Choice Hotels Continues to Expand Presence in Caribbean

Choice Hotels continues to increase its presence in the Caribbean with eight hotels already open and three more under development in the region. “The opening of the Clarion International hotel in Curacao marks the continuation of a corporate initiative to expand the presence of Choice branded hotels in the Caribbean,” said Ron Burgett, national vice president of Franchise Sales and Development. “Our focused sales and development efforts have really paid off.”

Current Choice properties open in the Caribbean include: Quality Inn Governors Harbour, Bahamas; Comfort Suites Paradise Island, Bahamas; Quality Inn Nassau, Bahamas; Comfort Suites Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands; Quality Hotel Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Clarion Hotel Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Comfort Suites, Turks & Caicos Islands Providenciales; and the Comfort Inn San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Part of Choice´s efforts to expand its presence in the Caribbean region includes the creation of a minority incentive program, which offers financial incentives to African-American, Hispanic/Latino and Native American entrepreneurs who franchise a Choice branded hotel and hold a 51% ownership stake in the franchise.

"Increasing the number of Hispanic/Latino hotel owners in our system is a key corporate initiative," said Raul Fuentes, manager, Emerging Markets and Customer Segmentation. "The incentive helps potential minority franchisees take advantage of a powerful opportunity to build a business that can become a solid foundation for future growth and success".

Representatives from Choice Hotels will be on hand at the Caribbean Hotel Associations´ Marketplace event to answer questions and discuss development opportunities in the region. The event will take place January 15 - 17 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.