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Recently, Larry Cuculic, president and CEO of BWH Hotel Group, sat down with Asian Hospitality to share his insights into the status of the Best Western Hotel brand and the industry as a whole. A video of the entire interview, the first in Asian Hospitality's "Leadership Series," is now available on the magazine's website. Subjects included the labor crisis, attracting new franchisees and the state of the economy. Below are excerpts from the interview along with additional information on the subjects discussed, including franchise relations, the labor crisis and changes the company has seen since his appointment to the top role. Franchise relations One of the biggest issues Cuculic discusses in the interview is maintaining positive relations with Best Western franchisees. He emphasized the need for openness and transparency. "We disclose all of our contract terms throughout the negotiation. I tell our people, I believe in karma," Cuculic said in the Leadership Series interview. "Karma doesn't forget a name or an address. If you treat someone who's thinking about coming into your brand reasonably fairly, and then when they sign a contract, you drive revenue to them, that's a win-win relationship. That's what we want. If you don't have that win-win relationship, they're going to leave and your reputation is that you don't support your hoteliers or believe in that relationship, which then hinders development." Cuculic said his training at West Point Military Academy and law school at Notre Dame University instilled in him an innate sense of fairness. Also, due to its structure, the company has to involve its members in every decision. "I'm the president, CEO of Best Western, I cannot design a governance change," Cuculic said. "The members vote on all those changes. Our board of directors approves our contracts."

INDIAN PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi declared victory as his coalition secured more than half of the parliamentary seats, setting him on course for a third consecutive term - the first in over 60 years. This follows a six-week-long election in which nearly 1 billion people were eligible to vote. "The National Democratic Alliance is going to form the government for the third time," Modi said in a speech at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in New Delhi. "We are grateful to the people. This is a victory for the world's largest democracy." However, BJP's celebrations seem relatively muted. Modi's alliance had set a bullish target of winning 400 out of 543 parliamentary seats. While the BJP secured 240 seats, the NDA alliance's total is approximately 292, according to India's election commission. The I.N.D.I.A coalition of opposition parties picked up 234 seats, defying exit polls that predicted a much lower tally.

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In a cutthroat market, to keep going - every business needs to have a competitive edge over contenders. The scenario in the Hospitality and tourism sector is nothing different, where lot of players can be seen battling for customers and for the bigger market share. Unlike before, with too many Hotels around competing with each other, the customers have a lot on platter to choose from and almost everyone today has the tendency to select nothing but the best service providers in the market. Price was, has been and would always be a prime concern for customers. Earlier when the choices were limited (in terms of service providers), the customers had no option than going for whatever they used to get in the market at the FIXED price asked by the suppliers. However, with the change in market scenario and entry of new players (and the trend is continuing), the customers have the power and they are the ones that have the final say in everything. In such a scenario (in an exclusive buyer's market), it becomes imperative for Hotels (companies) to be flexible in/with their approach towards customers. Irrespective of income group or standard of living, every customer has concerns about pricing. Who does not like best deals in anything? The customers would always look for highest quality products/services that come with the best price tag. The Hotels that befit the requirement of customers with respect to quality and pricing have fair chance of winning them, at the first place. In order to price better and win customers to their business, the Hotels need to know what their competitors are doing and what their pricing or customer strategies are. Watching and following business rivals is very important, because if both (hotels) are offering similar quality services and if one has a better pricing then customers would go with that supplier where they are getting better deals. Hence, to avoid losing customers to business rivals, hotels need to stay ahead of competitors and t

Frenchman Sebastien Ogier triumphed at the Monte Carlo Rally on 27 January, beating his main rival Thierry Neuville by just 2.2 seconds. It was the six-time world champion's sixth win in the first race of the world championships and seventh overall. Ogier was racing for Citroen and his performance gave the French car manufacturer its 100th win in rally history. Estonian driver Ott Tanak finished in third place.

