Choice Hotels Japan Empowers Multicultural High Schoolers with Career-Enhancing Roots Internship

On August 19, 2025, Choice Hotels Japan, a company expanding various hotel brands in Japan, hosted its second edition of the "Roots Internship" program in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Katariwa. This initiative aims to support high school students with foreign roots by providing them with invaluable career experiences and insights into the hospitality industry.

Choice Hotels Japan operates brands such as Comfort Hotels, Comfort Hotel ERA, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, and the Ascend Hotel Collection. The company emphasizes the concept of "Energizing the World and Our Communities through Travel." Through its membership program, the "Choice Guest Club™", it actively contributes to social causes by donating to organizations tackling societal challenges, thus aiming to realize a sustainable future.

This year, seven high school students of Filipino (six) and Nepalese (one) descent participated in the program. These students engaged in learning about the company's hotel operations and the supportive role of the "Choice Guest Club™" in funding charity initiatives. Furthermore, they collaborated on planning a multicultural exchange event for elementary school students scheduled for the following year, gaining opportunities to reflect on their futures while interacting with the company's employees.

Program Overview

- Name: Roots Internship
- Date: August 19, 2025 (approximately 3.5 hours)
- Location: Choice Hotels Japan Headquarters, 2F Yoshino Daiichi Bldg, 1-6-3, Nihonbashi Bakurocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Participants: 7 high school students with foreign roots
- Partner Organization: Katariwa
- Method: In-person

The Objective of the Roots Internship

The "Roots Internship" was created with the objective of expanding the future possibilities for children with foreign roots in Japan. Launched in 2016, the Choice Guest Club™ has grown to include approximately 1.09 million members as of August 2025. Alongside offering benefits like accommodation discounts and long stays, the program operates on the principle that "every stay strengthens society little by little" by donating to organizations addressing social challenges and striving to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Katariwa, the nonprofit partner for this internship program, focuses on educational support. It has established the