Choice Hotels Clarion Inn Pigeon Forge Earns Consecutive Wins

Hotel Is Awarded Back to Back Hotel of the Year Honors

Owner Pramod Patel and General Manager Ian Vosburg accepted the prestigious Hotel of the Year award from Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), franchisor of the Clarion brand, for the Clarion Inn Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The highly coveted award was announced recently at Choice Hotels' 60th annual convention in Las Vegas.

"To win the Hotel of the Year award, a property must demonstrate a commitment to exceptional customer service, and that's where the Clarion Inn Pigeon Forge excels," said Stephen P. Joyce, president and CEO of Choice Hotels International. "For the second year in a row, this hotel ranked highest among its peers and clearly demonstrates operational excellence. Choice Hotels is proud to have such an outstanding property in its portfolio."

This is the second time the Clarion Inn Pigeon Forge has been awarded the Hotel of the Year award from Choice Hotels and with over 1,500 reviews on the Trip Advisor travel site, the hotel is still ranked number 1 out of the 95 hotels in the area. The hotel is also a two-time recipient of Trip Advisor's Best Service award, winning in 2013 and 2014.

"From the moment the hotel opened in 2010, we've focused every day on exceeding customers' expectations," said General Manager Ian Vosburg. "We want guests to have a great time and it is tremendously gratifying to be recognized for that effort."

Set in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge and the surrounding area offer breathtaking sightseeing opportunities. Guests of the 94-room hotel have convenient access to many area attractions and the hotel is near local points of interest including Dollywood, the Dixie Stampede Theater, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and the Smoky Mountain Brewery.

"Choice Hotels has given us the tools to achieve the very highest performance standards in the industry," Vosburg added. "From the Choice Privileges loyalty program to the freedom to offer special hotel amenities like an in-house spa, extended pool hours with snow-cones in the summertime, a 109-foot waterslide, a lazy river and even a fire pit, we've been encouraged to 'think outside the box.' This freedom provides us the ability to offer a truly remarkable guest experience."

Visitors can unwind at the indoor pool, the fire pit adjacent to the hot tub, or the outdoor pool that features a 109-foot water slide and lazy river. The Clarion Inn Pigeon Forge also features a baby grand piano in the lobby (for guests and entertainers to play), an exercise room, a game room with massage chairs and an in house, full-service spa. Delicious food is available when you wake up with a cooked-to-order omelet station, bacon, eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, russet potatoes, and doughnuts. Nightly refreshments are also offered with various snacks and drinks.

Choice Hotels International's Hotel of the Year Award winners are selected by the Choice Hotels Owners Council and are presented to properties that demonstrate lodging excellence and offer guest experiences that set the standard for the industry. Nominees are all ranked at the top of hotels within their brand.