million. The transaction includes Radisson's franchise business, operations and intellectual property. The merger, which was announced in June, will add Radisson's nine brands to Choice, bringing it to 624 hotels. "With the close of this transaction, Choice Hotels International has added approximately 67,000 rooms, expanding its presence in the higher revenue upper upscale and upscale full-service segments, and bolstering its core upper-midscale hospitality segment, particularly in the West Coast and Midwest of the U.S.," the company said in a statement. As part of the transaction, which covers properties in Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean as well as the U.S., Choice will independently own and control the brands in the Americas and will work with Radisson to drive the growth, continuity and success of the brands, according to a joint press release from the companies. Choice's board of directors unanimously approved the transaction, and it was expected to close in the second half of 2022. It was funded by cash on hand and revolver borrowings and includes 10 Radisson Blu hotels, 130 Radisson hotels, 9 Radisson Individuals, 1 Park Plaza hotel, 4 Radisson RED hotels, 453 Country Inn & Suites by Radisson and 17 Park Inn by Radisson hotels, as well as the recently launched Radisson Inn & Suites and Radisson Collection brands.

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL reported a 16 percent year-over-year increase in net income to $299.7 million in 2024 and a 12 percent rise in adjusted EBITDA to a record $604.1 million, exceeding its full-year guidance. The company's global system size grew 3.3 percent to 653,810 rooms, including 4.3 percent growth in its domestic upscale, extended-stay and midscale portfolio. It opened 407 hotels globally in 2024, a 21 percent increase, including its 515th extended-stay hotel in the fourth quarter, Choice said in a statement. "Choice Hotels generated another year of strong results in 2024, exceeding the top end of our earnings guidance and delivering a 4.3 percent year-over-year net increase in our more revenue-intense domestic rooms portfolio, a testament to the success of our growth strategy," said Patrick Pacious, Choice president and CEO. "In 2024, we also successfully relaunched four brands, expanded our partnerships business, increased our international footprint, achieved record organic rewards program growth, and unlocked new value through additional ancillary revenue opportunities."

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL reported improved performance for Country Inn & Suites by Radisson following its integration with Radisson Hotels Americas. The brand saw a 19-point RevPAR Index increase, a 20 percent rise in direct online contribution and year-over-year revenue growth from group and business travelers. Radisson Americas brands have seen increased digital traffic and higher booking conversions, driving new hotel commitments, including 38 Country Inn & Suites additions in two years, Choice said in a statement. "Country Inn & Suites by Radisson has performed well above the goals we set out for the brand when it joined the Choice family of brands two years ago," said Judd Wadholm, Choice Hotels' senior vice president and general manager for upper-midscale, midscale, and economy brands. "We are committed to a long-term strategy to give this brand an even stronger edge in the competitive upper-midscale segment and to unlock additional channels for our owners to help grow their revenue."

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL reported a record $428 million in third-quarter revenue, a 1 percent increase from last year. Net income rose 15 percent to $105.7 million. As of Sept. 30, the global pipeline surpassed 110,000 rooms, an 11 percent increase from the previous year, with conversion rooms up 54 percent. Domestically, the room pipeline grew 10 percent year-over-year, with conversion rooms rising 68 percent, Choice said in a statement. "Choice Hotels generated another quarter of record financial performance, demonstrating the successful execution of our growth strategy and giving us the confidence to raise our full-year guidance," said Patrick Pacious, president and CEO. "We accelerated unit growth, expanded our global pipeline, grew our international reach, and significantly increased our rewards program. This momentum, combined with our strong business model, positions us to sustain growth while returning significant capital to shareholders."

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL recently introduced Lobby in a Box, a modular design package that allows hoteliers to transform lobby dining areas into multifunctional, revenue-generating spaces in around 120 days. The offering is designed for extended-stay brands, including Suburban Studios and MainStay Suites. The package enables the conversion of standard lobby dining spaces in transient hotels, allowing hoteliers to create new income streams for the MainStay brand through a marketplace offering on-the-go food, beverages and travel essentials, Choice said in a statement. The program allows hotel owners to meet the needs of long-staying guests who prefer in-room dining with kitchens. "As demand for extended-stay accommodations continues to exceed supply, solutions like Lobby in a Box and Kitchen in a Box help franchisees seize opportunities in a growing market while providing long-staying guests a superior experience," said Matt McElhare, Choice's vice president and lead of extended-stay brands. "Our goal is to simplify the conversion process and maximize hotel owners' return on investment by giving them the tools to create functional and profitable spaces."

