The Northeast Conference announced a new sponsorship element to its partnership with Choice Hotels International (NYSE: CHH). The agreement identifies Choice Hotels as the sponsor of the “Choice Hotels NEC Player of the Week” and “Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week” program for men`s and women`s basketball for the 2003-04 season.

The partnership between the NEC and Choice Hotels is entering its third year. Choice Hotels is the presenting sponsor of the 2004 NEC Basketball Tournament and has served as the preferred hotel chain of the conference since 2002.

“The Northeast Conference and Choice Hotels International have enjoyed a very productive relationship in recent years,” said NEC Assistant Commissioner Andrew Alia. “By becoming the first-ever title sponsor of the NEC`s weekly awards program, Choice Hotels International has further displayed its commitment to helping this partnership continue to grow.”

“We are excited about becoming the NEC`s title sponsor for the Choice Hotels Player and Rookie of the Week,” said Donald Crawford, Director of Sports Marketing for Choice Hotels. “The weekly student-athlete honor is an effective way to communicate and reinforce our partnership with the NEC.”

The Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 11 institutions of higher learning located throughout five states. Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 21 championship sports for men and women. NEC member institutions include Central Connecticut State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Long Island, Monmouth, Mount St. Mary`s, Quinnipiac, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis (NY), St. Francis (PA) and Wagner.

Choice Hotels International is one of the world`s largest lodging franchisors, marketing more than 5,000 hotels open or under development in 42 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.

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

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