By the Caribbean Journal staff

Choice Hotels International is expanding its portfolio in the region.

The company’s Ascent Hotel Collection has announced the addition of the Hope Town Harbour Lodge in the Abacos archipelago of the Bahamas.

The lodge is located on Elbow Cay in Abaco, and is only accessible by boat.

“The Ascend Hotel Collection has given us the ability to expand our reach to a global scale, while allowing us to keep our local identity and historic island charm,” said Earle Bethell, general manager of Hope Town Harbour Lodge. “Choice Hotels’ distinct reputation backed by the many resources they provide have equipped us to continue to deliver on our promise of providing, ‘A place where the distractions and demands of everyday life melt away under the tropical sun leaving only the pure essence of an island vacation.'”

The 25-room hotel includes cottages and cabanas, along with a separate three-bedroom “Butterfly House.”

The lodge has a pool, sundeck and two full-service restaurants and bars.