Last Updated on July 26, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Choice Hotels International is one of the world’s largest hotel franchisors, with properties ranging from budget motels and midscale hotels to extended-stay suites and upscale boutique accommodations. Its history dates to 1939, when seven Florida motor-court owners formed the Quality Courts cooperative. Today, travelers can choose among brands designed for quick road trips, family vacations, business travel, longer stays, and more distinctive upscale experiences.
Quick Answer
Choice Hotels includes brands such as Comfort, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Cambria Hotels, Ascend Collection, Econo Lodge, Country Inn & Suites, and several extended-stay and Radisson brands. The best choice depends on your budget, trip length, location, and required amenities because services and policies can vary by property.
Key Takeaways
- Choice reported 7,588 hotels and 658,348 rooms worldwide as of March 31, 2026.
- The portfolio covers premium and upscale hotels, midscale brands, extended-stay accommodations, and value-focused properties.
- Comfort, Country Inn & Suites, Quality Inn, and Sleep Inn can work well for many family and road-trip stays, but amenities differ by location.
- Everhome Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Studios, and WoodSpring Suites are Choice’s core extended-stay brands.
- Pet rules are property-specific. Fees and restrictions on size, breed, species, or number of pets may apply.
- Choice Privileges was refreshed in 2026 with lower elite thresholds, milestone rewards, and a new Titanium tier.
Choice Hotels Brands at a Glance
Choice Hotels describes itself as a franchise-driven lodging company rather than a single uniform hotel chain. Individual properties are generally independently owned and operated, so room layouts, parking charges, pools, restaurants, pet rules, and other details can differ even within the same brand.
According to Choice Hotels’ first-quarter 2026 system report, the company had 7,588 hotels containing 658,348 rooms worldwide as of March 31, 2026. Its U.S. system included 6,188 hotels, while another 1,400 were outside the United States.
Choice Hotels reported 7,588 hotels worldwide as of March 31, 2026, showing how far the company has grown from the seven Florida motor-court owners who began working together in 1939.
The current Choice Hotels portfolio spans 22 brands. Depending on the country or region, travelers may encounter Comfort, Cambria Hotels, Ascend Collection, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Clarion Pointe, Everhome Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Studios, WoodSpring Suites, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, Country Inn & Suites, Radisson, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson Collection, Radisson Individuals, Radisson Inn & Suites, Park Plaza, and Park Inn.
Note: Choice owns the Radisson-family brands in the Americas. Outside the Americas, those brands are owned by Radisson Hotel Group, which is an unaffiliated company. Brand availability therefore depends on your destination.
Budget-Friendly Accommodation Options
Travelers focused on price can start with Choice’s value-oriented brands, particularly Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn. These properties are often aimed at road trips, overnight stops, and travelers who want straightforward accommodations rather than a long list of resort-style services.
Econo Lodge promotes free Wi-Fi and breakfast at participating locations, although breakfast offerings and service times can vary from one hotel to another. Rodeway Inn similarly focuses on affordable, basic lodging. Refrigerators, microwaves, parking, breakfast, pools, and other amenities should always be checked on the individual hotel page rather than assumed from the brand name.
Pro Tip: Compare the total stay price, not only the advertised nightly rate. Parking, pet charges, breakfast, kitchen access, resort fees, and cancellation terms can make a slightly higher room rate the better overall value.
Quality Inn and Sleep Inn can also be worth comparing when the price difference is small. Sleep Inn, for example, advertises free hot breakfast and Wi-Fi as brand features, while Quality Inn properties commonly emphasize value-added amenities. The exact package still depends on the selected location.
Upscale and Premium Choices
Choice is better known by many travelers for midscale and economy hotels, but its portfolio also includes premium and upscale accommodations. Cambria Hotels and Ascend Collection are two of the most recognizable options in this part of the portfolio.
Cambria Hotels targets travelers looking for a more contemporary full-service experience. Depending on the location, a Cambria property may include a restaurant and bar, fitness facilities, meeting rooms, business services, pools, airport transportation, or other amenities. These features are not identical at every hotel, so travelers should compare the individual property page before booking.
Ascend Collection takes a different approach. It is a collection of distinctive boutique, historic, and resort properties that retain more individual character than a standardized chain hotel. Designs, food and beverage offerings, services, and settings can therefore vary substantially from one Ascend property to another.
Choice’s premium portfolio also includes Radisson-family brands in the Americas, including Radisson, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, and Park Plaza. Travelers looking for a higher-end Choice stay should compare the actual property rather than assuming that every brand or hotel offers the same service level.
Family-Friendly Hotels and Resorts
| Brand or Hotel Type | Why Families May Consider It | Useful Amenities | What to Verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Good fit for many road trips and leisure stays | Free breakfast, spacious rooms or suites, pools at most locations | Room occupancy limits, pool availability, parking and pet policy |
| Country Inn & Suites | Useful for families who value breakfast and comfortable common amenities | Complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi and in-room coffee | Room configuration, pool availability and parking |
| Quality Inn | Often positioned as an affordable option near highways and attractions | Many properties advertise breakfast, Wi-Fi and pools | Exact amenities and any extra charges |
| Extended-Stay Brands | Especially useful for longer family trips or temporary housing | Kitchens, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi and weekly-rate options depending on brand | Kitchen equipment, housekeeping schedule and maximum occupancy |
Comfort can be particularly convenient for families because the brand advertises free breakfast, spacious rooms and suites, and pools or fitness centers at most locations. Country Inn & Suites also promotes complimentary breakfast and free Wi-Fi.
