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Best Western North Side Inn in Wichita Falls and Best Western SeaWorld San Antonio are now open in Texas. The North Side Inn, owned by Nitin Chanana, offers 94 guestrooms, while the San Antonio property, owned by Aman Patel, features 70 guestrooms and 12 suites, Best Western said in a statement. "After a complete renovation, we are excited to welcome guests to our hotel, with recent updates that keep both leisure and business travelers in mind," said Harry Patel, Best Western North Side Inn's general manager. "With our convenient location that provides quick access to the best of Wichita Falls, the Best Western North Side Inn offers something for everyone." The North Side Inn features a fitness center, a meeting room for up to 25 people, business center services, and an outdoor lounge, Best Western said. The hotel is located near Sheppard Air Force Base, downtown Wichita Falls, the Wichita Falls Multi-Purpose Event Center, and Midwestern State University.

The Best Western Plus Magnolia Inn & Suites is now open in Cleveland, Tennessee. The recently renovated 87-room hotel, owned by Jay Patel, is near the Ocoee River which offers recreational activities, such as white-water rafting, swimming, fishing and boating. Also nearby is the national headquarters of Church of God, national headquarters of Life Care Centers of America, a Whirlpool Corp. manufacturing plant, the Wacker Chemical Co. plant and Cleveland State Community College. Amenities include a fitness center, outdoor pool and meeting space to accommodate up to 30 people. "The Best Western brand is known for its 75-year legacy of offering the highest degree of hospitality and unmatched value, and we are proud to be one of its newest members," Patel said. "Our newly-renovated hotel, combined with our exceptional service and outstanding amenities, will exceed guest expectations as they experience all a Best Western Plus hotel has to offer, whether for work or play." In early May, the Best Western Plus Orlando East-UCF Area in Orlando, owned by PRM Hotels led by Ishwar Naran as president and CEO, opened in Orlando. The newly renovated 70-room hotel is near the University of Central Florida and other local colleges, including Strayer University Orlando East Campus and Valencia College East Campus.

The Best Western Plus Hershey in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is now open. It is owned by Anish Patel. The 60-room hotel is near Hersheypark, The Hershey Co., Hershey's Chocolate World, Hersheypark Stadium, Giant Center, Milton Hershey School, the Hershey Medical Center and Penn State Health and the Tanger Outlets Hershey. Amenities included 1,000 square feet of meeting space, a heated indoor pool, fitness center and outdoor patio area. "Best Western Plus hotels go beyond the expected, and we are thrilled to be part of this well-respected and highly-regarded brand," said Anish Patel, Owner of the Best Western Plus Hershey. "Hershey is a destination for travelers around the world, and we look forward to our brand-new Best Western Plus® hotel being a preferred travel option for business and leisure travelers alike."

The Best Western Plus Orlando East-UCF Area in Orlando opened May 3. It is owned by PRM Hotels led by Ishwar Naran as president and CEO. The newly renovated 70-room hotel is near the University of Central Florida and other local colleges, including Strayer University Orlando East Campus and Valencia College East Campus. Other local attractions include Central Florida Research Park, Orange County Convention Center, Addition Financial Arena and UCF's Bounce House. Amenities include an outdoor pool as well as a 400-square-foot boardroom and 600-square-foot conference room that can accommodate up to 10 and 50 people. "The Best Western Plus Orlando East-UCF Area is ideally situated for business and leisure travelers alike, conveniently located near many popular local attractions," said Ishwar Naran, president and CEO of PRM Hotels. "Our newest hotel also offers a host of amenities and provides the perfect location for families visiting students at UCF and other local colleges. We look forward to welcoming guests to our newly-renovated property in East Orlando and providing our visitors with the unmatched value and comfort they've come to expect with Best Western."

The SureStay by Best Western Livingston Merced County, owned by Tushar Patel, is now open in Livingston, California. The recently renovated hotel features 76 guest rooms, Best Western said in a statement. "The SureStay by Best Western Livingston Merced County provides guests with the excellent comfort, outstanding value and warm service they are looking for in a hotel stay," said Dave Panas, SureStay Hotels' managing director of operations. "After spending more than half a million dollars on our renovation, we are thrilled to introduce visitors to Livingston to this new and superior hotel experience." The property is near the University of California, Merced, Castle Air Museum, and several government offices, the statement said. It also serves as a stopover for travelers heading to Yosemite National Park or Pinnacles National Park, both less than a two-hour drive from Merced.

The SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Odessa in Odessa, Texas, is now open. It is owned by Shivbkrishna LLC led by Manish Bhakta. The 110-room hotel is near the Odessa Meteor Crater, the second largest meteor crater in the U.S., the Parker House Ranching Museum and Monahans Sandhills State Park. Amenities include a fitness center, indoor pool and two different spaces for meetings and events. "Our fully-renovated hotel offers the most value and best service for both business and leisure travelers staying in Odessa," Bhakta said. "The SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Odessa provides guests with the excellent comfort, value and service they are looking for in a hotel stay," said Rob Mentnech, managing director of SureStay Hotel Group.

The Best Western Gallup West is now open in Gallup, New Mexico. It is owned by Murad Mohsin. The 60-room hotel is near Veteran Memorial Pillars, Red Rock State Park, the Gallup Flea Market Fire Rock Navajo Casino and the Navajo Nation Museum. It is two hours from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Amenities include an indoor pool, fitness center, spa and free parking. "We are very excited to join Best Western and to have access to the brand's best-in-class support and resources that will strengthen our property and guest service," said Murad Mohsin, owner of the Best Western Gallup West. "Our hotel offers something for everyone and is near some of Gallup's most interesting sights. We look forward to providing the comfort travelers are looking for in our quaint town situated off Route 66."

The Best Western Plus Heritage Rail Inn & Suites is now open in York, Pennsylvania. The hotel, owned by Sagar Shah and his family, recently completed a $3 million renovation. It features 73 rooms and 55 suites, along with amenities such as retro games, a fitness center, a yoga and wellness room, a business center and a meeting room, Best Western said in a statement. "Following a top-to-bottom renovation, we are excited to welcome guests to our reimagined hotel," said Shah. "The redesigned property pays homage to the rich history of York, Pennsylvania, while also providing the modern comforts and conveniences for which the Best Western brand is known." The property is situated near the Colonial Courthouse, Appell Center for the Performing Arts, and York County Historical Center, the statement added, noting that a new lobby bar, The Heritage Rail Tavern, will open soon.

SureStay Plus by Best Western Corydon is now open in Corydon, Indiana. Manish Kumar is its general manager. The newly renovated 76-room hotel has a business center, and 24-hour fitness facilities. It will open an outdoor pool later this year, BWH Hotels said in a statement. "We are proud to welcome travelers to the SureStay Plus by Best Western Corydon and cannot wait for them to experience the SureStay Hotels difference," said Dave Panas, SureStay's managing director of operations. "Guests will appreciate having all the necessities for a comfortable stay - including a complimentary hot breakfast each day - and the warm service of the hotel's caring team." The property is located near Squire Boone Caverns, Marengo Cave (a U.S. National Landmark), Turtle Run Winery, Corydon Capital State Historic Site, Hayswood Nature Reserve, and the Red Barn Antique Mall, the statement added.

SureStay Hotel by Best Western Fort Pierce is open in Fort Pierce, Florida, after a renovation. It is owned by the Satya Group led by Sachit Patel as president. The 72-room hotel is near Heathcote Botanical Gardens, Fort Pierce Beach and St. Lucie County Aquarium. Amenities include an outdoor pool with hot tub. The renovation included all-new flat-screen televisions, bedding, furniture, carpet, and lighting fixtures. "We are proud to be one of the newest hotels in a brand that has already seen such impressive fast-paced growth," said Sonny Patel, General Manager of the SureStay Hotel by Best Western Fort Pierce. "We're excited for our guests to experience this fast-growing brand."

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."

DALLAS-BASED NEWCRESTIMAGE formed a joint venture with Dabu Hotels, and Countrywide Hospitality to acquire the 130-room Best Western Plus at Lake Powell in Page, Arizona, operated by Terrapin Hospitality, a statement said. The company said that the Arizona property is located in a leisure destination area that is visited by more than 4.5 million visitors. Nearby attractions are the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, Glen Canyon Dam, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend, the statement added. "This hotel is a key stop for travelers who are making the 'grand circle' tour of western national parks such as Zion Park and Bryce National Park," said Mehul Patel, managing partner and CEO of NewcrestImage. "We are always looking to acquire well-positioned properties such as this one, and we are excited to partner with strong investment partners like Dabu Hotels and Countrywide Hospitality."

The Riverfront Hotel, SureStay Collection by Best Western is now open in Richland, Washington. The hotel is owned by Jitesh Desai. The 136-room hotel is near Howard Amon Park and outdoor event space John Damn Plaza. Also nearby are J. Bookwalter Winery and Tagaris Winery, Allied Arts-Gallery at the Park, REACH Museum and Manhattan Project B Reactor Tours. "Jitesh Desai is an established hotelier whose experience and commitment to the brand will undoubtedly deliver on the SureStay service promise at this impressive property," said Josh Miehl, regional manager of SureStay Hotel Group.

