The Comfort Inn & Suites City Centre, located at 530 South Capital Ave, has received the Platinum Hospitality Award from Choice Hotels International, franchisor of the Comfort Inn & Suites hotel brand.

The Platinum Hospitality Award honors the top 1 percent of hotels in the Choice system in terms of extraordinary service and facilities. To receive the award, a hotel must achieve at least a 98 percent on their quality assurance review from Choice in all departments in addition to a pass on brand identity, which grades franchisees on their compliance with their respective brand`s requirements.

The Comfort Inn & Suites City Centre hotel was evaluated on issues including staff professionalism and training, safety and security, work area conditions, retention policies, internal communications, knowledge of the property and area and food-and-beverage operations among others.

“By winning our most prestigious award, the Comfort Inn & Suites City Centre hotel has accomplished what only a few hotels in our system have done, ” said Chuck Ledsinger, Choice president and chief executive officer.

The Comfort Inn & Suites City Centre also won Choice`s Gold Hospitality Award for four consecutive years from 1998-2001.

The hotel, owned and operated by Capital Hotels Inc. of Fishers, Ind., features 143-units, each with remote-controlled cable television, coffeemaker, iron, ironing board and hairdryer. Suites also include a sofabed, microwave and refrigerator. Some rooms feature a Jacuzzi tub.

Hotel facilities include a heated indoor pool and hot tub, exercise room, meeting facility that can accommodate up to 200 people and guest laundry services.

Room rates begin at $129, which includes deluxe continental breakfast and a daily newspaper. Special rates are available on a space-available basis when booked in advance for business travelers, senior citizens, members of the American Automobile Association and government and military personnel.

Children, ages 18 and under, may stay free in the rooms of their parents and grandparents. Additional bedding is extra.

Members of Choice`s Choice Privileges frequent-traveler program qualify for points toward free stays, vacations and gifts when staying at U.S. Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion and Sleep Inn hotels.

Members of American Airlines AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, Northwest Airlines WorldPerks and US Airways Dividend Miles will receive airline miles when staying at any Choice brand hotel.

Travelers can enter Choice`s Get Together Sweepstakes to win a trip for 10 family members and friends for four nights at any Choice brand hotel within the continental United States and $500 in spending money per person. The sweepstakes runs through Jan. 31, 2003. Travelers can enter at www.choicehotels.com. No purchase is necessary to enter.

Rooms may be booked directly over the Internet at www.choicehotels.com, by calling Choice`s toll-free reservations service at 1-800-4CHOICE or by calling the Comfort Inn & Suites City Centre directly at (317) 631-9000.

Choice Hotels International is the world`s second 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 Hotels, visit the company`s web site at www.choicehotels.com.

American Airlines and AAdvantage are registered trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. All standard program rules and conditions apply. American Airlines reserves the right to change AAdvantage program at any time without notice. American Airlines is not responsible for products or services offered by other participating companies. For complete details about the AAdvantage program, visit www.aa.com.

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