(Washington D.C., June 9, 2015) -  Vantage Hospitality Group contributed $5,000 to the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation's (AH&LEF's) 2015 Annual Giving Campaign. This is Vantage's third gift to AH&LEF, and their first at the six-diamond level.

Vantage Hospitality Group was founded in 1999 with the launch of Americas Best Value Inn and has grown to over 1,200 hotels. Vantage Hospitality's brands include Americas Best Value Inn, Canadas Best Value Inn and Lexington by Vantage. The company also recently acquired Jameson Inn, Country Hearth Inns & Suites, America's Best Inns & Suites and Signature Inn.

"The AH&LEF and Vantage share in the belief that research and education are crucial to ensuring the lodging industry continues to thrive. We admire the work that the AH&LEF does and are more than happy to make this contribution," said Bernie Moyle, Vantage's COO & CFO.

"The Foundation is fortunate to have strong support from management companies," said Joori Jeon, AH&LEF president/COO. "This influential constituency understands the importance of ensuring a strong workforce and cutting-edge industry research for the future of the industry."

The Annual Giving Campaign is the Foundation's yearly fundraiser that supports its core missions, including providing scholarships to hospitality management students, funding important research such as diversity and technology advancement, and promoting hospitality as a career of choice. 

AH&LEF is the not-for-profit affiliate of AH&LA and is funded solely by charitable donations from progressive hospitality leaders and companies within the industry. In 2014, AH&LEF disbursed more than $1 million to prepare promising college students for a career in hospitality, to attract and retain talented industry professionals, and to fund valuable research for the industry. Since the Foundation's inception, more than $19 million has been distributed through its scholarship, education, outreach, and research programs.