SILVER SPRING, MD HOTEL BUSINESS. has learned that Choice Hotels International is set to bring the Comfort Suites brand to New York City.
According to Paul Sterbini, vp/franchise sales at Choice, the company signed a letter of intent for the property, which will be a new construction hotel and located in downtown Manhattan. He would not discuss specifics but added the franchisor also has a deal in the works for a 150-room Comfort Suites at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, NY.
While Choice has four Comfort products in New York, it currently doesn t have a Suites-branded hotel. Our goal is to raise the profile of Comfort Suites in the eyes of the business traveler as well as developers, said Sterbini. We re going to be much more focused on putting hotels where people stay.
Sterbini added that Choice also has been approached by one of our better developers to do a deal with the [Jacob K.] Javits [Convention] Center. We re in negotiations with him now. The convention center area is a hot potato for development right now, with reams of potential plans for sports, entertainment, residential and lodging facilities being discussed in anticipation of the city s attracting the 2012 Olympic Games.
Choice also recently signed letters of intent for properties in other high-barrier markets, including MainStay Suites, Boston; Comfort Suites, Dulles Airport (Washington, DC) and Sleep Inn, Comfort Suites and a potential MainStay Suites all on a five-acre tract near Newark International Airport, NJ, Sterbini said. (1/04/01) Stefani C. O Connor