Choice Hotels Expands Presence in Japan with Over 30 New Hotels Set to Open by 2033

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) has signed a 10-year extension of its existing master franchise agreement with Choice Hotels Japan and plans to open more than 30 new Comfort hotels to the market by 2033. Choice Hotels Japan has been the exclusive Comfort brand franchisor in the country since 2003 and currently has a portfolio of over 60 hotels in key markets including Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka and Sapporo.

The first seven of the new Comfort hotels are expected to open over the next three years in major cities such as Kyoto, Matsuyama and Nagoya. This aggressive expansion is expected to bring the number of rooms in the Comfort portfolio to more than 15,000 by 2025, positioning Choice Hotels Japan among the top five Japanese operators.

To commemorate the extension of the main franchise agreement, a signing ceremony was held yesterday in Tokyo, attended by Patrick Pacious, President and CEO of Choice Hotels International, and Takeya Muraki, President and CEO of the representation of Choice Hotels Japan.

“International growth is a major focus for us and Japan is one of the fastest growing travel destinations in the world, so we are delighted to increase our presence in this much sought after global market,” said Pacious. . “We look forward to strengthening our long-standing relationship with Choice Hotels Japan as we continue to grow Comfort’s presence and further integrate our digital business delivery platforms. “

The renewed agreement with Choice Hotels Japan is the latest sign of success as Choice Hotels International executes its strategy of international growth. In the first half of 2019, Choice Hotels International significantly expanded its portfolio of rooms and hotels located outside of the United States, increasing by 4.1% and 5.4% respectively compared to June 30, 2018.

For more information on Choice brand hotels in Japan, visit www.choicehotels.com/japan.