Franchise agreements fuel upscale brand growth in popular travel destinations worldwide.
ROCKVILLE, MD. – The Ascend Hotel Collection, the world's first and largest soft brand from Choice Hotels International, Inc., closed out 2018 by awarding the most franchise agreements in the brand's history. Seventy-three total franchise agreements, 43 domestic and 30 international, were awarded, fueling the brand's continued expansion in key markets across the globe, including Brooklyn, N.Y., Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Antonio, and Savannah, Ga., and destinations in Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America.
"Since its inception, the Ascend Hotel Collection has been a leader in the soft-brand upscale segment," said Mark Shalala, vice president, franchise development, upscale brands, Choice Hotels. "The brand's continued success is a result of our commitment to helping owners run profitable businesses with support from leading technology and robust distribution channels, and providing travelers with the authentic experiences they crave in an increasing number of top markets."
Recent additions to the Ascend Hotel Collection include:
- The Inn at I'ON (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) – Situated in the quaint, tree-lined Mount Pleasant community just outside of Charleston, S.C., the Inn at I'ON combines modern amenities with timeless southern charm to deliver an unforgettable guest experience.
- Industry City Hotel (Brooklyn, N.Y.) – Located in a formerly industrial neighborhood of South Brooklyn, the Industry City Hotel infuses colorful designs and modern Chinese décor throughout each touchpoint to bring its vibrant surroundings to life.
- Sunset Hotel (Brooklyn, N.Y.) – Situated in the Sunset Park West neighborhood near the Brooklyn waterfront, the NBA's Brooklyn Nets training facility, and more, the Sunset Hotel couples great location with great service.
"Guests are increasingly seeking travel experiences that are reflective of their destination and with a robust portfolio of unique, boutique and historic upscale hotels, Ascend delivers on these expectations. Our ongoing expansion creates new opportunities for these travelers – and our franchisees – and we look forward to even more growth in key destinations in the coming year," said Janis Cannon, senior vice president, upscale brands, Choice Hotels.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
