Checking In: Choice Hotels Brings Its Rewards Program To Europe

Choice Hotels International—owner of brands that include Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn and Cambria Suites—this month announced an expansion of its rewards program, Choice Privileges, to include some of its European properties and allow membership for most European travelers. The change, which took effect May 5, lets travelers earn points at 270 properties in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, bringing the total number of properties eligible for reward accrual to 5,500. "We're always looking for new and exciting ways to add value to our rewards program, and I believe our expansion into the European market is a big step," Choice Privileges vice president Greg Brown said in a statement. In addition, Choice has opened up membership to most European travelers, outside of those in Scandinavia.

Interstate, JHM Partnership Stakes Ground In India
A joint venture partnership between Interstate Hotels & Resorts and JHM Hotels has announced its first hotel in India as it seeks to establish a presence in the country's booming lodging market. The 50/50 venture, JHM Interstate Hotels India, is securing a major brand for a 124-room hotel under construction in the coastal city of Vizag, which is between Kolkata, formerly Calcutta, and Chennai. The venture sourced the hotel, scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of this year, through U.S.-based real estate investment group JNB Hotels and Resorts Private Limited and is looking for opportunities for further growth in India. "JNB has developed a robust pipeline of hotel management opportunities throughout the country for us," according to Interstate chief investment officer Leslie Ng. "The joint venture also is actively sourcing other management opportunities throughout key markets in India."

Two Chicago Marriott Hotels Housed Under One Roof
Merrillville, Ind.-based hospitality management company White Lodging has opened a first-of-its-kind, dual-branded hotel in Chicago that combines Marriott International's midprice SpringHill Suites and extended stay Residence Inn brands into a single property. The 27-story hotel includes 270 rooms under the Residence Inn banner and 253 rooms under the SpringHill Suites banner. It also marks the first urban location for SpringHill Suites. The new hotel is part of a goal for White Lodging, which currently has a portfolio of 124 hotels in 17 states, to add more than 100 properties over the next five years. In addition to the Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites brands, White Lodging also works with Marriott's Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites and Renaissance brands, as well as Carlson Hotels Worldwide's Radisson brand and brands of InterContinental Hotels Group and Hilton Hotels Corp.

Millennium Luxury Brand Gets Underway In Asia
Millennium Hotels & Resorts this month announced the official launch of a new luxury brand that already has debuted in four major Asian cities. The Grand Millennium brand now is online with a 325-room property in Bangkok, a 458-room property in Kuala Lumpur, a 521-property in Beijing and a 352-room property in Dubai, which Millennium rebranded in March. Grand Millennium properties feature large atriums, lobbies and swimming pools, as well as in-room technological amenities including multiline telephones with dataports, wireless Internet, 37-inch LCD televisions and heated towel racks.