CLEVELAND— Lexington by Vantage, a collection of inns, hotels and suites in the midscale to upscale lodging segments, has added the 323-room former Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk. The hotel, which was purchased by a Vantage Hospitality affiliate, will be known as the Lexington Hotel & Conference Center, Jacksonville Riverwalk.
“The Lexington brand continues its rapid expansion throughout the world, attracting premier properties from inns to resorts, including soft branding. We are pleased to add this property in Jacksonville, with its prime, riverfront location in a top 15 U.S. city [by population]and amazing event space. It’s also one of many new Lexingtons that will be added across Florida and the rest of the country,” said Roger Bloss, founder, president & CEO of Vantage Hospitality Group, which also operates the Americas Best Value Inn, Canadas Best Value Inn, Value Inn Worldwide, Country Hearth Inns & Suites, Jameson Inn, Signature Inn, America’s Best Inns & Suites and 3 Palms Hotels & Resorts brands.
“In just 15 years, Vantage Hospitality has grown to become a top 10 global hotel company with more than 1,200 properties and a broad spectrum of hospitality-related ventures and affiliations. Because of Lexington’s strong foundation, we’re putting our money where our mouth is, while utilizing our in-house resources to acquire this hotel, which will also have access to Vantage’s network of over 100 preferred vendors,” added Bloss.
The Lexington in Jacksonville features 35,000 sq. ft. of event space (the second most in the city, according to the brand), including a 10,000-sq.-ft. grand ballroom, rooftop ballroom with a veranda and state-of-the-art amphitheater (the only one in North Florida). Other current amenities include an onsite restaurant and lounge, 24-hour fitness center, outdoor pool with beverage service, free WiFi and a 24-hour business center.
The hotel, which will soon be undergoing an extensive renovation, is situated on the south bank of the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville. It is located near historic San Marco and Riverside, The Jacksonville Landing, EverBank Field (home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the TaxSlayer Bowl and the annual University of Florida-University of Georgia football game), Veterans Memorial Arena and the Museum of Science & History.
“We are very excited to add the Lexington Hotel & Conference Center, which will be one of the largest assets in our system. Hotel owners appreciate when a hotel company takes a vested interest in the success of the brand, which is what we have with this transaction. We expect great things for the hotel and exceptional service for our guests,” said Mark Williams, group president of Vantage Hospitality’s upscale brands.
With more than 30 Vantage-branded hotels already located throughout Florida, including the Lexington Inn & Suites in Daytona Beach, and its corporate headquarters in Coral Springs, Vantage Hospitality has plans to build new hotels using Lexington’s prototype at Miami International Airport and in Fort Lauderdale. Lexington new-construction projects are also under way in Effingham, IL; Salinas, CA; and Scotts Valley, CA.