Still, a brand name alone does not guarantee that a particular hotel will have connecting rooms, cribs, an indoor pool, free parking, or a specific bed configuration. Families should check the room’s maximum occupancy and the hotel’s amenities before paying for a nonrefundable reservation.
Location can matter as much as the brand. A hotel within a short drive of a theme park, museum, beach, stadium, or family member’s home may be more convenient than another Choice property with a longer amenity list but a much longer commute.
Pet-Friendly Accommodations
Choice Hotels provides a pet-friendly search filter and says more than 2,500 of its hotels welcome pets. That does not mean every Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, or other Choice property follows the same pet policy.
For example, Choice’s Quality Inn pet guidance explains that pet policies vary by hotel and that nightly fees, size limits, breed restrictions, and other conditions can apply. Comfort Hotels provides similar guidance and recommends contacting the specific hotel for its current rules and pricing.
Warning: Do not assume a hotel is pet-friendly simply because another property under the same brand accepts pets. Check the selected hotel’s policy for allowed animals, pet count, weight or breed limits, deposits, nightly charges, restricted areas, and any documentation requirements before arrival.
Extended-stay properties may be especially attractive for travelers with pets because longer-stay brands can offer kitchens, laundry facilities, and more residential-style accommodations. However, pet acceptance and fees still need to be confirmed for the exact location.
Business Traveler Options
Choice Hotels has options ranging from straightforward overnight business accommodations to full-service properties with meeting and event space. The best fit depends on whether you need only a quiet room and reliable Wi-Fi or a hotel capable of hosting meetings, meals, and larger groups.
Cambria Hotels can be a strong option for business travelers because many locations offer meeting rooms, restaurants or bars, fitness centers, free Wi-Fi, and business-related services. Individual Cambria properties differ, however, and airport transportation, parking, breakfast, and meeting-space charges should be checked separately.
Comfort, Country Inn & Suites, Quality Inn, and Sleep Inn can make sense for shorter work trips where location, breakfast, Wi-Fi, and price matter more than full-service facilities. For an assignment lasting several weeks, one of Choice’s extended-stay brands may provide a better work-and-living setup.
Business travelers should also compare cancellation terms carefully. The cheapest prepaid rate is not always the best choice when meeting dates, flights, or project schedules may change.
Extended-Stay Choice Hotels
Extended-stay accommodations are one of the biggest gaps in the original view of the Choice portfolio. Choice currently groups four major brands in this category: Everhome Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Studios, and WoodSpring Suites.
According to Choice’s extended-stay information, longer-stay properties can include residential-style studios or suites, in-room kitchens, Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, regular housekeeping, fitness facilities, and weekly or monthly rates. Not every listed amenity is available at every location.
Everhome Suites
Everhome Suites is designed around longer stays and emphasizes apartment-style conveniences. It can suit relocation, project work, extended family visits, or other trips where guests need more than a conventional hotel room.
MainStay Suites
MainStay Suites focuses on apartment-style suites with kitchen facilities and separate areas for working, relaxing, and dining. It can be useful for travelers who need a room that functions as both temporary living space and workspace.
Suburban Studios
Suburban Studios emphasizes affordable longer stays. Its official brand information highlights in-room kitchens, on-site laundry, Wi-Fi, and weekly-rate options, with individual property details still subject to local availability.
WoodSpring Suites
WoodSpring Suites is another value-focused extended-stay option. Travelers comparing extended-stay properties should check the kitchen setup, housekeeping schedule, laundry costs, parking, pet policy, and total weekly or monthly price before choosing.
Unique and Boutique Hotels
Travelers who prefer a hotel with more local character should look closely at Ascend Collection. Instead of requiring every property to look alike, the collection includes boutique hotels, historic properties, resorts, adaptive-reuse projects, and other distinctive accommodations.
This means an Ascend stay in one destination can be very different from an Ascend stay somewhere else. A property may occupy a restored historic building, feature locally influenced decor, provide an on-site restaurant, or offer staff recommendations focused on the surrounding neighborhood.
The variety is part of the appeal, but it also makes property-level research especially important. Travelers should examine recent photos, room types, restaurant hours, parking information, accessibility features, resort charges, and cancellation terms rather than relying only on the Ascend name.
How to Choose the Right Choice Hotel
Start with the purpose of the trip rather than the brand logo. A road-trip stop, week-long work assignment, family vacation, romantic weekend, and airport overnight all call for different priorities.
- For the lowest practical price: compare Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn, then check nearby Quality Inn or Sleep Inn rates.
