China Lodging Group has a group of, you guessed it, hotels. The company operates about 235 economy-priced hotels in 40 cities, mostly in China's east coast region. It has another 140 in development, which would put the ratio of leased-and-operated to managed-under-franchise about even, though the company makes most of its revenue from the former category. China Lodging's banners include HanTing Express and HanTing Seasons, both business hotels, and HanTing Hi Inn, a budget hotel. The company locates its hotels in the country's more industrial and tourist-oriented cities. China Lodging began operations in 2005 and filed to go public in 2010. Pre-IPO, CEO Qi Ji owns about 62%.

"Aimez-vous des sports?" If you do, Sportscene Group might be the matchmaker of your dreams. The company operates and franchises about 50 La Cage aux Sports "resto-bars" operating in Quebec. The sports-themed restaurants are a popular destination for sports fans to watch games; they offer a menu featuring a variety of pub grub, such as nachos, ribs, pizza, chicken wings, and burgers. About 15 locations are corporate-run, while the rest are either owned by franchisees or operate as franchise joint ventures.

This company caters to many tastes with a varied menu of dining and drinking options. Ala Carte Entertainment (ACE) operates more than 20 nightspots in the Chicago area, including such popular night clubs as The Apartment and Excalibur. It also has several pub establishments, including The Celtic Crown and The Full Shilling in Wrigleyville, the area neighboring Wrigley Park. ACE's portfolio of restaurants includes Chandler's Chophouse and Moretti's Ristorante and Pizzeria. In addition to drinks and eats, ACE also provides catering services through several of its restaurants. Owner and company president Fred Hoffman started his dining empire in the early 1970s when he opened the Snuggery singles bar.

The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is a stock car racing organization that operates two racing circuits and two speedways. Its ARCA RE/MAX Series includes about two dozen events featuring automobiles similar to those used in NASCAR events. The association also sanctions the Lincoln Welders Truck Series, a shorts circuit of races featuring modified pickup trucks. Many of the races are televised on the SPEED Channel (owned by FOX Entertainment). In 1953 John Marcum and his wife Mildred started the Midwest Association for Race Cars, which evolved into the ARCA in 1964.

With this family around, there's no reason to ever go hungry in the Adirondacks. Along with sister company Kessler Group, Kessler Family operates as Kessler Restaurants, a leading multi-concept restaurant operation with more than 65 locations primarily in upstate New York. It is the largest franchisee of Friendly Ice Cream with more than 45 Friendly's family-dining restaurants. The company also operates about 20 Burger King franchises. Brothers Larry and Dennis Kessler started the family-owned business with a single Burger King unit in 1975.

Looking for red meat in the Carolinas? Claremont Restaurant Group (CSG) has just the place. The company operates about 25 casual dining restaurants under the Sagebrush Steakhouse banner in four states, mostly in North Carolina. The restaurants serve steak, seafood, and chicken entrees along with the usual assortment of starters and side dishes. Other CSG brands include Prime Sirloin Family Steakhouse, a buffet concept with locations in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia; and Western Steer Family Steakhouse. Industry veteran and CEO Jim Peterson owns the company. CSG entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2010.

Mammoth Mountain is one big pile of powder. The ski resort in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range gets more than 30 feet of snow a year on average on top of its more than 3,500 skiable acres. The resort features ski lifts, rental shops, restaurants, ski and snowboard schools, and lodging. Its hotels include the luxury Village Lodging, Mammoth Mountain Inn (hotel and condo), Juniper Springs Resort (condo units), and Tamarack Lodge (rustic cabins and lodge). Summer activities include mountain biking, fishing, golf, and climbing, while Yosemite is less than an hour away. Mammoth is owned and operated by Starwood Capital, which paid some $365 million for a controlling interest in the resort in 2005.

Real Madrid ("real" means royal in Spanish) is one of Europe's most decorated football teams, boasting a record nine European Cups and 31 titles in the Spanish football league, Liga de Futbol Profesional. Started in 1902, the team (known to supporters as Los Merengues) draws huge crowds Santiago Bernabeu stadium. The Real Madrid operating company, which is a supporter-owned, not-for-profit business, also runs Spanish basketball team Real Madrid Baloncesto.

It’s our pleasure to have you as our guest at any one of our more than 485 worldwide Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM locations. Whether you travel for business or pleasure, you’ll always find a welcome as warm as our waffles from one of our incredible staff. There’s plenty to keep you occupied at Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. You can relax by the fireplace with a book from our Read It & Return Lending Library ™, go for a swim, surf the web with free high-speed Internet or work out in the fitness center. And with free weekday newspapers and hot complimentary breakfasts, you’ll be sure to start your day the right way. Because that’s the Country way. We’ll make you feel like family, because you’ll never truly feel at home if we don’t.

Equity Corporate Housing (ECH) provides furnished and unfurnished apartments to companies looking for temporary housing for their employees. The residences, available for both short- and long-term lease, are primarily used by employees being relocated to new cities. A division of apartment rental firm Equity Residential, ECH has access to more than 550 properties throughout the US that its parent company owns and manages. In addition, the company has access to properties in some 15 other countries through a partnership with Ascott Group, operator of serviced residences in Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East.

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