Bangkok--1 Aug--Best Western International Best Western International, The World’s Largest Hotel Chain, is pleased to announce the soft opening of its newest hotel in Asia, the Best Western Hotel Sendai which received its first guests on 1 August 2008. Located in Miyagi Province of Japan approximately 300 kilometers north of Tokyo on the Pacific coast of Honshu, the four-star hotel enjoys a privileged setting surrounded by greenery on a quiet hillside on the suburban fringes of Sendai City. The hotel’s 180 meter elevation affords exceptional views of the city while still being within minutes of its attractions. The journey from the capital takes 1 hour and 40 minutes by Bullet Train (Tohoku Shinkansen) while Sendai is also served by regular flights to and from major domestic and international cities. With 179 rooms and 11 suits, the 13-floor hotel aims to satisfy the needs of business and leisure travelers to the region alike. The spacious guest rooms start at 35 square meters and are designed to give an experience different and superior to everyday life. With on-site massage services and a golf course that adjoins the hotel, Best Western Hotel Sendai also offers guests excellent relaxation and leisure opportunities. A large, 24-hour shopping mall and several restaurants are located nearby.“The soft opening of Best Western Hotel Sendai marks an excellent addition to our portfolio of 4,000 hotels on six continents and over 120 properties in Asia,” Glenn de Souza, Vice President International Operations Asia, Best Western International. “Like our other hotels in the region, this stylish new hotel has been specially designed to suit the local hospitality and tourism culture while also providing cutting-edge international-standard accommodations and services.” Best Western properties feature in Asia’s top business and cultural destinations throughout Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand, Vietnam as well as countries in the Middle East. “Following on from Best Western Hotel Sendai’s debut, Best Western International will continue to grow its portfolio in Asia with the target of being the largest hotel chain within the region by 2010,” concluded Glenn de Souza. ABOUT BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL Best Western International is THE WORLD'S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN, providing marketing, reservations and operational support to over 4,000* independently owned and operated member hotels in 80* countries and territories worldwide. An industry pioneer since 1946, Best Western has grown into an iconic brand that hosts 400,000* worldwide guests each night. Best Western's diverse property portfolio, its greatest strength, stems from a business model designed to give owners maximum flexibility to address market-specific needs. Equally committed to the business and leisure traveler, Best Western recently embarked on a five-year mission to lead the hotel industry in customer care. Since 2004, Best Western has served as the Official Hotel of NASCAR. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.bestwestern.com. *Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate. Media contact Kanapa Pitakpong Nootnaree Bootpim Public Relations Coordinator Public Relations Coordinator Best Western International Best Western International Tel: +662 656 1260 Tel: +662 656 1260 Fax: +662 6561252 Fax: +662 6561252 [email protected] [email protected]