Best Western Debuts "Indie Films" Featuring Independent Best Western Hotel Owners

PHOENIX, April 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Best Western International, the World's Biggest Hotel Family(SM), unveiled this week the brand's first series of Independent Films – three-minute documentaries that tell the inspiring stories of five Best Western hotel owners. These films exemplify the independent spirit and commitment to hands-on management of the brand's more than 2,200 individually owned and operated hotels across North America.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110111/LA27838LOGO)

The first five films are being released in celebration of Best Western's 65th birthday this year and can be viewed on Best Western's Facebook and YouTube pages as well as at www.bestwestern.com/indiefilms. An additional series of Best Western Indie Films is currently in production.  

These unique films are also being entered within a number of regional and national film festivals in 2011, including the LA Shorts Fest, NXT Stage and Atlantic Film Festival, to further share the personal stories of Best Western's hotel owners, the backbone of the iconic hotel chain.

"Thanks to the dedication of our  independent owner-operators and their ability to connect with guests, which is the essence of the hospitality industry, Best Western has become one of the most trusted and respected hotel brands in the world," said Dorothy Dowling, Best Western's senior vice president of marketing and sales. "Our owners have long been featured in Best Western advertising, and are truly the heroes of our brand.  We want guests to peek behind the curtain to see the generations of hard work and commitment that have made our owners important contributors to their local communities."

The Best Western Independent Films feature the following hoteliers:

• Alnoor Tejpar, British Columbia
  • BEST WESTERN PLUS Country Meadows
  • BEST WESTERN PLUS Langley Inn
  • BEST WESTERN PLUS Suites Downtown
  • BEST WESTERN PLUS Regency Inn & Conference Center
• Bart Baker, Davenport, Iowa
  • BEST WESTERN PLUS Dubuque Hotel & Conference Center
  • BEST WESTERN PLUS Steeplegate Inn
• Bill O'Connell, Anaheim, Calif.
  • BEST WESTERN PLUS Pavilions
  • BEST WESTERN PLUS Stovall's Inn
  • BEST WESTERN PLUS Anaheim Inn
  • BEST WESTERN PLUS Park Place Inn & Mini-Suites
• Dale Gerstner, Jefferson City, Mo.
  • BEST WESTERN PLUS Capital Inn
• Jim Cosgrove, Paradise, Paradise, Penn.
  • BEST WESTERN PLUS Revere Inn & Suites

These films were created by Best Western and its partner advertising agency, New York-based Gotham, Inc.

ABOUT BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Best Western International, Inc. is THE WORLD'S BIGGEST HOTEL FAMILY(SM), providing marketing, reservations and operational support to over 4,000* BEST WESTERN^®, BEST WESTERN PLUS^® and BEST WESTERN PREMIER^® hotels in 90* countries and territories worldwide. Each Best Western-branded hotel is independently owned and operated. Now celebrating 65 years of hospitality, Best Western has grown into an iconic brand that hosts 400,000* worldwide guests each night. Equally committed to the business and leisure traveler, Best Western recently embarked on a mission to lead the hotel industry in customer care. World Vision is the charity of choice for Best Western in building the world's biggest family, with our hotels and staff sponsoring children in need around the globe. Our partnerships with AAA/CAA, Michael Waltrip Racing™ and Harley-Davidson^® help guests make the most of every trip. For the fastest way to a free night globally, join Best Western Rewards^®. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.bestwestern.com.

*Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate.

SOURCE Best Western International