ROCKVILLE, MD.—Choice Hotels International, Inc. announced that Comfort Inn has joined Comfort Suites in offering guests 100 percent smoke-free rooms at its more than 1,800 franchised hotels across the United States and Canada. Comfort is now the largest hotel brand to allow travelers to enjoy a smoke-free stay.
“The Comfort brand has staying power because we always keep the wants and needs of travelers top of mind,” said Anne Smith, Vice President of Brand Strategy for Choice Hotels. “We continue to take a series of bold steps to make the Comfort guest experience better than ever, and becoming the largest hotel brand across the United States and Canada to commit to being smoke free is yet another example.”
The Comfort brand strategy team dug deep into consumer research and guest insights to understand the changing attitudes toward smoking policies at hotels. Findings revealed that preferences for smoke-free environments have increased and even smokers are more likely to choose smoke-free accommodations. Rolling out the nonsmoking initiative also offers Comfort brand franchisees operational advantages, including better room conditions and ease of maintenance, reduced customer complaints and less complicated inventory management, all of which help to create a better stay experience for guests.
Additionally, the brand which boasts 30-plus years of longevity invites guests to join its #GoodForYou conversation around New Year resolutions on social media channels. People taking steps toward self-improvement in 2017 are encouraged to include #GoodForYou and #ComfortInn or #ComfortSuites with their New Year Resolution posts and to visit www.ComfortGoodForYou.com to learn more about how the Comfort brand strives to support guest wellness while on the road.
This move underscores the Comfort brand tagline—Rested. Set. Go.—as well as the brand’s promise to keep guest wellness top of mind, ensuring they feel refreshed and ready to take on the day. Further, Comfort has rolled out lemon-infused ice water stations in all hotel lobbies along with additions to the hotel’s signature complimentary hot breakfast, including healthy options like Greek yogurt, wholesome branded cereals and a selection of natural toppings such as nuts, granola, and dried fruit. Guests can also enjoy the RAIO line of bath and hair products, developed exclusively for Comfort hotels. It features a citrus-mint fragrance. Larger, plusher towels and new shower curtains are also components of the upgraded bath experience to help exceed expectations of the upper midscale guest.