In our exclusive Leadership Series interview, Pat Pacious, president and CEO of Choice Hotels International, reflects on his organization's relationship with AAHOA, his opposition to the proposed New Jersey State legislation on fair franchising and why Asian hoteliers are still important to the company. In the end, he said, it's about keeping state governments out of a dialogue that should be held between franchisers and their franchisees regarding subjects such as selling loyalty points and revenue from preferred vender programs. Pacious also discussed other key topics in the conflict between AAHOA and several large hotel companies, including Choice as well as Marriott International. Also in the interview, held at Choice's recent 67th Owner & Franchisee Convention in Las Vegas, Pacious discusses topics addressed at the convention, such as Choice's recent acquisition of Radisson Hotels Americas. He also comments on the company's offering to current and future franchisees and the importance of Asian American owners. 'This is not about fair franchising' In February, Choice announced it would "pause its partnership" with AAHOA, according to an alert to AAHOA members. AAHOA said Choice's decision came in response to AAHOA's 12 Points of Fair Franchising and its public support for New Jersey Assembly Bill A1958, which would make changes to the New Jersey Franchise Practices Act. Prior to Choice's action, Marriott had announced it was withdrawing its support for AAHOA for the same reason, and both companies chose not to attend the 2023 AAHOA Conference and Trade Show in Los Angeles in early April. Other companies, including Hilton and IHG Hotels & Resorts, also did not attend.

DALLAS-BASED NEWCRESTIMAGE plans to acquire 45 hotels from a private investment firm. The portfolio includes approximately 3,300 rooms in 11 states, but other terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The hotels include 35 Marriott International-branded, seven Hilton-branded, two Choice Hotels International-branded and one Radisson Hotels-branded properties. They are in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas, according to NewcrestImage. "The current financial environment makes it very attractive to buy rather than build, and this group of fine hotels in high-traffic locations provides us with an exceptional opportunity to immediately start generating significant revenue, profit, and return on investment," said Mehul Patel, NewcrestImage managing partner and CEO.

AAHOA IS URGING hotels to adopt cybersecurity measures to prevent incidents similar to the recent cyberattacks on MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment. Following the ransomware attack on IHG Hotels & Resorts last year, which cost hotel owners between $30,000 and $75,000 each, AAHOA called for clear lines of communication to protect franchisees who bore the brunt of revenue losses from bookings missed due to the disruptions. In July, Choice Hotels International confirmed a data breach impacting guest information in its Radisson Hotels Americas chain, originating from a file-transfer system hack, according to AAHOA and media reports. The association said that most impacted franchisees are small business owners, unable to absorb unexpected booking losses. This challenge is amplified by ongoing issues like staffing shortages, which further hinder their recovery efforts. It further emphasized that with franchisor support, hoteliers can improve the guest experience and reduce the risk of disruptive incidents.

ROBERT MCDOWELL, CHIEF commercial officer of Choice Hotels International, will leave the company on Jan. 15, according to a Dec. 5 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He assumed his current leadership role in 2016, overseeing digital commerce, revenue management, procurement and customer care functions, according to Choice's website. McDowell, who joined in May 2011 as senior vice president of global distribution, is departing to pursue other opportunities, Choice's filing said. During his tenure, he led customer acquisition through an integrated digital ad campaign, developed a top-tier revenue management platform, relaunched the Choice Privileges loyalty program, and enhanced the digital platform, Choice said.

DALLAS-BASED NEWCRESTIMAGE recently acquired of 45 hotels with around 3,300 rooms in 11 states in the U.S., a statement said. The properties include 35 Marriott, seven Hilton, and three Choice-branded hotels in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas, according to the company. NewcrestImage retained the management companies Aimbridge Hospitality and HHM Hospitality to operate the properties. It announced the deal in September. "Each of these hotels represents a strong opportunity for generating revenue in the short-term, as well as for building long-term asset value," said Mehul Patel, NewcrestImage's managing partner and CEO.

Hotels are a business and business is about are making money.That's why a major focus for the industry now is on the technology that improves revenue generation. One company aiming to meet that need in Bloomington-Minnesota based ideas founded by life-long friends and colleagues Ravi Mehrotra and Sanjay Nagalia.Using their background in artificial intelligence ,they have created a revenue management system, that has been deployed by 19000 hotel properties, including recently added Choice Hotels International with that company's launch of its ChoiceMax program. Ideas software offers clients the ability to make rate decisions based on multiple factors that are most human brains can fully calculate.The program puts all the relevant data together in a comprehensive manner.