Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) today announced the promotion of Joseph M. Squeri to senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer.  Previously, he served as vice president, treasurer and controller.  Since July 1998, Squeri also has served as the company`s acting chief financial officer.

“In his tenure as acting CFO, Joe Squeri has demonstrated his leadership and his superior grasp of the business issues affecting our company and industry,” said Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr.,president and chief executive officer.  “He has played an integral role in the company`s successful transition to a publicly-traded company and the development of Choice`s Internet e-commerce business strategy.  We look forward to his continued contribution to the company`s dynamic growth.”

Squeri joined Choice in February 1997 as corporate controller. In April 1998, he was appointed treasurer of the company.  Prior to joining Choice, he spent two and a half years with The Carlyle Group, a merchant banking firm in Washington, D.C. and worked for Arthur Andersen for seven years.  A graduate of the University of Virginia, he is a certified public accountant.

In a related action, the company also announced the appointment of Eric Bauer as a corporate officer in the position of vice president, strategy and business development, reporting directly to Squeri.  Bauer joined the company in May 1997 as vice president, finance after five years in financial analysis and planning with Taco Bell, a subsidiary of Pepsico.  He is responsible for financial planning, business analysis and corporate information systems.  A graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles, he also received an M.B.A. from Georgetown University.

Choice Hotels International is the second largest hotel franchisor in the world, with more than 5,000 hotels open and under development in 36 countries.  Choice`s brands include Comfort, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and MainStay Suites.

——-