Choice Hotels Founder, Stewart Bainum, Sr., Dies at 94

Loss of Founder and Former Longtime President and Chief Executive Officer

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. February 14, 2014

February 14, 2014 - On behalf of the entire team at Choice Hotels we are deeply saddened by the loss of our founder and former longtime President and Chief Executive Officer, Stewart Bainum, Sr. who passed away at the age of 94. We offer our condolences to the Bainum family, including members of our Board of Directors, Stewart Bainum, Jr. and Scott Renschler.

Choice's business began as a marketing cooperative formed by a group of seven Florida motor court owners in 1939. The group had five hotels in Florida, one in South Carolina, and one in Virginia. Already an owner of several hotels, Stewart Bainum, Sr. purchased a Quality brand hotel, and ultimately became a primary shareholder of the company. This company, founded and led by Stewart Bainum, Sr., became Choice Hotels International and has grown into one of the largest hospitality companies in the world with more than 6,300 hotels, representing 500,000 rooms worldwide.

I am honored to lead Choice Hotels and honor Stewart's legacy. He will be missed by the many lives he touched.

Steve Joyce, president and CEO, Choice Hotels International