Choice Hotels Promotes Ronald D. Parisotto to Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

SILVER SPRING, Md., April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The board of directors of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) today announced that it has promoted Ronald D. Parisotto (46) to senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary.  Parisotto, who will continue to report to President and CEO Stephen P. Joyce, also serves as an officer of the company. 

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100429/PH95401 )

In his new position, Parisotto is responsible for leading all aspects of the company's legal department both domestically and internationally, including corporate governance, securities, labor, litigation, franchising, and contracts. 

Parisotto brings to his role strong legal expertise in hospitality and franchising law, as well as leadership experience working in large law firm and in-house legal department environments.  He joined Choice in 2003 as director of risk management & counsel, responsible for developing and leading the company's risk management strategies and related initiatives, as well as overseeing all commercial and technology transactions.  In 2005, he was promoted to senior counsel and in 2006 to vice president, assistant general counsel and assistant corporate secretary.

"I am extremely confident in Ron's leadership and legal expertise," said Joyce.  "He has played a significant role in strengthening our organization's franchise contracting, compliance and risk management functions, and his talent for analyzing legal issues with a keen business perspective makes him a valuable addition to our executive team."

Prior to joining Choice, Parisotto was a senior associate in the global law firm of Mayer Brown, where he represented Fortune 50 clients in the firm's Corporate & Technology Practice. He also served as a senior consultant with Accenture, where he led information technology planning and implementation initiatives.

Parisotto was admitted to the Bar in New York and Washington, D.C. in 1998.  He earned his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1997 and his bachelor's degree from the University of Waterloo, Canada in 1988.  An active member of the industry, he serves as a member of the Risk Management Committee for the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA).

About Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises more than 6,000 hotels, representing more than 485,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 35 other countries and territories.  As of March 31, 2010, more than 600 hotels are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States, representing more than 52,000 rooms, and more than 100 hotels, representing approximately 8,200 rooms, are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in more than 20 other countries and territories.  The company's Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands serve guests worldwide.  In addition, via its Ascend Collection membership program, travelers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean have upscale lodging options at historic, boutique and unique hotels.

Additional corporate information may be found on the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Web site, which may be accessed at www.choicehotels.com.

Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and Ascend Collection are proprietary trademarks and service marks of Choice Hotels International.

(c) 2010 Choice Hotels International, Inc.  All rights reserved.

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.