The Clarion Hotel Airport, located at 11832 Plaza Circle a mile and a half from Kansas City International Airport, is now open.

The Clarion Hotel Airport, which formerly operated as a Holiday Inn, is owned and operated by K.C. Airport Hotel, Inc. of Dallas, Texas.

“The Clarion Hotel Airport offers business and leisure travelers a full service hotel with upgraded room amenities and a convenient location near the Kansas City International Airport,” said Michelle Pokaluk, the hotel`s director of sales.

The Clarion Hotel features 196 guestrooms and two suites. Each guestroom includes a remote-control cable television with pay for view movies and Nintendo, computer data port, coffee maker, high-speed internet access through LodgeNet, iron, ironing board and hairdryer. Non-smoking rooms and rooms for individuals with disabilities also are available.

A $1 million renovation includes upgrading guestrooms with new chairs, draperies, duvet coverlets and bedspreads in addition to creating the Clarion brand`s signature Clarion Business Class Room and the Biznet Business Center. Each Clarion Class Business Room will feature a king bed with Clarion Sleeper by Serta mattress, chair with ottoman, ergonomic chair, refrigerator and speakerphone. The new Clarion Biznet Business Center will have a computer with internet access, printer, copier and fax. The renovation is expected to be completed by December 2002.

Hotel features include Christopher`s Restaurant and Tavern, known for its fresh smoked barbecue and homemade Kansas City style barbecue sauce, and offering guests breakfast, lunch, dinner and room service. Other hotel features include an outdoor pool, fitness center with sauna, gift shop and almost 4,500 square feet of meeting and banquet facilities, including the 3,000 square foot Heartland Ballroom and five conference style boardrooms that can each accommodate up to 10 people. There is also free parking and a complimentary airport shuttle.

Guests receive a complimentary copy of USA Today and free local phone calls. Children, ages 18 and under, stay free when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Discounts are available when booked in advance on a space-available basis for seniors, AAA members, business travelers, government and military personnel and groups.

The Clarion Hotel Airport is conveniently located near exits 12 and 13 of I-29 and exit 36 of I-435. The hotel is 16 miles from downtown Kansas City, adjacent to Farmland Word Headquarters and two miles from Harley Davidson Plant/Visitors Center. Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun is 20 minutes south of the hotel.

The Clarion Hotel Airport participates in Choice Privileges, Choice`s frequent-traveler program, where guests can earn points toward free stays and gift certificates when staying at U.S. Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Clarion, Quality and Sleep Inn brand hotels.

Members of American Airlines AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, Northwest Airlines WorldPerks, US Airways Dividend Miles and United Mileage Plus can receive airline miles when staying at any Choice brand hotel in the U.S. and Caribbean.

Starting September 23 and continuing through December 15, 2002, members of American Airlines AAdvantage, Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, Northwest Airlines WorldPerks, US Airways Dividend Miles and United Mileage Plus receive double airline miles when staying at any of the 3,300 hotels in the U.S. and the Caribbean franchised by Choice Hotels International. Guests at Clarion brand hotels can earn 500 miles per stay instead of the standard 250 miles. To receive double miles, guests need only to stay at a qualifying rate* and provide the selected airline frequency program member number upon check-in.

Clarion brand hotels are franchised by Choice Hotels International (NYSE: CHH), one of the world`s largest lodging franchisors. There currently are 169 Clarion brand hotels open and 20 under development worldwide, representing 28,214 rooms.

For reservations at any Clarion brand hotel worldwide, contact Choice Hotels` toll-free reservation service at (800)-4CHOICE or visit www.choicehotels.com on the Internet. Rooms at the Clarion Hotel Airport in Kansas City can also be booked by contacting the hotel directly at (816) 464-2345.

Choice Hotels International franchises more than 5,000 hotels under the Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Clarion, Quality, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and MainStay Suites brands in 46 countries. For more information on Choice, visit the company`s Internet site at www.choicehotels.com.

——-