PHOENIX - March 10, 2008 - San Antonio developer and hotel owner Ajay Patel recently broke ground on the first-ever Best Western Atria prototype, a sleek upper mid-scale concept designed to drive premium, value-added pricing. The 100-room property is being built in southwest San Antonio�s Westside Peak development and is expected to be complete next fall.

Although having just unveiled the Atria prototype in October 2007, Best Western already has 11 Atria properties in its pipeline, in addition to Patel�s. Other markets committed to Atria include Houston, Denver, Louisville, Dallas and Charlotte.

�Developers have jumped at the chance to build the Atria prototype. Its design is attractive, functional and flexible enough to suit a variety of markets,� said David Kong, president and CEO of Best Western International. �We expect it to be a very successful and profitable model for hotel owners.�

Guestrooms at Atria are unique and spacious, designed around a loft concept. But the prototype�s signature feature is its multi-function community space, including a breakfast area, bar and media area, that bring a sense of excitement to the lobby. Patel said the Atria prototype is the ideal fit for its location at the junction of two major highways and a short drive from Lackland Air Force Base, a Microsoft data center, three new hospitals and SeaWorld.
 

The Atria Prototype has several signature features, including Multi-function community space that brings back a sense of excitement and community to the lobby � something that is often missing from upper mid-scale hotels. Guests can watch TV, enjoy a drink or light food, hold a business meeting or chat with friends in the warm and free-flowing gathering space. Guestrooms designed around a loft concept with a frosted glass half-wall that separates sleeping areas from living areas. Guest bathrooms feature the comforts of home, including stone-topped vanities. Colors and building materials that appeal to multiple generations. The neutral color palette mixes textures, patterns and tone-on-tone coloring to create visual interest and a sense of warmth. Features for multi-media travelers, including multi-functional bed lighting that creates an additional workspace for laptop users. Modular design that allows developers to adapt the building to meet a local market�s needs, whether through a coffee shop, sweet shop, bar, or expanded food operation. The Prototype layout features 100 rooms in five stories on a two-acre site. . The Atria Prototype can be built at a cost of $85,000 - $90,000 per key, while comparable upper mid-scale brands often cost more than $100,000 per key. Further, the Prototype's high-quality furniture, fixtures and equipment package is available at the extremely competitive cost of $5,000 per key (excluding bed and TV), due to the purchasing power of Best Western International.

�San Antonio needs more hotel rooms, and this property will have everything that business and leisure travelers need for a great stay,� said Ajay Patel, who has plans to build an additional two Best Western hotels � including another Atria prototype � in suburban San Antonio this year.

Best Western International is THE WORLD'S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN®, providing marketing, reservations and operational support to over 4,000 independently owned and operated member hotels in 801 countries and territories worldwide. An industry pioneer since 1946, Best Western has grown into an iconic brand that hosts 400,0001 worldwide guests each night. Best Western's diverse property portfolio, its greatest strength, stems from a business model designed to give owners maximum flexibility to address market-specific needs. Equally committed to the business and leisure traveler, Best Western recently embarked on a five-year mission to lead the hotel industry in customer care. Since 2004, Best Western has served as the Official Hotel of NASCAR®. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.bestwestern.com.

Best Western International
Marie Yarroll, 602-957-5750
[email protected]
www.bestwesterndevelopers.com