HE WORLD TRAVEL & Tourism Council's Hotel Sustainability Basics, a global initiative assisting hoteliers in improving their sustainability ratings, recently surpassed 1,700 verified hotels across 70 countries worldwide. Hotel groups from destinations such as France, China, Mexico, India, Germany, South Africa, Philippines and Norway joined the initiative, WTTC said in a statement. During its first year, Hotel Sustainability Basics gained endorsements from destinations worldwide, including the Caribbean, Mauritius, Colombia, UAE, Azerbaijan, Mexico, and Ecuador, the statement said. Hotel brands, including Jin Jiang, Louvre Hotel Group, Choice Hotels and Radisson Hotel Group, have adopted Basics. Other major brands joining the initiative include Intrepid, British Airways Holidays, HBX Group, WebBeds and Abercrombie & Kent. "Our goal is to have a globally recognised trademark that shows customers at a glance, that a hotel is supporting the planet by saving energy, cutting plastics, protecting nature, and supporting their local community," said Julia Simpson, WTTC's president and CEO. "It is a win win. We launched the scheme only a year ago and the uptake has been incredible. 70 countries have signed up with over 1700 properties verified with a long waiting list. It will bring lasting change."

Discover the Vibrant Chicago Loop! The Chicago Loop bursts with attractions like river cruises and the lively River Walk offering kayaking. Millennium Park's serenity, the bustling theatre district, and stunning historic architecture beckon exploration. Indulge in incredible dining and shopping on State Street in the heart of this Windy City hub. With so much to do, you'll never have a dull moment in Downtown Chicago! Explore Like a Local: Embark on a thrilling river cruise and marvel at the city's architecture along the scenic Chicago River Walk. Visit Mc Cormick Bridge House and River Museum for art displays and ancient artifacts. Serenity, History, Groove: Experience the iconic Cloud Gate at Millennium Park and enjoy live performances at Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Dive into adventure at Maggie Daley Park and explore the diverse cultures at the Chicago Cultural Center. Theatrical Delights: Delight in world premieres and Tony award-winning shows in the bustling Theater District. Experience the grandeur of venues like Cadillac Palace Theatre and Auditorium Theater. Culinary Delights: Savor a culinary journey with diverse dining options, from local eateries to award-winning restaurants like Alinea and Girl & the Goat. Don't miss indulging in famous deep-dish pizzas from Giordano's and Lou Malnati's. Shopping Spree: Shop till you drop on State Street, offering everything from high-end brands to local finds. Find clothing, shoes, electronics, and home décor to satisfy all your shopping needs. Exciting Events: Immerse yourself in noteworthy events like The Matchbox Magic Flute, ice skating at McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, and weekend yoga sessions at Kalapriya. Experience the intersectionality of performances at the American Dancing Bodies Symposium.

THE U.S. SENATE voted to block the National Labor Relations Board's final definition of joint-employer status, following up on a similar bill passed by the House. President Biden is expected to veto the bill, but opponents of the NLRB joint employer rule, such as the American Hotel & Lodging Association, claim the Senate's resolution was a "win for hoteliers." After the House passed its Congressional Review Act against the NLRB rule in January, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas also issued an order blocking the NLRB rule. AHLA supported both efforts to block the NLRB rule, calling the current joint employer definition a threat to the hotel franchise model. "Today's bipartisan Senate vote is a win for hoteliers and small business owners everywhere, and shows the rule is out of step with Congress, the courts, and America's job creators. Lawmakers from both parties in the House and Senate realize the administration's joint-employer rule would acutely suppress job creation for hoteliers and other businesses, and therefore it needs to be abandoned," said Kevin Carey, AHLA Interim president and CEO.

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Squaw Valley proudly carries the winning charm as a world-class destination resort with endless recreation and cutting-edge accommodations. Marketing itself as the 'spring skiing capital of North America. With a low-cost spring skiing pass and an afternoon party, no doubt, it's the mid-mountain station.

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The Galaxy Macau, set to open on 15 May, 2011 is a colossal resort comprising three luxury hotels-the award-winning Banyan Tree Hotel, Japan's famed Okura Hotel and the much-awaited Galaxy Hotel. The posh complex will feature 2,200 rooms, suites and villas between the three properties.

he game enables Monopoly fans from all over the world to meet, chat in chatrooms and play together. Players can also use game's online ranking system to find out how well they are doing, and to track their progress. Galactic Magnate is based on Monopoly, but a few rules have been changed to deepen the strategy and minimize the impact of luck. To win the game, players must use their wits and employ strategic thinking. Although the game is extremely easy to learn, it takes a lifetime to master. "Finally, there is an online Monopoly game having all the features that a player needs to play comfortably. The new rules are well thought out and make the game much more interesting. It is amazing that this entire job was done by a single person who was so benevolent to offer the game for free" - said Stephen Gardner, a delighted player. Kresimir Cosic, the only developer of Galactic Magnate is dedicated to continue improving the game, adding even more features in the future, and listening to suggestions posted by players on Galactic Magnate forums.

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