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| BEST WESTERN |
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Best Western International is the world’s largest hotel
chain with more than 4,000 hotels in 80 countries; the group
is perhaps best known for diversity in its properties. While
each of the brand’s hotels is different, they all offer
friendly service and
extraordinary value, and unlike many other hotels in other chains,
each Best Western hotel is independently owned and operated. |
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| Two recent
openings that stand out include the Best Western Cyan Suites
in Medellin, Colombia, a 60-room, all-suite property in an upscale
part of the city, and the brand’s first foray in that
country; in the US, Best Western will open its first Atrea prototype
property in San Antonio, Texas; Atrea is a sleek new business
prototype that will enable the brand to enter new markets and
command higher rates. |
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Over the past
few years, Best Western has made a concerted effort to separate
from hotels that do not represent the brand’s commitment
to quality, service and value. Says CEO David Kong: “In
North America alone, this has meant separating from more than
500 properties. We are in the process of replacing these with
high quality hotels that enhance the brand’s image. Throughout
2009, we will further our efforts to enhance the overall quality
of the portfolio by bringing in attractive new construction
and
conversion projects”
In North America, Best Western plans to add 180 new properties
and more than 15,000 rooms, with a focus on key markets where
the brand is under-represented, such as Manhattan, Orlando and
Chicago, whilst in Europe, where the brand is well established,
its local affiliates continue to look for high quality properties
in key markets that enhance the brand. |
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Best Western
is the fastest-growing hotel chain in Asia and is on its way
to becoming the largest hotel chain on the continent –
the group expects to have 200 hotels there
by 2010.
In the Middle East, it has four hotels in development in Dubai
and Oman, in addition to existing properties in Egypt, Israel
and Bahrain. Countries targeted for future development include
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar. |
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“Asia
is a high growth area for us,” says Kong. “Especially
India and China, where we’ve issued master licensing agreements
to local developers to grow the brand. The Middle East also
holds great potential. We expect to open our first hotel in
Dubai in mid-2009.”
In South America, the brand currently has 35 hotels and expects
to have 50 open by the end of the year.
Best Western was founded more than 60 years ago as a membership
association, based on a simple idea and plan: to unite and support
independent hoteliers under one brand and help them increase
profitability, while providing each member a ‘voice’
in the strategic direction of the company.
For the full article please see the RLIFebruary
09 issue
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Paramount
Publications Ltd Suite 15, Hardmans Business Centre, New
Hall Hey Road, Rawtenstall BB4 6HH UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1706 212200 Fax: +44 (0) 1706 211782 Email:
info@rli.uk.com
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