Narayan Still Determined To Take Care Of Business At BW

LAS VEGAS, NV— For Anupam Narayan, CFO/senior vp – global strategy at Best Western International, the notion of being a sore loser in the search for a full-time replacement for departed President/CEO Jim Evans never entered the picture, given his conviction for the selection of Tom Higgins for the vacated post would ultimately prove a winning move for the company. Filling in for Evans on an interim basis while an industrywide talent search was being conducted, Narayan— like Higgins— was identified as one of more than 80 viable candidates contemplated— a number inevitably whittled down to 12, then three, and finally culminating with Higgins emerging to unanimous approval by all in on the executive quest. As Narayan explained to HOTEL BUSINESS®, while he did seek the office of the presidency, he nonetheless returns to his earlier role with the Phoenix, AZ-based lodging organization knowing full well there is still much work to do. Additionally, he maintained he has every confidence he will be able to successfully “take care of business,” pointing out he and Higgins are in general agreement on a great number of issues and matters of relevance to Best Western. “It’s been our history [and, to an extent, good fortune] that we’ve always had the opportunity to express ourselves, our difference and disagreements, and voice our opinion within this organization… unlike the prevailing situation with some other hotel companies,” Narayan maintained. “To some extent it’s a healthy sign of our democratic structure,” he said. Turning away from organizational politics to areas of operational necessity, Narayan said: “Job 1 for us is to drive more business [to our member hotels].” That is why he said some of the company’s actions and decisions— like that of launching a new design cycle— might not be met with the enthusiasm it might have been accorded had the industry not been mired in these current economically challenged times. “But we understand these are tough times,” Narayan contended. “That’s precisely why we’ve similarly implemented a time-line allowing our members to upgrade their standards year-by year rather than all-at-once. In the end, Best Western [as a whole]will be the better for it.”