Canada`s largest hotel chain has launched it’s revitalized web site, choicehotels.ca. 39% of Choice Hotels bookings were made electronically last year.
As the only mid-market lodging group to feature a Canadian web site, choicehotels.ca provides online visitors with a greater range of electronic booking services, as well as comprehensive hotel and corporate information.

“With more travelers turning to the Internet to research and book their vacations, we recognize the effectiveness of marketing Choice Canada online,” said David Beers, executive director of marketing, Choice Hotels Canada. “Last year, Choice`s electronic bookings accounted for nearly half of our overall reservations. Our new and improved site signifies our desire to not only offer more services and information, but to increase our online presence as whole,” he added.

With a brand new layout and easy to use functions, the web site offers a range of navigational options designed to provide visitors with booking capabilities and up-to-date information on Choice Canada and its hotels.

Some of the site`s new functions include:

a. Electronic brochures for individual hotels featuring room rates, special deals, as well as interior and exterior property photos.

b. Web pages with comprehensive information on Choice Canada`s eight brands, its corporate profile and franchising opportunities.

c. Press releases detailing hotel packages and promotions, new hotel deals and company-wide sales and marketing initiatives.

d. User-friendly online reservations applications for individual and corporate bookings.

e. Information on Choice Canada`s frequent traveller program, Choice Club, with an online booking option for existing members.

The web site was developed with the assistance of the 250 Choice Canada properties. “Our franchisees realize the importance of maintaining a strong Internet presence and were instrumental in helping us take the right steps to deliver an easy to use online reservations experience for our customers,” said Stuart Mackinnon, manager of information technology, Choice Hotels Canada.

Over the past year, 39% of the rooms booked through the Choice 2001 reservation system were electronic. Electronic bookings include GDS’, Alternative Distribution Sites such as Travelocity and Expedia and Choice Canada`s web site. Reservations made through the Choice web site and ADS have doubled every year since 1998. With over 250 hotels open and under development from coast to coast, Choice Hotels Canada`s eight brands include Clarion, Quality, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway and Mainstay Suites. Choice Canada is part of Choice Hotels International, which has over 5,000 properties worldwide.

 

www.choicehotels.ca

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