| FORT LAUDERDALE, January 18, 2000 – After more than three
years of solid foundation-building, Choice Atlantica Hotels now has 11
operating hotels, with 12 units scheduled to open in 2000. An additional
37 projects have been contracted and are underdevelopment and CAH expects
to sign its 50th property early this year.
Since 1996, Choice Atlantica Hotels has been providing South American
business and leisure travelers with lodging choices that were previously
rarely seen in prime markets such as Sao Paulo, and Buenos Aires, and virtually
non-existent in secondary markets like Campinas, an important commercial
city in the state of Sao Paulo.
The company
specializes in providing high-quality, mid-level lodging choices with a
client solutions oriented management and support program. The group owns
the master franchise for development of Choice Hotel products in Brazil,
Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia. Among the
company’s brands are Sleep Inns, Comfort Inns, Hotels & Suites, Quality
Inns, Hotels & Suites, and Clarion Inns, Hotels, Suites & Resorts.
All four franchise flags provide clean, safe, comfortable facilities at
rates business and leisure travelers can afford. While the hotels offer
different rate and service options, they consistently feature a high level
of quality.
One reason for the group’s rapid success is the formation of strong
partnerships with investors and investment groups. In 1998, for example,
CAH teamed with Darby Overseas Investments, a major investment fund which
made a commitment to help CAH achieve its goal of 140 hotels by 2003. The
group has successfully partnered with several smaller investors as well.
Additionally, CAH is staffed by professionals with international lodging
industry experience. A full-service hotel company, the group works with
investors and hotel owners in a full management capacity or by providing
sales and marketing and technical services support and expertise.
The Choice Atlantica Hotels portfolio presently includes four hotels
in Brazil, four in Argentina, one in Uruguay and two in Chile. Choice Atlantica
Hotels’ most noteworthy achievements in 1999 include:
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Signed an agreement for its 49th hotel project in South America; No. 50
is expected to be signed early in 2000.
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Added 22 hotel contracts during the year.
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Opened the first Sleep Inn in South America, the Sleep Inn Galleria in
Campinas, Brazil, one hour northeast of Sao Paulo. Within its second month
of operation, the new hotel achieved 80 percent occupancy. A second Sleep
Inn opened in January 2000 and CAH anticipates US $90 million will be invested
to develop at least 20 Sleep Inns in South America over the next four years.
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Opened toll-free reservations centers in Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires. The
reservations centers can book Choice hotels throughout South America and
the world.
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Added a web site, www.choiceatlantica.com. The site is viewable in English,
Spanish and Portuguese and is linked to the Choice Hotels International
site for rates, availability and instant confirmations.
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Introduced the Choice Hotels International concept of the 100% Satisfaction
Guarantee at Clarion, Quality, Comfort and Sleep Inn properties. This program
ensures that if a hotel deficiency is reported and cannot be corrected,
there will be no charge for accommodations.
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Introduced “Service 1,” which puts all hotel services at guests’ disposal
with the push of one button. Guests at any Choice Atlantica property simply
dial *1 to reach any hotel department or individual.
“We have every reason to believe that the year 2000 will be even more fast-paced
and successful than last year due to our unique client solutions approach,”
said Paul J. Sistare, president and CEO of Choice Atlantica Hotels. “The
word is out among South American travelers that they now have more – and
more pleasing – choices about where to stay.”
Based in Sao Paulo, Choice Atlantica Hotels is the fastest growing hotel
management and franchise company in South America. It also has offices
in Fort Lauderdale, Buenos Aires and Santiago, Chile. |