PHOENIX—Best Western International has revealed the first two deals signed in North America to develop its new urban boutique concept Vib in Miami and Chicago.
In addition, the brand has announced the first international Vib hotel will be developed in Seoul, South Korea. Best Western first announced the urban boutique hotel concept focused on style, technology and guest engagement at the brand’s annual convention in October.
“Since the launch of Vib, we have had tremendous interest from hotel developers, especially entrepreneurs who have not developed Best Western hotels previously,” stated Mike Muir, VP, Best Western North American development. “Vib is the only boutique concept designed for the upper-midscale hotel segment and fills a niche that developers and customers want. What is so exciting for Best Western is that Vib is no longer a concept but is now a reality. We are thrilled that our first two projects in North America are in such high visibility markets like Miami and Chicago.”
Rebuild Miami-Edgewater, LLC is developing Vib as the cornerstone of a larger residential and retail project on 7.3 acres in Miami’s Arts and Entertainment District. Located three blocks from the water, near the Art Center and the new Expo Center being constructed, Vib is being developed as a 200-room, 10-story hotel expected to break ground in November 2015.
In Chicago, Vib is being developed as a three-story, 74-room hotel on Cicero Ave. across from the upscale, high traffic Midway Hotel Complex in the Chicago/Midway International Airport market, by entrepreneurs Balkrishna Patel and his sons, Parth and Amit.
With several other projects under consideration, the development team continues to focus on opportunities in major markets including: New York, Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, Dallas, Atlanta, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.