Under the firm’s long-term focus on diversity, Choice Hotels International, Inc. expands its developing markets franchise development program with additional infrastructure opportunities for businesswomen. The development focuses on Choice Hotels’ long-standing initiative to boost diversity in the company’s foundation and around the hospitality business by extending the possibility of hotel management to underrepresented communities. As a result of the challenges, Cheryl Goldberg, founder and CFO of IGO Legacy Hotel Group, was granted the first franchise license in March. Last Thursday, she commemorated the official opening of her Comfort Inn Saint Paul East hotel.
Vice president of Emerging Markets, Franchise Development, and Owner Relationships at Choice Hotels, John Lancaster, said in a statement, “Our dedication to making small scale business ownership a reality for underrepresented entrepreneurs is exemplified by the success of our developing markets franchise development program, which is centered on promoting female hotel owners.”
Choice Hotels has a rich tradition of developing and maintaining a diversified network of franchisees. The firm’s developing markets division has worked to make small business management a reality for disadvantaged and minority entrepreneurs for more than 15 years. From the beginning, the enterprise has granted and funded over 270 franchise contracts to marginalized minority and veteran entrepreneurs, particularly 24 transactions last year throughout the covid-19 crisis.
Goldberg further added, she is excited about joining the Choice Hotels family. As 2021 has been a gratifying exposure to a world-class support network at a renowned company that values diversity. Choice has been distinguished as a franchisor who gives the proper advice, assistance, incentive, and feedback in the real estate and hotel industries for almost 30 years. “It’s a pleasure to be the first woman to join this project, and I intend to encourage more women to think about hotel ownership and investing,” said Goldberg in a statement.
Cheryl Goldberg, Chetna Manoj, Ravina Mehta, Rachna Sachar, and Dimple Patel are among the five businesswomen who have received licenses since the company’s March debut. Choice Hotels strongly encourages female hotel ownership by sponsoring and supporting women-focused hotel ownership conventions, such as She Has a Deal, an educational and investment strategy for ambitious female hotel investors and developers. On the other hand, The Black Girls In Real Estate Conference and Fortuna’s Table, an online forum for diverse future hotel owners to educate, empower, connect, organize, and cooperate on the route to hotel investment and ownership. Source.
