LAS VEGAS—Though it was Americas Best Value Inn’s annual conference and trade show, ABVI’s new sister brand under the Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc. umbrella, Lexington Collection, made some news of its own at the conference by unveiling a mixed-use development project in Birmingham, AL, that will fly the Lexington flag. The future 200-room Lexington Plaza will be developed by Melaver, Inc. and managed by InnWorks, Inc., which operates several ABVI properties. The hotel is expected to open in late 2008 or early 2009. The overall project’s plans call for the restoration of the circa-1926 Federal Reserve building and the construction of an annex into an office and retail facility with multiple restaurants during phase one. Phase two calls for the creation of a new office tower and a four-star Lexington that will be environmentally friendly, cutting edge and designed to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) standards. With such standards the entire mixed-use project could use 30% less energy than specified in the energy code. In discussing the latest Lexington project, Steve Belmonte, CEO/president of the brand, said that several more brand membership agreements will soon be announced, as well as the acquisition and subsequent folding in of a regional hotel brand. He added by the end of 2007, there could be anywhere from 21 to 24 Lexington hotels open. Currently, there are seven open.
