SILVER SPRING, MD Choice Hotels International reported 2000 recurring net income of $58.4 million, or $1.10 recurring diluted earnings per share (EPS), increases of 2% and 6.8%, respectively, over the $57.2 million in recurring net income and $1.03 recurring diluted EPS reported for 1999. Recurring diluted EPS was $0.28 for the fourth quarter 2000, compared to $0/27 for the same period a year ago.
In 2000, the total number of domestic Choice hotels on-line grew 3.9% to 3,244 from 3,123 for 1999. For the year, the total number of domestic hotel rooms increased 3% to 265,962 from 258,120 in 1999. Choice executed 298 new domestic hotel franchise contracts in 2000 and opened a total of 274 domestic hotels. At the end of 2000, Choice had 493 hotels under development in its domestic hotel system, representing 39,539 rooms. Domestic RevPAR increased 4.4% from $35.17 in 1999 to $36.72 for 2000. For fourth quarter 2000, RevPAR increased 4.7% from $34.94 to $36.59. (2/12/01)