The Lexington Collection:

Introduced in 2006, The Lexington Collection is initially comprised of four distinct product lines in the upper-mid to upscale lodging segments. Operating under the Freestyle Brand Membership Model, Lexington provides its members with many of the same comprehensive resources as other large chains without high percentage royalties, long-term contracts or liquidated damages.

Providing its members with a 'voice and a choice' through the Freestyle Lodging Membership Model, Lexington supports its members with an extensive network of reservation, sales, and marketing resources, at the most affordable rates in the industry. All members of The Lexington Collection receive, at no additional cost, the state-of-the-art Property Management System by IQWARE Worldwide.

In September 2006, Steve Belmonte joined The Lexington Collection as the new CEO, President and Partner of the brand. 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."