SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND Choice Hotels International will relocate its global headquarters from Silver Spring, Maryland, about 10 miles west to Rockville when its current lease expires in 2013.
The world’s sixth largest hotel company has been looking for two years for a new larger headquarters, settling on office space in Rockville Town Center. Once at its new location, the company plans to add 75 new employees.
“Paramount in our decision was to identify a location convenient to where the vast majority of our employees currently live and which provides easy access to public transportation, as well as shops and services,” says Choice President and CEO Stephen Joyce. “Additionally, we are pleased with the support shown to us by the state of Maryland, Montgomery County and the city of Rockville for Choice Hotels to remain in Maryland.”
The company is considering building a Cambria Suites hotel near the proposed headquarters site to accommodate an estimated 10,000 stays per year generated by employee and franchisee training programs.
“Choice Hotels’ decision to continue to invest and create new jobs in Maryland is a great win for the state and for Montgomery County,” says Governor Martin O’Malley. “We know that in today’s global economy, companies have many location choices, and we are pleased that we can offer Choice Hotels the kind of highly-skilled, highly-educated workforce, strategic location and outstanding quality of life that will enable the company to continue to grow here for years to come.”
Maryland, Montgomery County and Rockville are providing a combined US$4.3 million in grants and loans to assist with the relocation. Choice is also eligible for several government tax credits.