News for the Hospitality Executive |
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PHOENIX, Jan. 11, 2007 - Best Western International finished
the fiscal year with 4,164 hotels in 80 countries and territories, including
2,395 hotels in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, and 1,769
hotels internationally.
"The Best Western brand continues to attract excellent hotels through both conversions and new construction, while maintaining its current membership base renewal rate of 99 percent for the 11th consecutive year," said David Kong, president and CEO for Best Western International. In North America, 133 hotels were added; 2006 key additions included the 120-room Best Western Kendall Hotel and Suites in Kendall, Fla. near Miami; the 120-room Best Western Posada Royale Hotel and Suites in Simi Valley, Calif.; the 52-room Best Western Bainbridge Island Suites in Bainbridge Island, Wash. near Seattle and the 95-room Best Western North Edmonton Inn and Suites in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. "Best Western's strategic global expansion efforts are yielding solid results," said Kong. "The company currently has 20 properties in China and another 10 hotels are in the pipeline for 2007. Through a new Master Licensing Agreement in India, Best Western also expects to bring 10 to 12 new hotels per year into the system over the next five years." In 2006, growth in China increased by 50 percent. This included the
addition of the 196-room Best Western Fuzhou Fortune Hotel in Fuzhou, which
opened in October. In other regions of Asia, the brand added the 556-room
Best Western Premier Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala in Malaysia and the 172-room
Best Western Kochi in Japan.
Other additions included the 61-room Best Western Magherabuoy House
Hotel in Ireland; the 51-room Best Western Premier Kaiserhof in Kitzbuehel,
Austria and the 48-room Best Western Premier Montenegro, the only international
hotel in the country, located in the city's newly developed business center.
Best Western added 16 hotels in Great Britain, including the 147-room Best
Western Stoke-on-Trent Moat House in Stoke-On-Trent; and the 34-room Best
Western Kenwick Park Hotel, set on a 320-acre estate and surrounded by
a golf course and nine lakes.
Best Western also experienced growth in other regions of the world, with 11 new hotels in Australia, nine hotels in South America and eight hotels in Mexico. The brand also plans to open its first hotel in Curacao, the largest island in the Netherland Antilles. Best Western International is THE WORLD'S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN(R), providing marketing, reservations and operational support to 4,200 independently owned and operated member hotels in 80 countries and territories worldwide. Founded in 1946, this iconic brand is host to approximately 400,000 worldwide guests each night. A pioneer within the industry, Best Western is recognized for its distinctive member-owned business model and diverse hotel portfolio. The company continues to innovate and enhance both the business and leisure travel experience. |
Barb Fuller
David Trumble
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