LAS VEGAS— The divergence of opinion that has been a hallmark of Best Western for much of its 57-year history was demonstrated at a “gripe session” at the hotel company’s annual convention here yesterday. Issues addressed by Best Western members at the meeting included the recent departure of President/CEO Jim Evans and several other executives, as well as a perceived lack of full disclosure by Best Western’s board of directors and appointed governors on these departures as well as other issues. At the heart of the controversy was a widely held view that it has been “too difficult” for Best Western owner-members to wrest full information from directors and governors about goings-on in policy-making meetings. Accordingly, the retention of Mercer Delta to compile a study on the hotel firm’s corporate-governance practices and procedures drew the lion’s share of attention… from several hundred in the audience as well as the meeting’s organizers, Maryland association member (and attorney) Mark Rothman and District III Governor Shawn Simonsen. As Rothman explained: “The purpose of this meeting is to gauge whether there is enough interest to pursue [a litany of stated]issues and, if so, the formation of a committee [to do just that].” As an unexpected plus, Rothman noted Best Western’s recent retention of Mercer Delta to do just that. For the most part, the expressed concern was that all members were not getting all information, or not the same information, or even information “filtered” through the organization’s directors and governors. Despite contentions by several in the room voicing support for the current mode of information dissemination, a significant number indicated it has been nearly impossible— or, at the very least, exceptionally difficult— to get full and pertinent information about matters addressed at the various meetings, executive or otherwise. In the face of the heated exchange of viewpoints, Rothman maintained: “This is not meant to be a witch-hunt.” On the contrary, he said it should serve a constructive purpose; that of improving the flow of information between Best Western executives and its members. It was further theorized an indication of how much that information-flow might need to be eased would come when Dr. David Nygren, Mercer Delta’s global practice leader for corporate governance, makes his organization’s preliminary report to the Best Western board today. Moreover, he— like many in the audience— similarly expressed the feeling the most pressing concern facing the organization at this time is that of “transparency.”
