Forbes Names Choice Hotels a Best Employer for Diversity

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. CHH, one of the world's largest lodging franchisors, was named one of the "Best Employers for Diversity" in 2019 by Forbes magazine. The accolade, which recognizes organizations for their commitment to diversity and outstanding workplace culture, ranks Choice among the top 500 employers in the United States and one of the leading travel and leisure companies.

"At Choice Hotels, fostering an inclusive culture is more than just the right thing to do—it better positions us for the future," said Patrick Pacious, president and chief executive officer, Choice Hotels. "Our people are our best asset and the diversity of thought and experience they bring to work every day underpins our success as a company. We're pleased to be recognized for living our brand promise to make everyone who walks through our doors feel welcome, wanted, and respected."

To earn its place on the list, Choice scored high marks on several areas related to diversity and inclusion, which it achieves by supporting both a top-down and bottom-up approach. In addition to its board of directors standing committee dedicated to driving diversity across the enterprise, the company's Diversity Advisory Council and 10 Choice Employee Resource Groups draw people from across the organization to address business objectives, shape the company's culture, communicate its values, and spur broad employee engagement. Further, Choice Hotels is one of the only lodging companies to have an emerging markets development team with personnel dedicated to helping minorities and veterans pursue opportunities in the industry.

The latest designation builds upon previous recognition Choice Hotels has received for its exceptional corporate culture. In the past year, Choice was also recognized by Forbes as a Best Mid-Size Employer, by the United States Business Leadership Network (USBLN) and American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) as a Best Place to Work for People with Disabilities, and by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.

Forbes' 2019 "Best Employers for Diversity" list was published on Forbes.com today. For more information on the selection process, visit https://www.forbes.com/best-employers-diversity/list/.

About Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels International, Inc. CHH is one of the largest and most successful lodging franchisors in the world. With more than 6,900 hotels, representing more than 560,000 rooms in over 40 countries and territories as of September 30, 2018, the Choice® family of hotel brands provide business and leisure travelers with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upscale, midscale, extended-stay and economy segments. The award-winning Choice Privileges® loyalty program offers members benefits ranging from everyday rewards to exceptional experiences. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com.

© 2019 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

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