It seems counterintuitive, but U.S. hotel chains are still growing despite the severe downturn in business. This week, Marriott said it opened 8,000 new rooms during its second quarter. Other brands are similarly bullish about growth:

• Americas Best Value Inn added 68 properties in the first half of the year, totaling 4,068 rooms. The additions include two hotels in Canada and three new-construction properties in Texas.

• Choice Hotels says 57 franchised properties opened in June in 26 states and four countries. The openings, which total more than 4,600 rooms, include one Cambria Suites, 15 Comfort Inns, nine Comfort Suites, eight Rodeways, seven Econo Lodges, seven Qualitys, five Clarions, three Sleep Inns and one each of Suburban and MainStay Suites.

• La Quinta opened 21 hotels in 12 states during the first half of the year. The chain also executed 36 new franchise agreements, boosting its pipeline to more than 250 properties, about 40 percent of which are under construction.