Choice Hotels Expands Presence in Japan

Choice Hotels International, Inc. has signed a 10-year extension of its existing master franchising agreement with Choice Hotels Japan and expects to open more than 30 new Comfort hotels in the market by 2033. Choice Hotels Japan has been the exclusive franchisor of the Comfort brand in the country since 2003 and has a current portfolio of more than 60 hotels in key markets, including Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka and Sapporo.

"International growth is a major focus for us and Japan is one of the world's fastest-growing travel destinations, so we're thrilled to increase our presence in this highly sought-after global market," says Choice Hotels International President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Pacious. "We look forward to building on our long-standing relationship with Choice Hotels Japan as we continue to grow Comfort's presence and further integrate our digital business delivery platforms."

The first seven of the new Comfort hotels are planned to open over the next three years in large cities including Kyoto, Matsuyama and Nagoya. This aggressive expansion is expected to bring the number of rooms in the Comfort portfolio to more than 15,000 by 2025, positioning Choice Hotels Japan as one of Japan's top-five operators.

To commemorate the master franchising agreement extension, a signing ceremony was held yesterday in Tokyo, which included Pacious as well as Choice Hotels Japan President and Representative Director Takeya Muraki (pictured).

In the first half of 2019, Choice Hotels International significantly grew its portfolio of rooms and hotels located outside the U.S., increasing by 4.1% and 5.4%, respectively, from June 30, 2018.