Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) , one of the world’s largest hotel franchisors, is pleased to announce its 2009 Supplier Diversity Award winner—the company’s Consumer Information Research organization. This prestigious annual corporate award, currently in its fourth year, recognizes a department within the Choice Hotels organization for their outstanding efforts in supporting the company’s leading supplier diversity program and initiatives. The award was presented to David Ginsburg, senior director and head of the Consumer Information Research group by the company’s Board of Directors at their annual board meeting earlier last week.

“Working with a diverse base of suppliers provides a number of mutual benefits to Choice and to the many minority-owned business owners with whom we work,” said Stephen P. Joyce, president and chief executive officer, Choice Hotels International. “At Choice, we value the opportunity to draw from a broad selection of suppliers who provide excellent customer service, value, and innovative solutions while also providing minority business owners the opportunity to reach more customers and expand their businesses.”

The Consumer Information Research group was selected among several nominations as this year’s award recipient by the Choice Hotels Supplier Diversity Committee after going above and beyond the required criteria. Among the guiding principles used to determine the Supplier Diversity Award is the inclusion of minority- and women-owned businesses in the department’s procurement decisions as well as a clear focus on advocating for the use of diverse vendors by recommending minority- and women-owned vendors to others, and assisting in the growth and maturity of a Choice Hotels diverse vendor, such as providing feedback to vendors that will assist them in securing future business.

Previous winners of the Choice Hotels Supplier Diversity Award include Franchise Billing (2008); Facility Services (2007); and IS System Administration (2006). As one of the company’s eight overall value categories, diversity is consistently ranked as one of the company’s core areas of focus in its day-to-day operations. As a company, Choice Hotels contributes significant effort toward creating, cultivating and nurturing a diverse culture. For more information on Choice Hotels, visit choicehotels.com.