Michael L. Allen, president of Allen Management Inc. of Hampton, Virginia, and the nation`s largest Econo Lodge franchisee, was named president of the Econo Lodges of America Franchisee Association, Inc. (ELFA).

Allen, who will serve a two year term, was elected at a meeting of the board of directors of ELFA during Choice Hotels International`s Annual Convention in Orlando, Fla. from May 7-9, 2003. Choice Hotels franchises the Econo Lodge brand; ELFA is the official association representing Econo Lodge franchisees. Established in 1972, ELFA is a self-sustaining organization representing the interests of dues-paying Econo Lodge members throughout the United States and Canada.

“I am confident that Michael Allen`s leadership will continue the strong relationship that Choice Hotels and ELFA have shared and that he will represent the interests of Econo Lodge franchisees as they face the challenges of the future,” said Tim Shuy, vice president and brand manager for the Econo Lodge hotel brand.

Allen Management has annual revenues of $14 million and a current payroll of 475 employees. Allen Management owns and operates 17 hotels including 15 Choice brand hotels in northern, central, southeastern and western Virginia and one Choice brand hotel in West Virginia.

The Econo Lodge hotel brand is franchised by Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world`s largest lodging franchisors. Econo Lodge, one of the nation`s most widely known names in economy lodging, caters to senior, business and leisure travelers with clean, affordable rooms and friendly service. Econo Lodge was the first economy lodging chain on the East coast, the first chain to introduce a housekeeper certification program as part of an initiative with Procter & Gamble`s “Mr. Clean” brand and the first hotel chain to develop a specially designed Senior room.

As of April 2003, there were 750 Econo Lodge brand hotels open in the U.S. and Canada. For more information on Allen Management visit www.apluslodging.com, on ELFA, visit www.elfa.org and on the Econo Lodge hotel brand, visit www.choicehotels.com.

Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and 1-800-4CHOICE are proprietary trademarks and service marks of Choice Hotels International, Inc.

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