ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (July 28, 2003) - The Comfort Inn & Suites hotel, located at 703 U.S. Route 5 South, recently received the Platinum Hospitality Award from Choice Hotels International (NYSE: CHH), franchisor of the Comfort Inn 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 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 hotel has accomplished what only a few hotels in our system have done, ” said Chuck Ledsinger, Choice president and chief executive officer.

Constructed in 2000, the Comfort Inn & Suites hotel is owned by Northeast Kingdom Hotels Inc., a subsidiary of Murphy Realty of St. Johnsbury, Vt., and managed by Linchris Hotels of Hanover, Mass. Loehr, a graduate of Johnson and Wales University of Providence, R.I., has been managing the Comfort Inn & Suites hotel since it`s inception.

Prior to winning the Platinum Hospitality Award, the Comfort Inn & Suites hotel won Choice`s prestigious Inn of the Year Award in 2003 and the Gold Hospitality Award for two-consecutive years in 2001 and 2002.

Located in Vermont`s Green Mountains, the Comfort Inn & Suites hotel, features 107-units; a heated indoor pool; state-of-the-art health and fitness center; video arcade; and meeting room that can accommodate up to 90 people.

All guest-rooms feature in-room sleeper sofas, Nintendo 64, pay-per-view movies, hairdryers, coffeemaker and iron and ironing board.

Guests of the Comfort Inn & Suites hotel receive a complimentary deluxe continental breakfast that includes Vermont`s finest organic maple syrup.

There currently are 1,916 Comfort Inn brand hotels open and 113 under development worldwide, representing 150,310 rooms.

For reservations at any Comfort Inn & Suites hotel worldwide, contact Choice`s toll-free reservation service at (800)-4CHOICE or visit www.choicehotels.com on the Internet. Reservations also can be made by contacting the Comfort Inn & Suites hotel directly at (802) 748-1500.

Choice Hotels International is one of the world`s largest lodging franchisors, marketing more than 5,000 hotels open or under development in 48 countries and territories under the Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Econo Lodge, and Rodeway Inn brand names. For more information on Choice, visit the company`s web site at www.choicehotels.com.

Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Econo Lodge, and Rodeway Inn are the proprietary trademarks and service marks of Choice Hotels International Inc.

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