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China by 2003 Year-end |
Beijing, China, October 10, 2003 � Best Western International, Inc.,
has identified Asia, and specifically China, as key geographic regions
for significant brand growth according to Tom Higgins, Best Western president
and chief executive officer. The announcement was made at Best Western�s
fall International Board Meeting here where some 70 Best Western leaders
from around the world gathered to discuss global development and strategic
initiatives.
Best Western plans to add more than 50 hotels in the next two years throughout Asia. with the most aggressive growth planned for China. Currently, Best Western has eight hotels open in China including: Best Western Hotel Sun Sun, Macau;
Two additional hotels are planned to open this year, one in Xian and the other in Kuming. Plans call for 100 hotels in China by 2007.
To support its aggressive Asian expansion strategy, Best Western opened an office in Beijing earlier this year headed by William Dong who was recently promoted to Chief Representative, Director of Operations and Development � China. With more than 15 years of hotel development expertise Dong�s responsibilities include overseeing operations and the addition of new hotels to the brand�s growing portfolio of hotels in the Peoples� Republic of China. Before joining Best Western in 2002 as Regional Operations Manager, Dong held positions with Radisson Hotels, Accor Asia Pacific and Furama Hotels in China. Dong also served as seven years in Chinese government as a diplomatic officer. In addition, Glenn de Souza was promoted to Managing Director-Asia Worldwide Sales. De Souza, who also joined Best Western in 2002, has responsibility for developing corporate and group sales and marketing programs for the region. He is headquartered at Best Western�s offices in Bangkok. De Souza has held senior corporate and regional sales and marketing positions for various international hotel companies including Holiday Inns, Sheraton, Omni Hotels Asia Pacific, Accor Asia Pacific and Furama Hotels and before that was with Pan American Airways. Best Western is THE WORLD�S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN® with more than 4,100 hotels in 80 countries. It is a membership association of independently owned and operated hotels that provides marketing, reservations and operational support to its members. |
Contact:
Best Western www.bestwestern.com |