Last week, Choice Hotels (CHH) filed this proxy and unlike a lot of directors who tend to take to company freebies like pigs at the trough — Al Gore’s use of Apple (AAPL) products is just one example — there’s plenty of room at the inn that Choice directors aren’t using.

The giveaways, which are pretty common, are usually there to help directors gain a better understanding of the company’s products, and, provided they’re not over-used, can provide useful feedback to both frontline employees and senior management. Starwood (HOT) for example, gives each of its directors 750,000 SPG points, which it values at $11,250, to encourage its directors to stay at their various properties. And Marriott (MAR) also has a similar program for its directors.

But Choice’s brands, which include EconoLodge and Rodeway Inn, are definitely a bit more downscale than those offered by either Marriott or Starwood. Perhaps that’s why the 6 independent directors only spent $1,212 at Choice properties last year. Actually, that $1,212 was only spent by three directors, since three directors didn’t use the perk — called Stay at Choice — at all. In addition, only one Choice executive — senior vice president for brand operations Bruce Haase — really tapped into the program, according to the filing, to the tune of $4,494. It’s hard to imagine how Audit Committee Chair John Schwieters, who rang up $156 at Choice properties — could glean much from that kind of visit.

Finally, on a totally unrelated note, I was on Marketplace last night with Kai Ryssdal talking about what usually happens at shareholder meetings. Hope you’ll listen in, if you didn’t catch it last night.

This entry was posted Wednesday, April 9th, 2008 at 9:40 am written by Michelle Leder and is filed under Perk city with the following tags: directors, perks, proxy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.