Managers at Americas Best Value Inn in Albert Lea say their hotel’s former franchiser, Ramada Worldwide, is calling guests and telling them incorrectly the hotel has closed.

The hotel switched its franchise name earlier this month but kept the same ownership. Tina Stripe, assistant general manager, said Tuesday that she has confirmed Ramada is classifying the calls as “courtesy calls” and telling the reservation holders to rebook.

“I think we are being misrepresented,” Stripe said. “I just would like people to know we are not closed.”

She said Ramada is calling the guests who made reservations through a central system of Ramada’s that the hotel used when it was a Ramada Inn. She said that is about 650 guests. She said many people are staying Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts.

Stripe said all reservations are still good. She said reservations made with Ramada before the switch are not Ramada’s possessions and guests should not be contacted by Ramada. They were transferred when the switch took place. She said her hotel’s lawyers are looking at the situation.

Ramada Worldwide is part of the Wyndham Worldwide group of hotels: Wyndham, Days Inn, Super 8, Microtel, Hawthorn, Howard Johnson, Wingate, Travelodge, Baymont Inn and Knights Inn.

Wyndham spokesman Rob Myers said the company is reviewing the local hotel’s complaint.

“We are currently looking into the situation,” he said.

According to the chain’s Web site, Americas Best Value Inn is ranked as the 10th largest limited-service hotel chain in the country. It was named the fastest-growing hotel chain in America in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Lodging Hospitality Magazine.