- For breakfast and familiar midscale amenities: consider Comfort, Country Inn & Suites, Sleep Inn, or participating Quality Inn properties.
- For a longer stay: compare Everhome Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Studios, and WoodSpring Suites.
- For a more distinctive stay: look at Ascend Collection.
- For contemporary upscale accommodations: compare Cambria and applicable Radisson-family properties.
- For pets: use the pet-friendly search filter and then verify the exact hotel’s written policy.
Once you have narrowed the list, compare the individual hotel pages. Check breakfast, parking, Wi-Fi, room layout, accessibility, pools, fitness facilities, kitchens, pet fees, check-in age, cancellation rules, and the total price for your dates.
Loyalty Programs and Rewards
Choice Privileges is the company’s free loyalty program. Members can earn points on qualifying stays and redeem them for hotel nights and other rewards. Choice currently advertises earnings of up to 10 points per U.S. dollar spent on qualifying room charges at participating properties, although program terms and certain extended-stay limits apply.
The program received a significant refresh beginning in 2026. According to the current Choice Privileges benefits page, the elite structure is:
- Gold: 5 qualifying nights or 10,000 Elite Qualifying Credits.
- Platinum: 15 qualifying nights or 30,000 Elite Qualifying Credits.
- Diamond: 35 qualifying nights or 70,000 Elite Qualifying Credits.
- Titanium: 55 qualifying nights or 110,000 Elite Qualifying Credits.
The 2026 update also introduced milestone rewards and additional ways to work toward status. Choice advertises reward nights at many participating properties starting at 8,000 points, while its program FAQ notes that some hotels can occasionally start lower. The points required for a particular hotel can vary, so travelers should check the live redemption rate before transferring or purchasing points.
Members may also receive access to direct-booking member rates and other benefits based on membership or elite level. Third-party bookings may not qualify for the same points or benefits, so travelers who value Choice Privileges should review the program rules before booking through an online travel agency.
Note: Loyalty-program benefits, redemption levels, promotions, and elite requirements can change. Check the current Choice Privileges terms before making a booking primarily for points or status.
For broader travel-planning information and accommodation research, visit Take Travel Info when preparing for your next trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Choice Hotels?
Choice Hotels International is a global lodging franchisor with brands covering premium and upscale hotels, midscale accommodations, extended-stay properties, and economy hotels. Its portfolio includes brands such as Comfort, Cambria Hotels, Ascend Collection, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Everhome Suites, WoodSpring Suites, Country Inn & Suites, and several Radisson-family brands in the Americas.
How many Choice Hotels are there?
Choice Hotels reported 7,588 hotels with 658,348 rooms worldwide as of March 31, 2026. The company reported 6,188 hotels in the United States and 1,400 internationally at that date.
Where are Choice Hotels located?
Choice has a large U.S. presence as well as hotels elsewhere in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. The brands available under Choice can vary by country and region.
Does Choice Hotels own Radisson?
Choice Hotels acquired Radisson Hotels Americas in 2022 and owns Radisson-family brands in the Americas. Outside the Americas, Radisson brands are owned by Radisson Hotel Group, an unaffiliated company.
What amenities do Choice Hotels offer?
Amenities depend on the brand and individual hotel. Depending on the property, guests may find Wi-Fi, breakfast, pools, fitness centers, restaurants, business services, meeting rooms, parking, pet-friendly rooms, kitchens, or laundry facilities. Always check the selected hotel’s amenity list before booking.
Are Choice Hotels pet-friendly?
Many are, but the policy is not universal. Choice says more than 2,500 hotels are pet-friendly. Individual properties can impose pet fees, size or breed limits, species restrictions, and limits on the number of pets, so verify the hotel’s policy before arrival.
Which Choice Hotels brands are designed for extended stays?
Choice’s primary extended-stay brands are Everhome Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Studios, and WoodSpring Suites. Depending on the brand and location, longer-stay amenities can include kitchens, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi, regular housekeeping, and weekly or monthly rates.
How can I make a reservation at a Choice Hotel?
Reservations can be made through the official Choice Hotels website, the Choice Hotels mobile app, Choice’s reservation service, participating hotel locations, travel agents, or third-party booking sites. Direct reservations may qualify for Choice Privileges member rates, points, or other program benefits that may not apply to some third-party bookings.
What is the Choice Privileges loyalty program?
Choice Privileges is Choice Hotels’ free rewards program. Members can earn points on qualifying stays and redeem them for reward nights and other eligible rewards. In 2026, the program includes Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Titanium elite levels as well as milestone rewards and additional ways to qualify for status.
Sources
- Choice Hotels International — First Quarter 2026 Results — current hotel and room counts by brand and region.
- Choice Hotels — Corporate History — the company’s 1939 origins and development.
- Choice Hotels — Brand Portfolio — current hotel brands and brand positioning.
- Choice Hotels — Extended Stay Amenities — extended-stay brands and common longer-stay features.
- Choice Hotels — Quality Inn Pet Policy — pet fees, restrictions, and property-level policy guidance.
- Choice Privileges — Membership Benefits — current 2026 rewards and elite-status structure.