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Best Western Hotels & Resorts yesterday announced major activity in Thailand, with the signing of the largest-ever multi-hotel agreement in the company’s 70-year history.
The agreement with real-estate developer AD Houses will lead to the opening of four Best Western Plus hotels in top Thai resort destinations.
Three of the hotels will be the largest properties in the international Best Western Hotels & Resorts portfolio.
“In addition to celebrating Best Western’s 70th birthday this year, 2016 also marks our 15th year of having a strong presence in Asia. I am thrilled to mark these milestones with the signing of such an important agreement,” said Ron Pohl, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ senior vice president of brand management.
“With Best Western’s Asia head office located in Bangkok, Thailand is very much our ‘home’ market in Asia, and as such, we have a strong commitment to continue development across the country. AD Houses is a highly respected real-estate company in Thailand and by aligning with them, we now have the opportunity to further strengthen our presence here, contributing to the fast-growing Thai tourism and hospitality sectors,” said Olivier Berrivin, managing director of international operations – Asia.
Collectively, the four new-build hotels included in the deal represent 4,150 rooms.
Three of the properties are located in Pattaya, with the fourth in Hua Hin.
Best Western Hotels & Resorts currently operates a portfolio of eight hotels and resorts in Thailand under the Best Western, Best Western Plus and Best Western Premier brands.
 
FORUM TO PUSH ADVANCE OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

The Global Child Forum announced yesterday that Kuala Lumpur would host the “2016 Global Child Forum on Southeast Asia” on May 5.
The forum will encourage the region’s business community to place children’s and young people’s rights on top of their sustainability agenda.
With the participation of over 250 leaders and decision-makers from governments, business, civil society and academia, this high-level meeting will provide a valuable opportunity to reinforce and bring attention to the need for cross-sector partnerships for the fulfilment of children’s rights as an important part of the corporate sustainability agenda.
The Global Child Forum was launched in Stockholm in 2009 with the active participation of the Swedish royal family, and the patronage of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.
Since its founding, the organisation has been addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing children today, and promoting the message that children’s rights are a shared responsibility among all members of society – including the business and finance sector.