Vantage Hospitality Group announced that it has entered into an agreement for an undisclosed amount to acquire America's Best Franchising. America's Best Franchising consists of 225 hotels in six core brands: America's Best Inns & Suites, Country Hearth, Budgetel Inns & Suites, Jameson Inn, 3 Palms Hotels & Resorts and Signature Inn.
The acquisition rolls the new entity into the 17th largest hotel group worldwide, which includes more than 1,400 properties, combining the ABF's brands to Americas Best Value Inn, Canadas Best Value Inn, Value Inn Worldwide, Value Hotel Worldwide, Lexington Inn, Lexington Hotel and Lexington Legacy banners.
Sterling F. Stoudenmire IV, president and CEO of ABF, explained "that after discussion with the board of directors and franchisees under his brands that it became clear of the need for a strategic partner: someone with the scale, resources and expertise necessary to compete and win in today's marketplace… and to do so in a manner consistent with our 'owner's first' philosophy. After getting to know Roger and the Vantage corporate team, I have no doubt that they are the right fit for ABF. Their conviction to educate, not mandate, and their existing resources and programs will allow them to offer new opportunities to our property owners that will help them improve their bottom lines and position them to succeed in the long term."
At Vantage, each hotel brand follows the national directions of their franchise owners, who collectively vote on all major strategic actions taken by their individual brand.
Vantage founder, president and CEO Roger Bloss added, "By combining brands under the Vantage umbrella, we will strengthen our synergies and continue to enhance our competitive advantage with a full line of brand segments that address the needs of both hotel owners and consumers. This will offer our members greater distribution, more marketing dollars and enhanced exposure, and additional revenue-generating programs and resources."
Roger Bloss and Sterling Stoudenmire