THE BWH HOTEL Group board of directors elected Danny Lafayette as board chairman for 2023. Previously, Lafayette served as vice-chairman of the board of directors and has been a Best Western owner for more than 40 years. Lafayette also served as a Best Western governor for more than 25 years, according to the company. He was elected to the board of directors in 2018 to represent Best Western's District VII, which includes the Northeastern region of the U.S. and the eastern provinces of Canada. "I'm pleased to announce Danny Lafayette as our new chairman of the board," said Larry Cuculic, BWH Hotel Group president and CEO. "Danny has been a trusted member of our organization for over four decades. His deep knowledge of our brand, together with his extensive industry experience, make Danny the ideal selection to serve as Chairman. I look forward to working alongside Danny and his colleagues on the board of directors as we continue to grow our brand, deliver industry-leading customer care to our guests, and drive superior revenue to our hoteliers."

The Best Western Plus Brooklyn-Prospect Park is now in Brooklyn, New York. It is owned by Mahesh Ratanji and is near several major attractions. The 67-room property provides easy access to the area's top attractions, including Barclays Center, Flatbush Avenue, Luna Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Zoo, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Brewery and many more. The hotel is also nearby popular Brooklyn neighborhoods like Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg, Dumbo, Red Hook, Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay. The new construction hotel provides amenities including a 24-hour fitness center and a business center. The hotel guestrooms are designed in bright colors and has 55-inch flat-screen televisions, mini fridges and coffee makers. Free wireless internet is available throughout the property.

The Best Western Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport is now open in Humble, Texas, following a comprehensive renovation. Previously it was a Baymont by Wyndham. The 52-room hotel is owned by Houston-based Wayside Investment Group, led by Miraj Patel as president. It is near the Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport as well as several restaurants, the Deerbrook Mall, Jess H. Jones Parks and the Old MacDonald's Farm. Amenities include a fitness center, meeting room, guest laundry and business center. It is pet friendly. "We are thrilled to open this newly renovated hotel and join the community by offering visitors traveling the Houston-area, a new and memorable travel experience." said Patel. "The transformational enhancements to this acquisition continues to demonstrates our commitment to value creation and best-in-class guest satisfaction."

The Best Western Shackleford is open in Little Rock, Arkansas, following a $1 million renovation. The 60-key hotel on Shackleford Road is owned by Rahul Patel. "We are excited to welcome guests at our newly renovated property while they discover Arkansas' capital city," Patel said. "The updates ensure our guests find a comfortable place to relax after days exploring our lively downtown, known for its thriving arts and music scene and a range of attractions suitable for all ages." Several rooms in the hotel are designed in a suite-style with king-sized beds and hot tubs. Amenities include a renovated 24-hour fitness center, indoor swimming pool and a 700 square-foot meeting space. The vicinity offers a range of attractions including Little Rock Zoo, Wildwood Park for the Arts, Arkansas State Capitol, Big Dam Bridge, Museum of Discovery, Heifer Village and Urban Farm, Pinnacle Mountain State Park and various dining options, shopping centers, educational facilities, recreational centers and transportation hubs.

DAVID KONG, THE recently retired president and CEO of Best Western Hotel Group, is the inaugural recipient of the Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award. The award, sponsored by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation and The BHN Group, is named after the late Arne Sorenson, the former president and CEO of Marriott International who passed away in February. Kong will be recognized during the AHLA Foundation's fundraising gala, the Night of a Thousand Stars on Jan. 23, as well as during the 21st Annual Americas Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles on Jan. 25, according to a press release from AHLA. The award will be presented annually to a senior-level executive in the lodging industry to recognize their leadership and community engagement. Nominations are reviewed by AHLA's executive committee and representatives from ALIS.

The SureStay Hotel by Best Western Rockford East is now open in Rockford, Illinois. It is owned by Bankim Hirpara. The 122-room hotel is near Rockford University, Midway Village Museum, Hurricane Harbor Rockford waterpark, CherryVale Mall, Discovery Center Museum, Aldeen Golf Club and Rock Cut State Park. "We're excited to join the SureStay brand and open our doors in East Rockford," Hirpara said. "We look forward to welcoming guests to our convenient location, which is within proximity to some of Rockford's most exciting destinations. Our staff is eager to provide our guests with a stay they can be sure about."

Fairfield Inn & Suites Oklahoma City Downtown is now open in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Marriott International franchise is owned and managed by Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Anish Hotels Group under its founder, President and CEO Andy Patel. The 133-room hotel is the first to open in the new downtown convention center area, adjacent to the new $290 million Convention Center set to open in September. Nearby are Chesapeake Energy Arena, Bricktown Ballpark, Myraid Gardens, and the new $140 million Scissortail Park. Amenities include a full-service bar featuring pre-prohibition craft cocktails, a fitness center, business services, and a 988-square-foot meeting space.