Best Western International Inc, one of the world's largest hotel chains, is rolling out new business-friendly hotels, as it aims to woo travellers from rivals Marriott International Inc and Hilton Hotels Corp, its chief executive told Reuters on Monday.
"We want to compete against (Marriott's) Courtyard, Hyatt Place, and Hilton Garden Inn," David Kong told Reuters. Best Western's push for lucrative business travellers comes as the US economy shows signs of slowing, raising concerns that leisure travellers will rein in spending. "Best Western has always been successful with the leisure market. In the not-too-distant past, we were pretty strong in the business market also, but we kind of lost ground," said Kong. "This is a way for us to regain that."
The effort centres around new design concepts for business hotels, featuring meeting facilities and sleeker room furnishings. "We didn't really have a product that competes at that level," said Kong.
The hotel company has already signed at least seven development contracts for the hotel concept and expects the first hotels to open next year in San Antonio, Texas, and New Bern, North Carolina (about 130 miles south-east of Raleigh, North Carolina), Kong said. Best Western is effectively owned by the 4,200 independent hotels that make up the brand.