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Americas Best Value Inn to Further Enhance Online Presence with Rich Media from VFM Interactive
VFM to Produce and Distribute New Rich Visual Content for All ABVI Properties
Cleveland, OH & Toronto, ON - October 2008 Americas Best Value Inn (ABVI) announced today that it has selected VFM Interactive as its exclusive provider of hotel rich visual content production and distribution services and has partnered with VFM to produce and distribute new rich media for all of its nearly 800 inns, hotels, and suites throughout North America.
As part of the partnership, VFM will be producing and distributing new rich media, still images, 360 degree "virtual tour" images and PhotoFlicks® videos - that will enhance and better display the distinct features and services of each ABVI hotel to travel consumers both on the ABVI website as well as VFM's network of more than 25,000 travel sites and other electronic distribution channels. ABVI will also be utilizing VFM's Vscape® media management and distribution platform to store, manage and distribute its member hotels' new photos to the GDSs, Pegasus and VFM's other distribution partners.
"We are excited to announce the launch of our new rich visual media acquisition project that will further strengthen our brand and help our members continue to maintain a competitive advantage on the Internet. This initiative is another example of how we're always working non-stop to help our members drive their ROI upward and move the brand forward," said Roger Bloss, CEO, President and Founder of Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc., the 12th largest hotel company worldwide and parent company of Americas Best Value Inn and The Lexington Collection.
Numerous studies have shown that quality rich visual media is essential for marketing a hotel online. Consumers not only increasingly demand this type of content when shopping for a hotel online but are far more likely to book a hotel if they view rich media. Through its new partnership with VFM, ABVI will ensure that its member hotels have the best visual content to showcase their properties to online consumers. Importantly, VFM's vast distribution network will enable ABVI member hotels to reach and influence a much wider online audience with their new media, including thousands of travel and travel-related sites as well as key portals and search engines.
"We have seen our web-direct bookings skyrocket in recent years, but knew that we could further enhance them by investing in strong visual content for our member properties. VFM offered us the most comprehensive solution, from quality rich media productions, to industry-leading media management and distribution technology, and an unparalleled distribution network," said John Burkard, Vice President, Information Technology of Vantage Hospitality.
"We are tremendously excited to have been chosen by Americas Best Value Inn," said Paolo Boni, president and CEO of VFM (www.vfmii.com). "It's another great endorsement of VFM and our capabilities. Importantly, it's also further evidence that quality hotel rich visual content is no longer a just 'nice to have'."
About Americas Best Value Inn
The award-winning Americas Best Value Inn brand is a recognized leader in the hospitality industry. Its distinctive brand affiliation structure, the Freestyle Membership Model, has contributed to the company's rapid growth, earning it numerous industry awards: Fastest Growing Chain in America over the past six years and the National Chain Leadership Award (2003, 2005 through 2008) to name a few. A family of nearly 800 inns, hotels and suites located throughout North America, the brand offers guests hometown comfort, quality, service and exceptional value. Convenient locations and a variety of accommodations make it ideal for the leisure and business traveler. Its parent company, Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc., is the 12th largest hotel company worldwide, and the only hotel company to be ranked on the Inc. Magazine's 500/5000 List of Fastest Growing Private Companies for three consecutive years. For information regarding membership, visit www.AmericasBestValueInn.com/members.cfm or call 888-316-2378.
About VFM Interactive
VFM Interactive is the leading end-to-end provider of online media production and distribution solutions for the hotel and travel industry. VFM helps hotel and travel companies enhance their online marketing through rich visual content including still images, videos, 360º virtual tours and Flash presentation. VFM's Vscape® platform allows hotels to manage and distribute their rich media content on the industry's largest and fastest-growing distribution network of more than 25,000 websites where consumers most often research and purchase travel products. This network includes online travel agencies, travel suppliers, search portals and Global Distribution Systems such as Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline, TripAdvisor, American Airlines, Yahoo!, SideStep, Sabre Travel Network, Galileo and Worldspan. VFM's Vscape media distribution platform is utilized by more than 35,000 hotels from dozens of major hotel chains and resorts from brands and management companies including Best Western, Choice, Crowne Plaza, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Interstate, La Quinta, Marriott, Outrigger, Radisson, Regent, Sheraton, Sol Meliá, W, Westin and Wyndham. For more information, visit www.vfmii.com.
For Information Contact:
Anne Houdek
Public Relations Manager
Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc.
888-316-2378
Mark Charlinski
Vice President, Sales & Business Development
VFM Interactive
416-593-6634
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