Choice Hotels Canada - Hotels and Stores Join Forces

Sleep tight

As of Friday, May 15, 1998, more than eight million Sears Card holders coast-to-coast are now able to use their Sears Card at all of the more than 200 Clarion, Quality, Comfort, Sleep, Econo Lodge, Mainstay Suites and Rodeway hotels, suites and resorts across Canada to pay for their accommodation.

In announcing their national partnership, the country’s largest single retailer, Sears Canada Inc., and the largest hotel chain, Choice Hotels Canada Inc., offers consumers more choices, more rewards and more benefits.

Choice Hotels Canada is the exclusive hotel partner for the Sears credit card and Sears Club program in Canada. For Sears, this new alliance means providing Sears Card holders with another payment option for their accommodation at all Choice hotels coast-to-coast. In addition, Sears Card holders will earn one Sears Club point for every dollar spent at a Clarion, Quality, Comfort, Sleep, Econo Lodge, MainStay Suites or Rodeway hotel. Points can be used towards free rewards, including the more than 50,000 products and services available through Sears retail stores, catalogue centers and Sears Travel.

“More than two-thirds of Canadian households have a Sears Card, making it the number one card in the nation,” said Ray Bird, Senior Vice-President, Credit, Sears. “This exciting new partnership offers more value and convenience for Sears Card holders, while offering customers a convenient payment option for their stay at a Choice hotel.”

The Sears Card can also be used to guarantee reservations through Choice’s toll-free reservations hotline: 1-800-4-CHOICE.

“More than eight million Sears Card holders will now be able to earn Sears Club points in their dreams when they stay with us and use their Sears Card for payment,” says Craig P. Farrell, President and Chief Executive 0fficer, Choice Hotels Canada. “To help celebrate, all of our hotels across Canada will launch an enormous Summer Sweepstakes on June 1st, 1998, offering travelers and Sears Card holders a chance to win exciting merchandise and travel prizes.”

The Sears Card is the number one credit card in Canada, with more card-carrying customers than any other retail, bank or specialty card issuer in the country. In 1996, more than 2,500 Shell Canada stations began accepting the Sears Card for the purchase of gasoline and other products. There are currently over 110 Sears Department stores and 1,700 catalogue order pickup locations coast-to-coast.

Choice Hotels Canada offers more lodging choices by brand name than any other chain in the country. There are currently 225 inns, hotels, suites and resorts open and under development, offering close to 20,000 guest rooms. Choice Hotels Canada was recently named “Hotel Chain of the Year” for the third year in a row by the 12,500 members of the North West Commercial Travellers Association, and for the fourth year in a row by the 30,000 members of the Canadian Professional Sales Association, who utilize over 1.2 million hotel rooms in Canada annually.