Best Western Outlines Future Vision at 11th Asian Members Meeting

Bangkok (Thailand) – December 6, 2017 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels and Resorts is celebrating the successful conclusion of its 11th Asian Members’ Meeting, which gathered delegates from all across Asia to Bangkok for two days of immersive meetings, discussions and networking opportunities.

Running under the theme “BW & Beyond”, this year’s event provided a vision for Best Western’s future as it embarks on an exciting new era. The company has launched eight new global brands since 2015, including a series of cutting-edge concepts catering for the millennial market. So, this year’s Asian Members’ Meeting focused on the company’s bright future in Asia and the exciting opportunities provided by this dynamic market.

The event took place over the course of several days in late November 2017, as Best Western’s executives, hotel managers and owners gathered at the upscale Montien Riverside Hotel, Bangkok, which will soon become a Best Western Premier® hotel.

Delegates were treated to an in-depth program that included executive speeches, corporate updates and networking opportunities. The event was addressed by Ron Pohl, Best Western’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, and Olivier Berrivin, Managing Director of International Operations – Asia, who provided updates about the company’s ongoing regional expansion.

Special guest speakers from Google and Agoda.com were present to update delegates on the rapid technological developments currently taking place in the hotel industry. Best Western’s hotel owners and procurement company also addressed the meeting.

The meeting concluded with a glittering farewell dinner in the Montien Riverside Hotel’s ballroom, and an award ceremony to honor Best Western’s best performing hotels in Asia.

“This is an extremely exciting time for Best Western Hotels & Resorts and we are delighted to have been able to share our vision with delegates and partners at our 11th Asian Members’ Meeting,” said Berrivin.

“With a portfolio that now comprises 11 hotel brands, including many innovative new concepts that are perfectly suited to the emerging millennial market, Best Western is currently undergoing a period of historic growth. Our Asian Members’ Meeting allowed our executives, owners and managers to come together, share ideas and drive our business forward. We were also delighted to honor our top performing hotels at the Best Western Award Ceremony.”

“Delegate feedback has been extremely positive, and we look forward to raising the bar for hotel accommodation in Asia following this highly successful event,” Berrivin added.

“We are excited about Best Western’s growing presence and continued reign as one of Asia’s leading hotel brands,” said Pohl. “The year 2017 has been incredible, as we now have 108 hotels and resorts in destinations all across Asia, providing more than 15,000 rooms and suites. We also have 53 hotels with nearly 10,700 rooms in the regional pipeline. We look forward to another successful year ahead, delivering exceptional experiences to our guests and expanding our portfolio to many more great destinations across Asia.”

About Best Western Hotels & Resorts:
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of 4,200* hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Best Western offers 11 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Vīb®, GLō®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, BW Premier Collection®, and BW Signature CollectionSM by Best Western; as well as its recently launched franchise offerings: SureStay® Hotel by Best Western, SureStay Plus® Hotel by Best Western and SureStay CollectionSM by Best Western. Now celebrating more than 70 years of hospitality, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales and marketing support, and award-winning online and mobile booking capabilities. Best Western continues to set industry records regarding awards and accolades, including 64 percent of the brand’s North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award in 2017, Business Travel News® ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western number one in upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands, and Best Western receiving seven consecutive Dynatrace® Best of the Web awards for its leading hotel website. Best Western has also won nine consecutive AAA®/CAA® Lodging Partner of the Year awards, recognizing the brand’s commitment to providing exceptional service and great value to AAA/CAA’s nearly 58 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Best Western-branded hotels were top ranked in J.D. Power’s 2017 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study – ranking first in breakfast (food and beverage category) for midscale; and second in overall guest satisfaction. Over 32 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western hotel worldwide. Best Western’s partnerships with AAA/CAA and Harley-Davidson® provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Through its partnership with Google® Street View, Best Western is the first major company of its size and scale to launch a virtual reality experience for customers, setting a new industry standard and reinventing how guests view hotels.
* All Best Western and SureStay-branded hotels are independently owned and operated.
* Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.

Contact information:
Marketing Communications Department
Best Western Hotels and Resorts – Asia
Tel: +66 2 656 1260
Sirimanas Maungrod
Email: sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com
Orapan Sornnuwat
Email: orapan.sornnuwat@bestwestern.com