SILVER SPRING, Md. -- Sleep Inn, the moderately priced brand
franchised by Choice Hotels International, is expanding rapidly
overseas with new properties in Canada, Japan, Brazil, Spain and
Great Britain.
The firm has opened 215 Sleep Inns since 1988 and has 164 under
development, according to Norman Cavin, vice president and brand
manager.
Targeted for development in Great Britain are more than 35 Sleep
Inns during the next five years, he said, with another 20 in Spain
over the next six years, including locations in Madrid, Barcelona
and Valencia.
The British properties are being launched by Choice Hotels
Europe and its master franchisee, Friendly Hotels PLC.
The expansion in Spain is by Friendly Hotels and Patrimonial
Hotelera 2001 SL.
In other global developments, 10 Sleep Inn hotels are scheduled
to debut in Japan over the next few years, Choice said.
In South America, 35 Sleep Inns are to be constructed over the
next five years.
Choice Atlantica Hotels, for example, opened its first Sleep Inn
property this year in Campinas, Brazil, with three more planned for
that country by the end of 2000 as well as one in Peru.
In creating the prototype Sleep Inn, Choice replaced the
standard hotel bathtub with an oversized, well-illuminated, walk-in
shower, Cavin said.
All guest rooms feature a telephone with data port, a large desk
with electrical outlets, two phone jacks, continental breakfast and
USA Today delivery.