Choice Hotels Honors Town Pump Hotel Group, Inc. With Prestigious Hotelier Award 

Butte, MT – (September 19, 2014) – Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's leading hotel companies, named Town Pump Hotel Group, Inc. the winner of its 2014 Premier Hotelier Award, recognizing the firm's commitment to the Choice Hotels family. The award was presented to Kevin Kenneally at Choice Hotels’ 60th annual convention in Las Vegas.

"We are honored to receive this elite distinction, and are proud to be a partner of almost 20 years with Choice Hotels,” said Maureen Kenneally, corporate spokesperson for Town Pump Hotel Group. “Receiving the 2014 Premier Hotelier Award is a result of the vision we set for our hotels and the effort the team puts into accomplishing our goal of providing extraordinary guest service. This company was built by its employees and we will continue to strive to operate as a family owned business where all of our associates are considered part of the family.”

The Premier Hotelier Award recognizes exceptional franchisees that develop properties with Choice Hotels, live up to the brand promise through excellent property performance, and are active in the franchise community. The award recognizes owners who are truly committed to the brand and who work closely with Choice Hotels to enhance the brand's success.

Headquartered in Butte, Montana, Town Pump Hotel Group owns and operates 12 hotels in the state and one hotel in neighboring Idaho which include a total of six Choice Hotel franchised properties -- three Comfort Inn locations, a Comfort Suites property, and two Sleep Inn locations.

The Sleep Inn & Suites Idaho Falls recently received national recognition for a TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Exceptional Service Award. Winners are determined based on the excellence of reviews and ratings for service, and are selected by the people who know them best – travelers. Every year, millions of TripAdvisor travelers from across the world provide the reviews and opinions that determine the winners of the prestigious award.

This is the first Hotelier of the Year Award for Town Pump Hotel Group but several of their Choice Hotels properties have received various awards in years past. The Helena Comfort Suites received two Choice Hotels Platinum Awards, the Sleep Inn & Suites Idaho Falls received the Choice Hotels Gold Award twice and the Platinum Award once, the Miles City Sleep Inn & Suites was ranked fourth in the United States on TripAdvisor’s Green Leaders program and was ranked eighth in the United States by TripAdvisor for exceptional guest service as well.

“Town Pump Hotel Group has been an outstanding partner for Choice Hotels for nearly two decades,” said Stephen P. Joyce, president and chief executive officer for Choice Hotels International. “Town Pump started as a family business 60 years ago and we couldn’t be more proud to honor their team for all they have achieved with us through the years. Their hotels consistently deliver the highest level of customer satisfaction, with an emphasis on meeting the needs of the guests and delivering a memorable experience.’”

Started by Tom and Mary Ann Kenneally as a full service gas station 60 years ago, Town Pump Hotel Group has grown into 97 convenience stores and travel plazas, 95 mini-casinos, 20 self-service car washes, and 13 hotels. Today, their six children run the company’s day to day operations, and oversee its 3,000 employees across the state.

The company is named after founder Tom Kenneally’s memory of the town water pump in the small Montana community where he grew up. The water pump was necessary, reliable and a gathering place for residents – all qualities Town Pump Hotel Group, Inc. emulates today. Through the Town Pump Foundation, the company gives back to the communities it operates in, contributing $500,000 to area food banks in 2013, and generating approximately $120,000 in raffle ticket sales for the Special Olympics.