The Sleep Inn Charleston North, located at 7435 Northside Drive, is the 2004 winner of the Sleep Inn of the Year Award from Choice Hotels International, franchisor of the Sleep Inn brand.

The Inn of the Year Award is presented annually to hotels that exceed Choice��s rigid quality assurance standards. To qualify, a hotel must undergo a series of rigorous and unannounced inspections that evaluate every aspect of the hotel starting with its curb appeal. Departments are rated according to criteria including staff knowledge, attitude, and professionalism; training, safety and security; maintenance and energy conservations; and physical conditions.

The Sleep Inn Charleston North was selected as Inn of the Year from among 307 Sleep Inn hotels throughout the United States.

The Sleep Inn Charleston North knows what it takes to be the best, said Chuck Ledsinger, Choice's president and chief executive officer. Their dedication, hard work, training and teamwork has paid off and I congratulate them on their success.�

The Sleep Inn Charleston North, owned and operated by Gateway Hospitality of Columbia, S.C., features 68 rooms with the following amenities: High-speed wireless Internet access Business center with high-speed Internet service including free fax /copier In-room data ports with free local calls Coffee makers, iron/ironing boards, and hair dryers in every room Oversized TV��s with 3 HBO channels Refrigerators in all rooms Free deluxe breakfast bar

As a company, we are geared toward offering a service that is above the customers expectations, said Geoff Cipkala, regional operations manager. We do this by treating our employees as well as we treat our guests. The entire staff is extremely honored and excited to have been selected Inn of the Year.

Reservations at the Sleep Inn Charleston North can be made by contacting the hotel directly at (843) 572-8400. Rooms also can be booked by contacting Choice's toll-free reservation service at (800)-4CHOICE or by visiting www.choicehotels.com on the Internet.

Choice Hotels International is the world's second largest lodging franchisor, marketing more than 5,000 hotels open or under development in 44 countries and territories under the Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Econo Lodge, and Rodeway Inn brand names. For more information on Choice, visit the company's Web site at www.choicehotels.com

Gateway Hospitality started owning and managing hotels in 1995. Since then Gateway has been successfully involved in over 15 hotels. Gateway is involved in various hotels throughout the Carolinas, including the Clarion Townhouse in Columbia, two Sleep Inns and a Wingate Inn in Charleston, a Ramada Inn in Clemson, a Days Inn and Suites in Mocksville North Carolina, and a Microtel Inn and Suites in Cherokee North Carolina. Gateway has immediate plans for the development and acquisition of 10 more hotels by 2005.

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Media Contact: Chris Nobles +1 843-805-3045 cnobles@charlestoncvb.com