Choice Hotels International is on track to open a total of 40 hotels this year across Latin America and Spain. These openings include the debuts of the first Choice brands in Spain and Colombia, as well as opening hotels in Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico and Panama, adding nearly 5,000 rooms.
"We continue to expand and reach new markets all over the world—from Bogota, Colombia, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Barcelona and Madrid, Spain," said Mark Pearce, SVP, international division, Choice Hotels, in a statement. "We continue to forge relationships with high-quality, multi-unit developers and operators for long-term agreements in strategic markets."
Spain
Sixteen Ascend Hotel Collection properties opened through Choice Hotels' recent alliance with Sercotel, a Spain-based hotel operator and franchisor. Another eight Ascend properties are expected to open before the end of the year.
Brazil
Atlantica Hotels, Choice Hotels' master franchisee in Brazil, opened three Sleep Inn hotels and one Quality Inn hotel. In addition, two Comfort hotels, one Clarion hotel and one Quality Suites hotel are expected to open by year's end.
Colombia
One Clarion hotel opened and two Ascend properties are expected to open in December, all through the Sercotel alliance.
Mexico
Choice Hotels Mexico has opened two hotels under the Comfort and Sleep Inn brands. A Comfort Inn hotel is expected to open in December.
Panama
An Ascend Hotel Collection property opened through the Sercotel partnership.
Ecuador
Developer Real Hotels & Resorts opened an Ascend Hotel Collection property, its second in the country.
Along with the 40 openings this year, the international pipeline continues to grow. Choice Hotels Mexico recently signed an exclusive multi-unit agreement with SI Operaciones, a Mexican private-equity fund, to develop 20 new-construction Sleep Inn hotels by 2023.