Best Western Expands Presence in Asia; New 274-Room Hotel First to Fly the Brand's Flag in Hong Kong PHOENIX, Ariz., June 14 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- Best Western International, the world's largest hotel chain, continues its global expansion efforts in Asia with the official opening of the Best Western Rosedale on the Park -- Hotel & Suites. The new construction, 274-room hotel is in Hong Kong situated in the heart of Causeway Bay directly across from the famous Victoria Harbor. Outlining Best Western's recent accomplishments in Asia to a group of community leaders, hotel developers and press gathered at the Best Western Rosedale Hotel today were Jim Evans, Best Western International president and CEO, Suzi MacDonald, vice president of International Operations and Roy Olsson, managing director of International Development. Best Western's recent activities over the past 12 months in Asia include: * Establishing Best Western International - Thailand based in Bangkok and headed by Roy E. Olsson, managing director, International Development * Opening the Asia Pacific Central Reservations Operations in Sydney to better serve the Asian region in local languages * Appointing Access Worldwide as Best Western's General Sales Agent (GSA) in India * Appointing Scomber Services as GSA in Hong Kong to cover the Greater China Area of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan * Appointing Hana Tours GSA for Best Western in South Korea * Entering into a strategic alliance with a Korean Company, BgH -- Business Group for Hospitality to develop hotels in South Korea * Announcing the 141-room Best Western New Seoul Hotel in Seoul, South Korea (scheduled to open in August) * Announcing the new 350-room Best Western Mayflower Hotel in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China (scheduled to open second quarter of 2002) "The Rosedale on the Park is a remarkable hotel and sends a strong message of Best Western's arrival in Hong Kong and our continued commitment to expand throughout Asia in other gateway cities," said Jim Evans, Best Western's president and CEO. "This hotel is a significant addition to the Hong Kong skyline, but equally importantly, to the Best Western portfolio of more than 4,000 hotels in 80 countries," he added. "We've made a major commitment in Asia by opening an office with a great development team under Roy Olsson's leadership," said Suzi MacDonald, Best Western vice president of International Operations. "We're seeing the momentum build as a result with the entire Best Western team keenly focused on delivering band value to our hotel owners and customers in Asia and around the world," she added. "This is only the beginning of our development activity here in Hong Kong and throughout Asia where Best Western expects to open more than 20 hotels in South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia," adds Roy Olsson, Best Western managing director of International Development. In addition to the Best Western Rosedale on the Park in Hong Kong, other hotels under development, or under contract, are in Wuhan (China), Manila (Philippines), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Medan (Sumatra, Indonesia), Seoul (South Korea) and two hotels in Bangkok (Thailand). According to Best Western officials, hotels are under negotiation in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, (Malaysia), Taipei (Taiwan) and in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing, all in the People's Republic of China. Best Western International is the world's largest hotel chain with more than 4,000 hotels in 80 countries and territories. It is a membership organization of independently owned and operated hotels that provides marketing, reservations and operational support to its member hotels. For more news visit Best Western International's virtual press room at: www.bestwestern.com/newsroom . SOURCE: Best Western International CONTACT: David Trumble, Corporate Communications, 602-957-5753, or [email protected], or Roy Olsson, Managing Director, International Development, Bangkok, Thailand, +66-2-654-1400, or fax, +66-2-654-1414, or [email protected], both of Best Western International Web site: http://www.bestwestern.com-END-