Software Engineer 1

Choice Hotels International announces retirement of Chief Human Resources Officer Patrick Cimerola. Oct 01, 2026, 09:10 ET After 25 years with the company, longtime people leader to retire at the end of 2026 NORTH BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), today announced that Chief Human Resources Officer Patrick Cimerola will retire from Choice Hotels at the end of 2026 after a distinguished 25-year career with the company. Since joining Choice Hotels in 2001, Cimerola has played a pivotal role in advancing the company's people strategy and leadership development efforts. During his tenure, he helped guide the organization through significant periods of growth and transformation, including Chief Executive Officer transitions, the integration of major acquisitions, and the company's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Patrick's impact on Choice Hotels extends far beyond human resources," said Dom Dragisich, President and Chief Executive Officer, Choice Hotels International. "For 25 years, he has helped shape the culture, values, and leadership principles that have enabled our company to grow and thrive. His steady leadership, sound counsel, and deep commitment to our people have left an enduring mark on this organization. We are deeply grateful for his extraordinary contributions and wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement." Under Cimerola's leadership, Choice Hotels strengthened its reputation as an employer of choice and earned recognition from notable organizations for its workplace culture and commitment to fostering an environment where associates can grow and succeed. "It has been a privilege to represent Choice Hotels and work alongside so many talented associates during the past 25 years," said Patrick Cimerola, Chief Human Resources Officer. "I am incredibly proud of what we have built together and grateful for the relationships and experiences that have defined my career. Choice Hotels has always been a place where people are welcomed, valued, and respected, and I am confident the company is well-positioned for continued success in the years ahead." "Patrick has been a trusted advisor by my side through some of the most transformative moments in our company's history. He has been the driving force behind our people strategy and fostered a resilient culture that supported our growth from a mid-sized lodging franchisor into a global industry leader. He has been a guiding light for our culture and our people," said Stewart Bainum, Jr., Chairman of Choice Hotels International. "I have worked with Patrick for decades and proudly watched him grow into the strong leader he is today. I want to thank him for his service and partnership." The company will conduct a comprehensive executive search for Cimerola's successor. He will continue serving as Chief Human Resources Officer through December 2026 and will then serve as a special advisor to the company to help ensure a seamless leadership transition. About Choice Hotels(R) Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world, with over 7,500 hotels, representing nearly 650,000 rooms, in 49 countries and territories. A wide-ranging portfolio of 22 brands that includes full-service upper upscale, midscale, extended stay, and economy properties enables Choice(R) to meet travelers' needs in more places and for more occasions while driving more value for franchise owners and shareholders. The award-winning Choice Privileges(R) rewards program and co-brand credit card options provide members with a fast and easy way to earn reward nights and personalized perks. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com. SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.

Choice Privileges adds free points sharing for friends and families. The new loyalty feature lets members transfer points to one another, combining balances more quickly for reward nights, travel experiences and other redemptions. Choice Privileges has introduced free points sharing, allowing members to transfer rewards points to friends and family. Key takeaways. * Choice Privileges members can now transfer points to friends and family at no charge. * The feature is designed to help members combine smaller balances and reach reward nights, travel experiences and other redemptions faster. * Points sharing joins other recent Choice Privileges changes including milestone rewards, faster routes to Elite status and a new Titanium tier. * Choice Hotels says the loyalty program supports stays and rewards across its international hotel portfolio. (NEWS) NORTH BETHESDA, Maryland, United States, 2026-Oct-01 - /Travel PR News/ - Hotel loyalty balances no longer have to stay with a single traveller inside Choice Privileges. Choice Hotels International has introduced free points sharing, allowing members to transfer points to friends and family and combine balances toward future travel rewards. The feature is aimed at a common loyalty-program problem: one person may have enough points to contribute toward a trip while another is still short of a useful redemption. By allowing members to move points between accounts, Choice says households and travel companions can reach reward nights, travel experiences and other benefits more quickly. Choice has not positioned the change as a stand-alone promotion. Instead, points sharing forms part of a broader redesign of the Choice Privileges program that has been adding new earning, redemption and status options. A more flexible way to build a usable points balance. Under the new feature, members can transfer points to friends or family without a transfer fee. That creates several practical uses: travellers can help fund a shared reward stay, consolidate smaller balances or move points to someone who is closer to a redemption threshold. "Today's travelers are increasingly looking for more meaningful ways to experience the world together," said Geeta Chandan, Vice President, Loyalty at Choice Hotels International. She said the new capability is intended to make it easier for members to plan family holidays, milestone trips and other shared getaways. The company has not disclosed additional transfer limits or account-level restrictions in the material released with the announcement, so members should check the program's current terms before moving points. Points sharing joins a wider Choice Privileges overhaul. The launch follows a series of Choice Privileges enhancements announced as the company reshaped the program around more frequent rewards and faster progress toward status. Recent additions include milestone rewards, accelerated paths to Elite status and a new top-level Titanium tier. Points sharing extends that strategy beyond the individual account by making earned points more useful across families and groups travelling together. That can be particularly relevant for occasional travellers whose balances may otherwise build slowly. Combining points can turn several modest accounts into one balance large enough for a practical redemption, without requiring each traveller to wait until they independently reach the same threshold. Choice ties loyalty flexibility to a broad hotel network. Choice Privileges can be used across a hotel portfolio that includes brands such as Cambria Hotels, Comfort, Quality Inn and Everhome Suites, with properties in 51 countries and territories according to the company's announcement. Members can redeem points for hotel stays as well as other rewards including gift cards and travel experiences. Choice also points to the program's recent recognition in external hotel-rewards comparisons, including a 2026 WalletHub-related announcement. For travellers, the practical change is straightforward: points earned by different people can now contribute to the same travel goal. That gives Choice Privileges members another option for turning fragmented loyalty balances into stays and other rewards, particularly when planning trips together.

Choice Hotels International has agreed to acquire Harvest Hosts, an RV travel membership company, for approximately $130 million in an all-cash transaction. The deal extends Choice Hotels' reach into the outdoor travel market whilst maintaining its asset-light strategy. Harvest Hosts connects RV travellers with overnight experiences at more than 11,200 host locations, including wineries, farms, breweries and museums. Research shows Choice Privileges members over-index amongst RV travellers, creating opportunities to deepen engagement with existing members. Harvest Hosts will continue operating as a standalone business under its existing brand, with founder Joel Holland remaining as CEO. The transaction will be funded through cash on hand and borrowings under Choice Hotels' existing revolving credit facility. The deal is expected to close on 1 October 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Choice Hotels acquired 100% of Harvest Hosts from Stripes, a New York-based growth equity firm, and other shareholders.