Americas Best Value Inn:

Americas Best Value Inn is driven by property owners, which allows them to be in business for themselves, not by themselves. Through the elected board of representatives and advisory councils, all members have a voice in the guidelines and policies that the brand initiates.

Unlike typical franchise companies that charge franchisees based on a percentage of sales, the national brand offers hospitality property owners an affordable alternative based on a flat monthly membership and marketing fee.

This progressive membership model was founded on the idea of educating, not mandating, which results in a higher level of owner participation and commitment. In 2005, members received an overall average return on investment of more than 629 percent. Additionally, members have the opportunity to invest in the company by purchasing Class B stock in the brand.

This distinctive membership structure is unparalleled in the industry, which contributes to an annual membership renewal rate of 98 percent. Although the Brand is only seven years old, it has been recognized by the hospitality industry with numerous awards and accolades: Fastest Growing Chain in America in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006; National Chain Leadership Award, 2003, 2005 and 2006. Americas Best Value Inn currently has more than 650 inns, hotels, and suites throughout North America and expects to continue the Brand's exceptional growth.

Lexington Collection:

Introduced in 2006, The Lexington Collection is initially comprised of four distinct product lines in the upper-mid to upscale lodging segments. Operating under the Freestyle Brand Membership Model, Lexington provides its members with many of the same comprehensive resources as other large chains without high percentage royalties, long-term contracts or liquidated damages.

Providing its members with a 'voice and a choice' through the Freestyle Lodging Membership Model, Lexington supports its members with an extensive network of reservation, sales, and marketing resources, at the most affordable rates in the industry. All members of The Lexington Collection receive, at no additional cost, the state-of-the-art Property Management System by IQWARE Worldwide.

In September 2006, Steve Belmonte joined The Lexington Collection as the new CEO, President and Partner of the brand. Belmonte served as CEO and President of Ramada and was instrumental in growing the company from 450 properties to over 1,000 in just 11 years. He also served as the Executive Vice President of Cendant's Hotel Division. Belmonte is widely recognized as an advocate of fair franchising - working with individual hotel owners to obtain fair and equitable agreements. Through his company, Hospitality Solutions LLC, he has successively negotiated hundreds of license and termination agreements (liquidated damages) between hotel owners and most every national hotel chain.

"It is time I put my money where my mouth is," said Belmonte. "I have seen first hand the increase in dissatisfaction with 15-year contracts, outrageous contract and royalty fees, high costs involved with transfer clauses, termination fees, and the amenity creep. There is an incredible need for a three to four star hotel brand that has the hotel owner's interest at heart and I firmly believe The Lexington Collection will quickly become a leader in the industry."