Choice Hotels International has signed on as the exclusive hotel category advertiser in NBC’s telecast of the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy.More than 2,500 athletes will compete for the Gold in more than 80
events, broadcast on NBC from February 10 through February 26. In addition,
Choice Hotels will advertise during Westwood One’s radio broadcasts of the
Winter Games, airing 75 radio spots that will be heard by more than 150
million listeners.
        According to Wayne Wielgus, executive vice president and chief
marketing officer for Choice Hotels, the company’s television advertisements
throughout the February telecast will promote the company’s spring
promotional campaign, which is “Stay 2 Times. Earn a Free Night.” With this
promotion—one of Choice’s most successful promotions to date—travelers
who are members of Choice’s rewards program, Choice Privileges, qualify for
a free night’s lodging at more than 1,000 hotels after two separate stays at
any Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion or MainStay
Suites brand hotels in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
        “NBC’s telecast of the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy
represents a tremendous opportunity for us to get our message out to the
millions of people who will be glued to their television sets, waiting to
see the next great moment in sports,” said Wielgus. “We secured the same
role for the 2004 Summer Games in Greece, and it was such a huge success for
us we knew we had to do the same deal this year. The addition of
advertisements during radio broadcasts allow us to spread the Choice message
even further. As a leader in global hospitality we are proud to be a part of
the excitement that surrounds this international event.”
        Choice Hotels television advertisements will begin airing on
February 10 and will be shown on the NBC, MSNBC and CNBC networks.
        The radio advertisements, which will promote the company’s
economy brands spring promotion, feature the voice of Phylicia Rashad,
widely known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the 1980’s hit, The Cosby
Show.
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