Best Western to Conduct World's Largest Sales Call; Over 8,000 Visits Planned to Thank Travel Agents and Key Clients.

Business Editors

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2002

Beginning March 4 for five days, Best Western hotel owners, general managers and sales directors along with executive and sales teams from Best Western International, will fan out across five continents to conduct the "World's Largest Thank You."

The event was designed to show the company's appreciation for their business and to develop new business opportunities for both parties. This year, the goal is to make in-person visits to more than 8,000 travel agents and key corporate clients topping last year's record 5,000 sales calls.

Best Western hotels in more than 20 countries are participating in the global sales calls during the week of March 4-8. They include: Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, China, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United States.

"This has been an exciting year for Best Western as we launched and completed the implementation of BestRequests(TM) global amenities and services at our 4,000 hotels worldwide," said Jim Evans, president and chief executive officer, Best Western International.

"This is a big step in ensuring the same level of consistency among all of our hotels whether a guest is staying at a Best Western in Paris, France or Paris, Texas," Evans added. (Visit www.bestwestern.com/newsroom for more information about BestRequests(TM)).

The teams will take cookies and other treats on each of the visits and use the opportunity to bring clients up-to-date on specific programs that have been developed to make travel agents more successful when booking Best Western.

Some of those services include BestCheque(TM), a consolidated monthly statement that lists each reservation by property and pays all commissions in one check; a dedicated help desk for travel agents offering assistance in commissions/refunds, customer service and special requests and Best Western's online Trip Planner providing information on hotel amenities, local attractions and driving maps.

In addition, Best Western will be sponsoring a travel agent contest giving away several free trips around the world.

"Building on our success of last year, this is Best Western's unique way to give thanks to our customers in a very global way," said Hubert Tupay, director of Corporate and Travel Agent Marketing, Best Western International.

"Every customer is important to us, but the travel agent community, who account for nearly 50 percent of our total bookings, is the most critical connection to our guests," added Tupay.

Best Western International is the world's largest hotel chain. As of its fourth fiscal quarter ending Nov. 30, the company had 4,053 hotels in 80 countries and territories. Best Western is a membership association of independently owned and operated hotels that provides marketing, reservations and operational support to its members.

EDITORS: Throughout the week of March 4, Best Western will be posting photographs of the "World's Largest Thank You" on the Best Western online pressroom at www.bestwestern.com/newsroom.