Choice Hotels International is opening its first hotels in Haiti. The Silver Spring-based hotel franchiser is opening a Comfort Inn hotel in Haiti’s historic Jacmel this year, and will open an Ascend Collection hotel later, as part of Jacmel’s Belle Rive project, which also includes retail, dining and residential developments and a marina.

The hotels will be owned by New York-based SIMACT, Inc., a company founded by Haitian investors in 1996 to invest in Haitian real estate and tourism projects.

“The new collaborative relationship between Choice Hotels and SIMACT will have a significantly positive impact on the burgeoning tourism industry of the southeastern coast of Haiti,” said SIMACT president Lesly Kernisant in a statement.

Choice launched its Ascend Collection, a network of historic and boutique member hotels, in 2008.
Choice Hotels (NYSE: CHH) franchises more than 6,000 hotels. Its other brands include Roadway Inn, Econo Lodge and Cambria Suites.