From the construction of his first family home to Canada’s largest lodging chain, Maurice H. Rollins has been putting roofs over people’s heads for over four decades. As visionary, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Journey’s End Corpor-ation and Chairman of Choice Hotels Canada, Rollins is an inspiration to all Canadians.

As a young boy growing up in his native Belleville, Ontario, Rollins was always the first out to shovel a neighbour’s driveway in winter or mow lawns in summer. His first break came when he ran into a former teacher who was working for an engineering firm. Although Rollins had pharmacist training only, he was hired and was quickly promoted to a Resident Engineer before the age of twenty. At the same time, he continued to operate a successful hamburger stand with a partner on nights and weekends.

In the 50s, Rollins purchased a lot for $200 and built his first home. Ten years later, Rollins Group of Companies were one of the largest fully integrated businesses in central and eastern Ontario, combining residential and commercial developers including lumber, construction, real estate, and management companies. He also developed properties in England, France, Switzerland and Frobisher Bay, NWT.

Through these businesses, Rollins began to observe that Canadian travellers had only two lodging choices: sive, full service hotels. Rollins reasoned that a market existed for a limited service lodging product which offered clean, comfortable accommodation at a reasonable price.
 

Maurice H. Rollins, Chairman, CEO, Journey's End Corporation; Charman, Choice Hotels Canada.

The first 60-unit Journey’s End Motel opened in Belleville in 1978. A second location opened in Kingston in 1979 and by 1980, the original location expanded to keep pace with demand. Rollins sold his lucrative group of companies to devote his energies full time to developing the Journey’s End chain.

Several significant milestones followed: a provincial Outstanding Business Achievement Award; public issue with shares trading on the Toronto and Montreal stock exchanges; the silver medal for Entre-preneurship in the prestigious Canada Awards for Business Excellence; opening the 100th Journey’s End property in downtown Montreal in 1989; and, a 29-storey Journey’s End Hotel in midtown Manhattan at 5th Avenue and 40th Street in 1991 — with inventory peaking at 137 locations.

In July 1993, Rollins led Journey’s End Corporation into a 50/50 joint venture partnership with Choice Hotels International ... a global industry leader with 3,000 hotels in 32 countries. Choice Hotels Canada was launched with seven brands ... Clarion, Quality, Comfort, Sleep, EconoLodge, Rodeway and Friendship Inns. With “Something For Everyone, Practically Everywhere” at over 175 hotels across Canada, and an ambitious growth strategy of 400 hotels in five years, Maurice Rollins’ impressive journey continues.