Asian American Community Prominent at Vantage Hospitality's Annual Conference
CLEVELAND, OH, January 6, 2010 - Members of the Asian American community and people with close ties to it had prominent roles at Vantage Hospitality's International Educational Conference and Trade Show, held from December 7-11 at the Golden Nugget Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The 10th largest hotel company worldwide, Vantage Hospitality is the parent company of Americas Best Value Inn, Canadas Best Value Inn, Chinas Best Value Inn, Value Inn Worldwide, and the Lexington Collection.
Rohit “Ray Ray” Kumar, the owner of the Value Inn Worldwide in Inglewood, CA, was this year's winner of the prestigious Beata's Spirit Award. This award recognizes a “good soul” who strives to create a heartwarming atmosphere for all with whom he/she comes into contact and who gives selflessly to make life better for others. A 10-year member of the Vantage family, Kumar is an advisory board member and oversaw the Indian menu planning and food service at the conference.
The keynote speaker at this year's conference was the esteemed Mike Leven, currently the President and COO of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. Known for his 50 years of hospitality experience with lodging giants like Holiday Inn Worldwide, Microtel and Hawthorne Suites, Leven had an instrumental role in the foundation of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) in 1989. Formed to protect the rights of Asian Americans, AAHOA has grown from 150 members to 10,000 today, representing over $60 billion worth of real estate and 22,000 hotels.
AAHOA had a strong presence in Las Vegas, as it held a Town Hall Meeting at the Vantage conference for the first time. Over 200 members attended the meeting, which covered the latest AAHOA news and current issues in the industry. Vantage's members were also fortunate to hear from AAHOA President Fred Schwartz and Chairman Tarun Patel during a luncheon event, as the pair shared their valuable insights on today's issues surrounding Asian Americans.
“It was great to see the Asian American community so well represented at our conference,” said Gene Kordoban, Partner and Director of Industry Affairs for Vantage Hospitality. “Despite the economy, we had record attendance because our hotel owners realized the importance and value of all the educational sessions and speakers on the schedule. Plus, AAHOA's officers came out in full force to lend their support and we thank them for their continued vote of confidence.
“Even before AAHOA came out with its 12 Points of Fair Franchising, Vantage introduced its own model - the Freestyle Brand Affiliation, which aligns very closely with AAHOA's and has been rated the highest among the major hotel companies and chains. Vantage is a founding sponsor of AAHOA and plans to remain very active with the organization through its sponsorship, by attending its meetings and continuing to live up to the 12 Points of Fair Franchising.”
Visit www.AmericasBestValueInn.com or www.LexingtonCollection.com for more information.
About Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc. Headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla., Vantage Hospitality Group is the 10th largest hotel company worldwide and the only hotel company to be ranked four years in a row on the Inc. 500/5000 List of Fastest Growing Private Companies. Founded in 1996, the company has grown to include a broad spectrum of hospitality-related ventures, managing resources in hotel ownership, management, marketing, national brand affiliation and real estate. Vantage's award-winning membership hotel brand, Americas Best Value Inn, has been recognized by the lodging industry as one of the fastest growing chains six years in a row. The company continues to grow with The Lexington Collection - the only membership hotel brand in the upper-mid to upscale lodging segments. Vantage will continue to expand its brands domestically, as well as in international markets including India, China, Canada, Mexico, North Africa, and the Gulf Region.
Contact:
Al Cohen,
Americas Best Value Inn,
888-316-2378,
[email protected]
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