Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) today announced that it has extended the employment agreement with Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr., president and chief executive officer, for four years.

Under the extension, Ledsinger`s contract will run until October 2006.

“We are extremely pleased that Chuck Ledsinger will continue to lead Choice Hotels to further growth and development,” said Stewart Bainum, Jr., chairman of Choice`s Board of Directors. “During the past four years, Chuck has provided the vision and disciplined leadership that has enabled Choice to prosper even in challenging economic times. Our franchise system today is much stronger and our franchisees are deriving greater value from their investments in our brands.”

“In the four years I`ve spent at Choice, we`ve seen real progress in growing the business, improving the company`s balance sheet, building better relationships with franchisees and providing our associates with greater opportunity,” said Ledsinger. “I look forward to continuing this progress and working with the outstanding team we have assembled here.”

Choice Hotels International is one of the world`s largest lodging franchisors, marketing more than 5,000 hotels open or under development in 46 countries under the Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, MainStay Suites and Rodeway Inn brand names. For more information on Choice, visit the company`s web site at www.choicehotels.com.

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