BEST Western International yesterday announced the expansion of its regional operations offices in Thailand and Turkey.
The brand already has strategic alliances with partners in the key markets of China, India and South Korea, and is now looking to establish additional offices to oversee its development in other markets in Asia.
Under a new operational and development support strategy, the company’s office in Turkey will now oversee its expanding portfolio in the Middle East, while its Bangkok office will continue to supervise growth in Thailand and ASEAN countries.
Ron Pohl, the company’s senior vice president, brand management and member services, said while the Bangkok office will have a “smaller footprint” in terms of geographical coverage, staffing levels will remain the same or even be increased, as the office provides additional sales and marketing support for member hotels.
A new managing director for the Bangkok office, established in 2001, is expected to be announced this month, he added.
Best Western currently has about 180 hotels operating or in the pipeline across Asia, plus a further 15 in the Middle East. It will also unveil three new brands for the Asian market at a press conference on March 18, including new luxury, lifestyle and extended-stay concepts.
