Patrick Mullinix, founder and CEO of Advantage Hotels Inc., and the co-founders of Reform Lodging, a franchisee association, talk about franchisors’ preferred vendor programs. The hoteliers say the programs are “kickback” schemes that have grown into a profit center for the brands, and they unfairly prohibit owners from seeking competitive pricing. Reform Lodging officers share their solution – a member marketplace where owners can review vendors and vendors can see a hotelier’s payment history and gauge the owner’s credit worthiness.