Best Western International NEW

Best Western International Asia has announced a strategic plan to expand into the Arabian Gulf Region, with 25 hotels targeted within 2010.

Best Western International, The World’s Largest Hotel Chain®, has entered the Middle East in 2008, with the strategy to drive Best Western hotels, its value-for-money accommodation, and a higher brand, Best Western Premier®, a unique collection of upscale hotels and resorts offering superior standards and services, across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

“Despite the current recession, we see the crisis as an opportunity that fits with our products for the Middle East. With Best Western and Best Western Premier brands, we are able to cater for both mid-scale and upscale markets. The overall strategy of offering high-quality accommodation and services with reasonable price is one that fits well at any time, especially now that everyone is looking for extra value,” said Glenn de Souza, Best Western International’s Vice President International Operations – Asia.

The brand has recently announced the signing of its first two Best Western Premier properties in The Middle East. The 320-room Best Western Premier Dhow Palace Hotel and the 222-rooms Best Western Premier Creek Hotel, both located in Bur Dubai, are scheduled to open its door in May 2009.

In addition, the brand has sealed the deals with two properties in Oman, one in Qatar, one in Kuwait, and is very positive to add three more hotels within the city of Dubai and another two hotels in Saudi Arabia by the end of 2009.

“Construction costs have fallen sharply since the advent of the economic crisis, making it a good time for developers to build hotels that will be ready in two years to attract the upsurge in tourism when the economy strengthens,” the executive added.

Looking ahead, by the time the economy starts to recover; Best Western will have over 10 projects in GCC countries ready to open. Notably, the Holy City of Mecca in Saudi Arabia is another targeted destination where the brand plans to have 3 hotels in the next two years. Other strategic cities include Doha, Muscat, Riyadh, Kuwait City and Madinah.

With a target to become the region’s largest international hotel chain, Best Western aims to have 200 hotels with 50,000 rooms across Asia and the Middle East by 2010.

ABOUT BEST WESTERN PREMIER | In 2003, Best Western introduced the first Best Western Premier® Hotels. Providing international travellers with a higher level of service and amenities, Premier properties must offer an additional 27 or more services/amenities above and beyond Best Western worldwide minimum standards. The properties are also subject to unique design requirements and a special quality review. More than 80 Best Western Premier hotels are currently located throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East. For more information about Best Western Premier, please visit .

ABOUT BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL | 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 80* countries and territories worldwide. An industry pioneer since 1946, Best Western has grown into an iconic brand that hosts 400,000* 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 traveller, 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

Kanapa Pitakpong
+662 654 1400
BWH Hotels