Worldwide lodging franchisor Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) and its agency of record, Arnold Worldwide/Washington, received the Golden Bell Bronze advertising award from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) for the company`s “Thanks for Traveling” campaign, launched in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.

“The `Thanks for Traveling` campaign was developed to acknowledge the courage and loyalty of the travelling public,” said Wayne Wielgus, Choice Hotels` senior vice president of marketing. “We wanted to urge Americans to get back out on the road and exercise their unique freedom to travel.”

Wielgus added, “`Thanks for Traveling` became a rally cry for the entire travel and tourism industry. This recognition by HSMAI for our efforts is quite an honor.”

The HSMAI competition is one of the largest and most prestigious travel events of its kind in the world. The competition attracted over 1,800 entries from 52 countries around the world. These awards have been created to honor and showcase the best in hospitality and travel advertising, marketing materials, public relations, and website design and development.

Awards were presented at the 13th annual awards dinner in New York City.

Choice Hotels International is one of the world`s largest lodging franchisors, marketing more than 5,000 hotels open or under development in 39 countries under the Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, MainStay Suites, Econo Lodge, and Rodeway Inn brand names. For more information on Choice, visit the company`s web site at www.choicehotels.com.

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