SILVER SPRING, MD—Choice Hotels International is reorganizing its franchise sales strategy and creating an executive level position dedicated to the company’s franchising principles. First, Choice Hotels named Paul Sterbini, a ten-year company veteran who most recently served as vice president/franchise sales, as its new vice president of the Fair Franchising post. “Our Fair Franchising Policy, established more than three years ago, dictates a corporate philosophy of fairness, integrity and trust in all issues relating to our franchisee customers,” said Choice President/CEO Charles A. Ledsinger. Sterbinis new responsibilities include ensuring communication and consistent application of Choice’s Fair Franchising Policy and its Impact Policy; management of the impact objection process; and development of processes to enhance impact issue identification and resolution. He reports to Thom Hall, vice president/brand management and strategy. In addition to Sterbini’s promotion, Choice Hotels also realigned its franchise sales force into three teams. The first team, charged with development of Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn and MainStay Suites brand hotels, will be led by David Pepper, newly appointed as vice president/franchise sales. Pepper joined Choice earlier in 2002 as senior director/business strategy; previously, he had held executive level franchise sales positions in the lodging industry. The second team, responsible for growth of Choice Hotel’s Quality and Clarion brands, will be led by Ron Burgett, currently vice president/franchise sales for Choice’s economy brands. Burgett will maintain responsibility for the third team, charged with growing Choice’ Hotel’s Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands. Ledsinger noted that the changes in the companys sales structure are designed to meet its growing demand with enhanced brand consistency and more strategic growth plans for each brand. Pepper and Burgett report to Joe Squeri, Choice Hotel’s senior vice president/development and chief financial officer.