Choice Hotels International (NYSE: CHH), one of the world’s largest hotel franchisors and the first hotel company with its own mobile application, is putting its name on another mobile app through a partnership with MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), the interactive media and internet company of Major League Baseball. The hotel giant is announcing it is now in the dugout as the presenting sponsor of MLB PrePlay for the 2012 MLB Postseason.
The gaming application, which was created by PrePlay, Inc., a predictive gaming studio, allows baseball fans to forecast every swing and pitch in live baseball games as well as make pre-game and between-inning predictions for game stats and player performances. Fans can challenge fellow gamers to compete and see how their prediction skills stack up per game, per week or all season long on leaderboards within the app. The app also comes equipped with Facebook and Twitter integration, in-game chat rooms and a trophy case.
“It’s great to be on the same team as MLBAM and PrePlay,” said Alexandra Jaritz, Senior Vice President of Brand Strategy and Marketing for Choice Hotels International. “Everyone enjoys following America’s pastime, whether it’s live on the field or through a gaming app on a mobile device. Choice Hotel guests are no exception. They have incredible loyalty - toward us and their favorite baseball teams, whether they are at home or on the road.”
“Partnering with PrePlay and Choice Hotels to deliver a mobile experience in which fans can challenge friends, family and other fans while watching live baseball games allows us to collaboratively utilize the latest mobile gaming technologies to bring the game to fans in fun and engaging ways,” said Kenny Gersh, Senior Vice President of Business Development for MLBAM.
MLB PrePlay for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad is now available for download at Apple’s App Store.
About Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises approximately 6,200 hotels, representing more than 495,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 30 other countries and territories. As of June 30, 2012, more than 375 hotels were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States, representing more than 30,000 rooms, and approximately 75 hotels, representing approximately 6,700 rooms, were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in approximately 15 other countries and territories. The company’s Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands, as well as its Ascend Hotel Collection membership program, serve guests worldwide.
Additional corporate information may be found on the Choice Hotels International, Inc. website, which may be accessed at http://www.choicehotels.com.