Tesla is expanding its influence on the US charging network. Choice Hotels International announced an agreement with the manufacturer under which Tesla charging stations will be installed at thousands of its hotels.
Choice Hotels is one of the world’s largest hotel franchisors. As part of the announced agreement, Tesla Universal Wall Connectors will be installed at Radisson, Cambria, Comfort, Country Inn & Suites, Quality Inn, and other Choice-branded hotels in the United States. Choice-branded hotels can add four or more charging stations for guests. The move aims to meet growing consumer demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging. In addition, such a measure will remove another obstacle to the wider adoption of electric vehicles. To find a hotel with a Tesla charging station, travelers can use the EV charging filter on ChoiceHotels.com and the Choice Hotels mobile app, according to the press release.
“This agreement with Tesla allows our brands to further stand out by increasing access to EV charging for guests and potentially drive incremental topline revenue for hotel owners,” said Dominic Dragisich, Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Global Brand Officer for Choice Hotels International. “At Choice, we are focused on ensuring owners and operators of our hotel brands are set up to benefit from strategic agreements that drive booking consideration and value.”
Choice Hotels International offers more than 7,500 hotels with more than 630,000 rooms in 46 countries and territories. Choice is uniquely positioned to meet the growing consumer demand for electric vehicle charging. Guests who drove to their hotels accounted for 82% of all Choice room nights in 2022, well above the industry average, according to data from DK Shifflet. Approximately 90% of Choice-branded properties in the US are in suburban, interstate, and small-town locations, with 76% located within one mile of a highway entrance.
Currently, 41% of Choice Cambria hotels offer electric vehicle charging. By the end of 2024, it is expected that all of them will be equipped with at least one charging station. Cambria guests rank electric vehicle charging as one of the top three sustainability priorities they consider when booking a stay. Several Choice corporate offices now also have electric vehicle charging stations.
Tesla continues to expand its hotel charging infrastructure, promoting sustainable development and wider adoption of electric vehicles. In September 2023, the company announced a partnership with Hilton. As part of this, Tesla will install up to 20,000 Tesla Universal Wall Connectors at 2,000 Hilton hotels across Canada, the US, and Mexico.
A few months later and Best Western Hotels announced a similar deal, joining forces with Tesla to introduce electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at select hotels throughout North America, with plans for international expansion starting in 2024.
