Vantage President & CEO Roger Bloss Named to HSMAI's Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing

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. January 21, 2010

(CLEVELAND, OH, January 20, 2010) - Vantage Hospitality Group is proud to announce that President and CEO Roger Bloss has been selected to Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International's 2009 Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing. Vantage is the parent company of the Americas Best Value Inn, Canadas Best Value Inn, Chinas Best Value Inn, Value Inn Worldwide, and Lexington Collection hotel brands.

The seventh-annual HSMAI Top 25 list recognizes the superstars of sales and marketing professionals in the hospitality, travel and tourism industries.

“The Top 25 is a 'hot list' that celebrates the sales and marketing leaders and innovators of our industry,” said HSMAI President and CEO Robert A. Gilbert. “The creative strategies, passionate dedication and sharp intelligence of these professionals have not only made a difference within their organizations, but have also truly raised the bar for the hospitality industry as a whole.”

A 35-year hospitality industry veteran, Bloss held executive positions with several major legacy hotel companies before realizing there had to be a better way than the traditional franchise model. Bloss joined forces with some long-time friends to develop his vision - brands that allow their members to be in business for themselves, not by themselves.

In 1999, Americas Best Value Inn (ABVI) was born and with it, the innovative Freestyle Brand Affiliation model, which revolutionized the industry by allowing members to make their own decisions and have a voice and vote in all brand initiatives, including fee structure - an industry first. The Freestyle model also offers short-term contracts, the one-of-a-kind Return on Investment Promise, and a host of progressive, revenue-generating programs and comprehensive resources.

ABVI was recognized as the fastest-growing hotel chain in America from 2003-06, and third-fastest in 2007, and currently ranks as the 10th largest limited-service hotel chain in the country. The Lexington Collection - the first membership brand in the upper-mid to upscale lodging segments - was launched in 2007, earning Bloss Innovator of the Year honors from a major hospitality magazine. Other Vantage accomplishments include growing to the 10th largest hotel company worldwide in just 10 years with more than 900 hotels, and becoming the only hotel company to make the Inc. 500/5000 list for four straight years (2006-09).

“This award means so much to me, coming from an organization as highly regarded as HSMAI,” said Bloss. “But it's also a testament to the dedicated corporate staff members we have at Vantage. The success of our brands and the Freestyle model over the last 10 years would not have been possible without the efforts and vision of these hard-working individuals.”

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, Europe, North Africa, and the Gulf Region.

Contact:
Al Cohen,
Vantage Hospitality,
888-316-2378,
[email protected]