SILVER SPRING, Md. (March 22, 2000) - Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) announces the development of a four-star international hotel in central Dublin`s financial services district.  The hotel, to open in October 2000, will be branded as the Clarion Hotel Dublin.  The 154-room property offers over 40 suites, a fully-equipped business center, large conference and banqueting facilities, lounges, bars, a brasserie-style restaurant and an extensive health and fitness club.

The Clarion Hotel Dublin will become Choice`s fourth property in the Irish capital and Dublin`s second Clarion, joining the Clarion Stephens Hall Hotel, which opened in May 1998.  Other Choice properties in central Dublin are the Quality Hotel Charleville and the Comfort Inn Dublin, which opened in February 2000. The Clarion brand is also represented in Cork and Killarney.

“The opening of the Clarion Hotel Dublin forms part of our pan-European program to develop the Clarion brand in major European cities and gateways,” said Peter Cashman, chief operating officer, Choice Hotels Europe. “Our strategy is to select key locations and to build, acquire or franchise hotels best suited to these locations.”

Rates at the Clarion Hotel Dublin will start at $185.

The Clarion Hotel Dublin was designed by Scott Tallon Walker and is being built by Pierce construction.  The development will cost approximately $30 million.

This announcement comes in the same week as the finalization of Choice`s purchase of the Tralee Court Hotel also in Dublin, which will operate under the Quality brand.  The 120-bedroom Quality Hotel Liffey Valley will open next year, providing a conference and leisure center on one of Dublin`s primary access routes.

Choice has 21 Clarion, Quality and Comfort brand hotels in Ireland.

Choice Hotels Europe is one of the largest hotel companies in Europe and the Middle East, with over 500 Quality, Comfort and Clarion brand hotels open and under development in 20 countries.  It operates over 335 properties in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland and Wales, 100 hotels in Norway and Sweden and three hotels in Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon.

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. Clarion, Quality, Comfort, Sleep Inn, Rodeway, Econo Lodge and MainStay are registered trade marks and service marks of Choice Hotels International.

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