Choice Hotels International Inc. / CHH
A Choice Hotel lobby. (Photo: Shira Yudkoff - washingtonpost.com)
About Choice Hotels International Inc.
10750 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Md. 20901
www.choicehotels.com
| 301-592-5000
| Founded: 1968
Industry: Hospitality And Travel | Category: Top 100 Companies
Choice experienced steady growth in 2005, reflecting an improving hotel market and strong economy. It had 639 new franchise contracts, up 16 percent from the year before, and its pipeline of hotels under construction grew 21 percent, to 687 properties.
The company placed new emphasis on extended-stay hotels: In September, it bought Suburban Extended Stay Hotels, which had 67 properties, for $10.5 million. It also said it is expanding its staffing so that it can better help the franchisees of extended-stay properties to be profitable.
Last year, the company also launched what's known in the hotel industry as a "lower-upscale" brand, Cambria Suites, that will be a step above its other properties in amenities and pricing. The new hotels, with rooms going for about $100 a night, will have flat-screen TVs; down pillows; and a color scheme of dark browns, taupe and cinnabar.
The company split its stock two-for-one in October. It also extended the contract of its chief executive, Charles A. Ledsinger Jr., until 2009.
Chairman: Stewart Bainum Jr.
President and future CEO: Stephen P. Joyce
2007 Financial Data
Total employees: 1,605 | Local employees: 355Company Leadership
| Charles A. Ledsinger | President and CEO |
| Joseph M. Squeri | CFO and EVP, operations |
| Wayne Wielgus | EVP and chief marketing officer |
| Michael J. DeSantis | SVP and General Counsel |
| Thomas Mirgon | SVP, Human Resources and Administration |
Source: S&P's Capital IQ
|
Charles A. Ledsinger President and CEO |
$5,116,565 Salary: $715,384 |
|
Joseph M. Squeri CFO and EVP, operations |
$2,176,045 Salary: $398,323 |
|
Wayne Wielgus EVP and chief marketing officer |
$1,652,776 Salary: $358,385 |
|
Michael J. DeSantis SVP and General Counsel |
$1,053,017 Salary: $282,731 |
|
Thomas Mirgon SVP, Human Resources and Administration |
$1,019,041 Salary: $309,308 |
Did You Know
Choice franchises mostly limited-service hotels and motels under 10 brand names, including Comfort Inn, Quality, Clarion, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn. Its franchisees, which run the hotels and pay Choice a fee, operate 5,200 hotels around the world with more than 425,000 rooms.
Meet the CEO
Stephen P. Joyce
Meet Stephen Joyce, president and future CEO of Choice Hotels International.
