Choice Hotels International, Inc. said it opened 88 franchised properties during the second quarter of 2012. The company also has executed a total of 106 new domestic contracts within the second quarter of 2012, a 54 percent increase over the same period of the prior year.

The openings include hotels in 34 states and seven countries including Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, New Zealand and Norway, adding more than 6,700 guestrooms to the company's existing 498,000-plus rooms. The company previously opened a total of 46 hotels during the first quarter of this year and 256 new hotels in 2011.

"Things are looking up in the industry, and I am pleased to confirm that hotels transactions are seeing a significant increase and financing is opening up for new construction," said David Pepper, senior vice president of global development for Choice Hotels. "We are confident that our system will continue with this trend of positive growth."

Select properties that opened during this year's second quarter include: Cambria Suites – Rapid City, S.D.; Comfort Inn & Suites – Spokane Valley, Wash. Quality Hotel Flore Nice Promenade – Nice, France; Sleep Inn & Suites – Marion, Ala.

In addition to these franchised hotels, Choice also introduced: 18 new Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Comfort Inn & Suites, and Comfort Hotel brand hotels in Bernie, Australia; Saintes, France; Oslo, Norway; Bourbonnais, Ill.; Amritsar, India; Pearl, Miss.; Pittsburgh, Penn.; Corsicana, Texas; Fort Saskatchewan, Canada; Lexington Park, Md.; Troutdale, Ore.; Santee, S.C.; Tooele, Utah; Salmon Arm, Canada; Saint-Arnoult, France; Amarillo, Texas; Blacksburg Va.; and Johnson Creek, Wis. 

Choice also introduced 33 new Quality Inn, Quality Inn & Suites, Quality Suites, Quality Hotel, and Quality Resort brand hotels in Erlangen, Germany; Blenheim, New Zealand; Mobile, Ala.; Brewton, Ala.; Wickenburg, Ariz.; Peru, Ill.; Carrollton, Ky.; Murray, Ky.; Foristell, Mo.; Hastings, Neb.; Chester, Va.; Mauston, Wis.; Quesnay, Canada; Wichita, Kans.; Capitola, Calif.; Clearwater, Fla.; Peosta, Iowa; Sioux City, Iowa; Park City, Kans.; Lincoln, Neb.; La Verne, Tenn.: Bryan, Texas; Liberty Lake, Wash.; West Bend, Wis.; Marinette, Wis.; St-Sauveur, Canada; Twin Falls, Idaho; Pagoda Springs, Colo.; Warrnambool, Australia; Orlando, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga.; Baton Rouge, La.; and Rockville, Md.

Choice also added three additional new Sleep Inn and Sleep Inn & Suites brand hotels in O'Fallon, Ill.; Miles City, Mont.; and Austin, Texas. It debuted four new Clarion Hotel and Clarion Inn brand properties in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; San Angelo, Texas; Concord, Calif.; and Wakefield, Mass. Two new extended stay properties -- a MainStay Suites hotel in Tampa, Fla. and a Suburban Extended Stay Hotel property in Evansville, Ind. – were also opened. Also opened were 13 new Econo Lodge and Econo Lodge Inn & Suites brand hotels in Brunswick, Australia; Rome, Ga.; Independence, Mo.; West Ossineke, N.H.; Carlsbad, N.M.; Mason, Ohio; Stroudsburg, Penn.; Walterboro, S.C.; Fulton, Texas; Evergreen, Ala.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and Drums, Penn. Finally, Choice introduced 11 new Roadway Inn and Roadway Inn & Suites brand hotels in Winslow, Ariz.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Greenwood, Miss.; Saint Charles, Mo.; Lake George, N.Y.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Gainesville, Texas; Needles, Calif.; Olathe, Kans.; Butte, Mont.; and Hermiston, Ore.