AFM Hospitality Expands By 47 Properties

TORONTO— AFM Hospitality Corp. signed 47 new franchise applications for its hotel brands across Canada in 2002. “This growth is a direct result of our strategic development plans,” said Glen Blake, president/CEO of AFM’s franchise division-Canada, “and our focus on maintaining and nurturing our business relationships across Canada. During the second half of the year especially we experienced a surge of interest and desire by owners and investors, putting us on track for a record-setting year and strategically providing us with outstanding momentum going into 2003.” Of the 47 completed franchise applications, 17 were Ramada-branded properties. AFM Hospitality Corp. is the master Canadian franchisor for such brands as Howard Johnson, La Quinta, Hawthorn Suites, Park Plaza, Best Inns and others. Its subsidiaries in the United States and Canada include AFM’s Hospitality management division, which provides management services to hotels and restaurants, while the AFM services division specializes in providing interim asset management services for financial institutions. The company operates or has open and/or executed franchise and management agreements with 200 hotels, restaurants and other nationally franchised service businesses throughout North America.