Choice Hotels International announced plans today to close its call center in Orchard Mesa effective at the end of the year.  The company had established this call center in the late 1980s.

The closing means 120 workers will be out of a job come 2013.

In a statement obtained by KJCT News 8, the company says the changes are being made "in response to evolving technologies and less customer reliance on the services of traditional call centers."

About two dozen workers will still be employed, but will see their jobs moved in positions in Phoenix.

Another 40 workers who work from home will see their duties switch to a new company.

For the 120 employees that have been laid off, the company says they will offer support through job training, resume writing, placement services, and severance packages.