“I have the utmost respect for WorldHotels and believe in its vast potential,” said David Kong, president and CEO of Best Western Hotels & Resorts.
Best Western Hotels and Resorts will focus on unlocking the potential of its newly-acquired WorldHotels collection “by improving revenue delivery to its hotels while protecting its independent identity”.
Two years after it was purchased by Associated Luxury Hotels, Frankfurt-based WorldHotels has been snapped up by Best Western for an undisclosed price.
“I have the utmost respect for WorldHotels and believe in its vast potential,” said David Kong, president and CEO of Best Western Hotels & Resorts.
“We truly believe our platform and revenue engines will benefit WorldHotels and attract many more independence–minded, quality hotels to join the brand.”
Geoff Andrew will continue as CEO of WorldHotels “for the foreseeable future”, said Kong.
“Through its established senior leadership team and regional presence in each market, Best Western brings a new level of expertise that will undoubtedly help grow the WorldHotels brand in key markets,” Andrews said.
The acquisition will catapult Best Western into the upper upscale and luxury segments, building on its mid-scale roots.
WorldHotels’ collection of more than 300 hotels and resorts — recently re-classified in three categories, distinctive, elite and luxury —fills the high-end segments for the chain.
Best Western has been scaling up its soft brands such as the BW Premier Collection and BW Signature Collection that target upper midscale hotels.
“There is tremendous synergy between Best Western and WorldHotels,” said Kong. “By joining forces in this new partnership, we will create competitive advantages for both companies.”
Best Western said WorldHotels would maintain its distinctive personality and individuality “while benefiting from Best Western’s robust and scalable e-commerce platform, strong partnerships, loyalty programme, sales and marketing support, global distribution network, and revenue engines”.
Best Western over the past several years, has expanded its portfolio to 13 brands.
Hotels under the WorldHotels banner include Dorsett Grand Chengdu, Dorsett Singapore, Dorsett Kuala Lumpur, Caravelle Saigon, Carlton Hotel Singapore, Goodwood Park Singapore, The Royal Garden Hong Kong and Hotel Grand Palace Tokyo.