Choice Hotels International has introduced a new upscale hotel concept to the UK with the launche of Ascend Hotel Collection.
First to join the brand are two Edinburgh hotels: the five-AA-star, 18-bedroom The Howard (pictured) and the 42-bedroom Channings hotels. The aim is for a further eight to 10 UK hotels to join Ascend over the next three years.
The Howard and Channings will operate under a franchise agreement with the Edinburgh Collection, which is owned by hospitality and business services group Palm Holdings.
The two hotels will be known as the Howard, an Ascend Hotel Collection member, and Channings hotel, an Ascend Hotel Collection member.
Ascend Hotel Collection currently operates 148 independent hotels in the US, Canada, Australia, Sweden and Ireland.