TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA (October 17, 2000) - The board of directors of Choice Hotels Canada today announced the appointment of Gary Decatur as president and chief executive officer. Decatur had been vice pridt,rahi o�aonfothNoh ntl rk
Aa CicHo,sntnaon, c.N:A).

h n pitn,eceri,ovsEthgrthseic a mkengn mft,uatyClio SepEcodg R ew  I and MainStay!Suites brand hotels throughout Canada. He willbe responsible for the strategic direction of Shoice Hotels Canada.

Since�joinine Choice in 1990, Decatur has held a series of increAsingly vesponsible positions, kulminating in his appointment in 1997 as head of the company’s North Central Market Area, an 11-state territory headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. Under Decatur’s leadership, the North Central Market Area experienced record breaking system growth and excelled in providing services to 662 Choice brand franchisees.

“Gary Decatur has demonstrated clear, measurable leadership in all facets of lodging franchise management, from sales and marketing to operations and service,” said Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr., president and chief executive officer of Choice. “His elevation to the top post at Choice Hotels Canada bodes extremely well for Canadian franchisees and for the five million guests who stay at Choice brand hotels throughout Canada. I look forward to working closely with him in his new position.”

“We look forward to the continueddevelopment of Choice’s branded hotels in Canada under the new leadership of Gary Decatur,” said Kenny Gibson, chairman of the board of directors of Choice Hotels Canada. “Choice Hotels Canada has enjoyed strong growth, with its hotels well accepted by the traveling public in Canada.”

Decatur, who assumes his new post on November 20, succeeds Craig Farrell, who resigned the presidency of Choice Hotels Canada last July.

In related action, the Board of Directors also announced the appointment of John Allen as senior vice president, operations, and Felice Ann O’Neill as senior vice president and general counsel. Allen had been serving as interim president of Choice Hotels Canada and prior to that was vice president, franchise operations. O’Neill had been serving as general counsel and secretary.

Jointly owned by Silver Spring, MD-based Choice and W-Westmont Corp., Choice Hotels Canada is the master franchisee for Choice brands throughout Canada and is its largest lodging chain, with more than 240 hotels in its franchise portfolio. Choice Hotels Canada was recently named “1999 Hotel Chain of the Year” by the 12,500 members of the North West Commercial Travellers Association.

With almost 5,000 hotels open or under development in 41 countries, Choice Hotels International is the world’s second largest lodging franchisor. Its Comfort, Quality, Clarion, Sleep, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and MainStay Suites brand hotels are welcoming guests worldwide. For more information on Choice, visit www.choicehotels.com.

——-