LOS ANGELES Best Western International aims to add a record 400-plus new properties to its system this year, said Jim Evans, president/CEO of the 4,100-property brand, speaking at a press conference just prior to the UCLA Investment Conference.
Plans are to add more than 165 properties in North American alone, compared with 149 in 2000. Target markets are New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Washing, Orlando, Miami, Phoenix and Las Vegas.
Best Western said it will not be offering a brandwide financing program to lure developers to sign with Best Western for properties in these markets, but would be speaking with developers on an individual basis.
Properties in these areas would be a mix of urban, airport, resort and roadside hotels.
The company has created a global positioning device which lets its development sales force team determine immediately if a planned new site would overlap the market area of the nearest Best Western hotel.
About 35% of the BWI properties added in North America this year will be new builds; to assist with that, the company has launched a virtual hotel prototype program to help developers conceptualize design plans.
Internationally, BWI plans to open its first hotel in Hong Kong this year. With 274 rooms, the property will be a Cyber Boutique hotel, with state-of-the-art technology, DECT (digitally enhanced cordless telephones) and Internet touch-screen Web Phones.
Approximately 140 BWI properties will open in Europe this year; France will lead with more than 20 properties. Another 40 properties are expected to open in Mexico, Central and South America. In the Far East, 20 hotels are planned, while Australia will add 10. (1/17/01)