Toronto, CANADA, August, 2002 - Choice Hotels Canada welcomed the newly converted Comfort Hotel Airport North into its network of 260 hotels two months ago and already its business has dramatically improved. The former Travelodge Hotel has experienced an impressive 10-percentage point increase in reservations contribution over its previous brand. This has directly influenced occupancy, which has increased by five percentage points this month versus the same period the year prior. Meanwhile, Pannell Kerr Forster reports that the airport strip business is down 13%.

“I`m very pleased with the hotel`s performance under the Comfort brand and we look forward to even greater gains in the future,” said Vinod (Vinnie) Patel, President, Northampton, owners of the Comfort Hotel Airport North. “The strength of the Comfort brand has and continues to truly prove itself.”

The Comfort Hotel Airport North is the fourth Choice property for Patel, who recognizes the strong return on investment found in working with Choice Hotels Canada. When looking to re-brand the former Travelodge Hotel, he selected the Comfort brand from amongst several prominent hotel brands.

The 13-storey, 175-room Comfort Hotel is located adjacent to the recently renovated Woodbine Race Track and Casino and close to Pearson International Airport and Woodbine Shopping Centre & Fantasy Fair. The hotel has an indoor pool, hot tub, an on-site restaurant and two meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 40 people each.

Northampton Group is a publicly traded company (TSX Venture: NGH) that builds, owns and manages hotels and has over 1900 guest rooms in North America in locations within Ontario, Quebec and New Jersey. For more information about the Northampton Group, visit www.nhgi.com.

Choice Hotels Canada is the largest hotel chain in the country with 260 properties representing eight brands from coast to coast, including Clarion, Quality, Comfort, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway and MainStay Suites. Further information about Choice Hotels Canada and its locations can be accessed at www.choicehotels.ca.

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