Announced at a special press conference during the annual Lodging Conference in Phoenix, AZ, Belmonte, who is now an equity partner in the company, will be responsible for directing the brand that was established less than one year ago.

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.”

“Steve Belmonte has the full-circle advantage when it comes to knowing what hotel owners really want and need to be successful,” said Bloss. “Steve has his thumb on the pulse of the lodging industry and I am excited to have him be such an integral part of The Lexington Collection.”

The Lexington Collection is the only membership based brand in the upper-mid to upscale lodging segments. Based on the innovative Freestyle Membership Model developed by Bloss, the brand provides owners of three to four star hotels with an affordable alternative to franchising. Members enjoy low fees, short-term contracts, no liquidated damages, a voice and a vote in the brand’s direction, and a choice of amenities to meet individual market demands.

With a stable and secure infrastructure already in place, Lexington Collection members benefit immediately from Vantage’s global reservations system, Internet and GDS programs, comprehensive marketing and PR campaigns, and a state-of-the-art Property Management System by IQWARE, included with each membership, at no additional cost.

“The Lexington Collection provides hotel owners with everything they expect from a nationally affiliated brand without all the trappings,” said Belmonte.

The Lexington Collection premiered in the second quarter of 2006. It currently has 12 properties open or under contract throughout the United States with many more new construction and conversions in the works.

Belmonte will remain the CEO of Hospitality Solutions, LLC, but has promoted Tom Giuliano to the position of Senior Vice President to head up the company’s day-to-day operation.