Vantage Hotels Named Official Lodging Partner of Jonathan Byrd’s Racing
CLEVELAND – Vantage Hotels has formed a strategic alliance with Jonathan Byrd's Racing that will place Lexington® by Vantage and Americas Best Value Inn® logos on team cars in over 200 races this year, including the Indianapolis 500. Vantage, which also includes Canadas Best Value Inn®, Signature Inn®, Jameson Inn®, and Country Hearth Inn & Suites®, is a top 10 global hotel company with over 1,200 hotels worldwide, from economy to upscale.
Among the numerous marketing and promotional opportunities that will generate an estimated 50 million impressions for Vantage's brands, the Lexington logo will appear on driver Bryan Clauson's car during the Indianapolis 500 in May, on Conor Daly's car in all other IndyCar Series events, and on Clauson's car during five Silver Crown races that he participates in. Clauson's car will have an ABVI logo when he takes part in Sprint and Midget races.
"David (Byrd) and Bryan came out to our annual Conference in December to spend some time getting to know our hotel owners and to better understand Vantage's unique business model and our innovative marketing strategies. Our owners were very excited to learn about the promotional opportunities Jonathan Byrd's Racing and Vantage have planned for the current racing season and beyond. Vantage was recognized as the fastest-growing hotel company and Jonathan Byrd's Racing is (hopefully!) the fastest moving – it's a perfect match," said Vantage Hotels Founder, President & CEO Roger Bloss.
"Because our family has been in the hotel business for nearly 20 years, it has been a long-held goal to add a visionary and enthusiastic lodging company to our racing program," said Team principal David Byrd. "The addition of Vantage Hotels and the whole of the Vantage Hospitality Group to our team is an exciting and important step for Jonathan Byrd's Racing, the Jonathan Byrd's Hospitality & Restaurant Group, and the Byrd Hotel Group. We're looking forward to working with Roger and the entire team at Vantage and introducing our great racing fans to their hotels throughout North America."
About Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc.
Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc., has been recognized as one of the most progressive hotel companies in the history of the lodging industry. With over 1,200 properties worldwide, Vantage is the only hotel company to be ranked among the Inc. 500/5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies for eight consecutive years. Supported by the resources of a franchise and the freedom of a membership organization, hotel owners around the globe have embraced Vantage's philosophy that puts control back in their hands, allowing them to be "In Business for Themselves, Not by Themselves." Vantage Hotels is among the top 10 hotel franchisors based on the number of hotels in its system. Whether a property is a member of Vantage's legacy brands, the award-winning Americas Best Value Inn brand (with its sister brands, Canadas Best Value Inn and Value Inn Worldwide) and the ground-breaking Lexington by Vantage, or of the Jameson Inn, Country Hearth Inn & Suites, or Signature Inn brands, all Vantage Hotels members enjoy the opportunity to maximize their revenue and asset value through Vantage's low fees and reasonable contract terms; flexible, straightforward agreements; A Voice and A Vote® in major brand initiatives;the most comprehensive resources, support and CRS in the industry; sensible PIPs, and a culture that is centered on educating, not mandating. Membership in Vantage brands in the United States is offered (as a franchise) through Vantage Franchising, Inc., and in Canada, through Vantage Franchising (Canada) Inc., wholly-owned subsidiaries of Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc. For more information, visit www.JoinVantageHotels.com.
About Jonathan Byrd's Racing
Jonathan Byrd's Racing was founded by the late Jonathan Byrd in 1982. In its various forms, Jonathan Byrd's Racing has successfully fielded 18 entries in the Indianapolis 500 beginning in 1985, scoring six top 10 finishes, with a best finish of 5th in 2005. A Jonathan Byrd's Racing car currently holds the all-time Indianapolis 500 one- and four-lap qualifying records (Luyendyk '96). Jonathan Byrd's Racing has won two IndyCar races (Luyendyk – Phoenix '96, Paul Jr – Texas '98), along with two United States Auto Club National Midget Championships ('86,'87). The Jonathan Byrd's Hospitality & Restaurant Group has been feeding central Indiana residents for over 63 years. Jonathan Byrd's flagship location in Greenwood has served millions of meals since its inception in 1988, while also delivering its experience to dozens of partner locations throughout the Indianapolis Metropolitan area through its extensive catering operation. Jonathan Byrd's Hospitality & Restaurant Group also manages the 502 East Event Centre, located in Carmel (Indiana), and is Hamilton County's (Indiana) largest event space. Jonathan Byrd's will also have a large presence inside of Westfield's (Indiana) Grand Park, as it lends its name to the newly opened Jonathan Byrd's Fieldhouse, as well as the currently under construction indoor sports complex at Grand Park, where it will have restaurant and exclusive concession operations in place. Jonathan Byrd's is also the foodservice provider at Camp Atterbury, located in Southern Johnson County (Indiana) and is the Official Catering Company of the Indianapolis Colts. The Byrd Hotel Group is a hotel development and operations company that currently owns and operates five hotels, and is an approved operator for Vantage, IHG, Hilton, Marriott, Starwood, La Quinta, and Wyndham.
