“Educate, not mandate” is Americas Best Value Inns' promise to its members. The chain's leadership again affirmed that pledge at its recent educational conference in Las Vegas with member votes on a number of issues that had potential for controversy. Instead, leadership presented the facts, the members discussed the pros and cons and then voted on each measure.

Among other things, membership voted by a comfortable margin (72 percent yes) to raise the chain's minimum quality assurance standards but overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to require each property to set aside 75 percent of its rooms as non-smoking. The members also voted to require uniforms for front desk agents and other employees and agreed to extend through 2012 the chain's Internet marketing search fund.

ABVI, which has grown to more than 800 properties in nine years, had a strong year in 2008, with systemwide revenue up 25 percent and reservations traffic up 18 percent. The chain spends about a third of its marketing dollars on the Internet backed by spending on print, directories and radio. This year, chainwide initiatives include beefing-up digital content on its website and a new revenue management program for members.

ABVI, and its sister brand The Lexington Collection, continue to expand at a frenetic pace. ABVI grew to 809 properties last year by approving 102 new memberships and eliminating 61 non-conforming properties. Lexington has 28 properties in the U.S. and 15 internationally.