SILVER SPRING, Md.--Choice Hotels International CHH has entered into a partnership with Star HRG that enables Choice franchisees to provide low-cost medical and dental insurance coverage to their employees. The agreement between Choice and Star provides limited benefit insurance programs that help with basic, everyday medical and dental expenses. Under Star's Fundamental Care program, employees receive coverage for physician visits and accidents, prescription and vision discounts, accidental death benefits, and coverage for preventive and basic dental procedures. Some of the plans also include term life insurance.

The plans are available to all hotel employees for as little as $3.45 per week. Premiums are paid by participating employees through payroll deductions or through a stored-value Visa Payroll Card.

Premium collection for the insurance program is fully administered by Star. The combination of insurance benefits and a Visa Payroll Card is an industry first, allowing Choice franchisees to offer employee benefits without any of the typical administrative workload.

"Recruiting and maintaining quality employees is the number one challenge for our franchisees," said Daniel Rothfeld, Choice's senior vice president, partner services. "They are constantly looking for tools that give them a competitive edge in today's tight labor market.

"By providing affordable insurance benefits to their employees, our franchisees have that edge," Rothfeld said. "Star makes it easy for our franchisees to offer the program. It's a turnkey solution to one of the most pressing issues in hotel operations - labor recruitment and retention."

About Choice Hotels International

Choice Hotels International CHH franchises more than 5,000 hotels, inns, all-suite hotels and resorts open and under development in 46 countries under the Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Rodeway Inn, Econo Lodge, and MainStay Suites brands. More information is available at www.choicehotels.com. About

Star HRG

Star HRG, a division of The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company, is a member company of UICI UCI and is recognized as a national leader in providing Limited Benefit Medical Plans. Star HRG addresses the unique benefit needs of entry-level, part-time, and high-turnover employees by providing voluntary insurance programs, at a price employees can afford. Star HRG's innovative insurance solutions help companies to reduce turnover, improve recruiting, and stabilize benefit expenses within the hourly paid workforce. More information is available at .

Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, and MainStay Suites are registered trademarks and service marks of Choice Hotels International.

Anne Curtis (Choice)
301-592-5032
Choice