Choice Hotels Launches 'Choice Club Plus' With Ernex Marketing Technologies Loyalty Solution.

Business Editors

TORONTO/VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 2002

Choice Hotels Canada, an innovative marketing and technology franchise and the largest hotel chain in the country, announced today that they have chosen Ernex Marketing Technologies Inc., a provider

of real-time marketing solutions, to deliver its new, real-time customer loyalty program dubbed "Choice Club Plus." Choice Club Plus is designed to further enhance the experience of Choice Hotel's over-night guests by providing real-time reward status and point accumulations right on the customers receipt. By rewarding and recognizing these customers for their patronage, the Choice Hotels Canadian franchises can realize increased revenue opportunities.

"By instituting Ernex's technology, we are able to extend the over-all program benefits to our guests while also reducing costs," said Gary Decatur, president and CEO, Choice Hotel Canada. "Ultimately, this program is designed to help our franchisees more effectively communicate with their clients, encourage loyalty and increase guest retention, as well as help promote cross-sell opportunities with our program partners."

By participating in the Choice Club Plus program each of the more than 135,000 members earn 6.5 points for every dollar they spend. They can then use these points to redeem various reward options at popular Canadian merchants such as Sears Canada and Esso Imperial Oil, travel reward options including coach and train travel with Greyhound Canada and VIA Rail and free room nights at Choice Hotel's 260 Canadian locations.

"Ernex's real-time technology has the ability to offer rewards to customers that are immediate and valuable," said James Christensen, president and CEO of Ernex. "We are thrilled to be helping Choice Hotels Canada create exciting new ways for their patrons to realize immediate rewards and benefits and to allow their franchises to gain greater market share in the process."

About Ernex Marketing Technologies

Ernex Marketing Technologies is a provider of innovative real-time marketing solutions for merchants, bankcard issuers and large membership organizations. Ernex delivers real-time electronic marketing solutions to a variety of industries, including loyalty database hosting solutions, coalition marketing capabilities, real-time points/loyalty programs, Swipe 'N Win sweepstakes programs, custom coupons/messaging capabilities and stored-value gift card programs. For more information, contact Ernex at 877-GO-ERNEX or visit www.ernexinc.com. Ernex is a wholly owned subsidiary of RBC Royal Bank.

About Choice Hotels Canada

Choice Hotels Canada is the largest hotel chain in the country with 260 properties representing eight brands from coast to coast including Comfort, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Mainstay Suites, Econo Lodge and Rodeway. The company intends to grow with its licensees by offering new franchising opportunities and enhanced operational services. All Choice properties offer guests a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.