About Best Western

The organization

Best Western is established in 1946 by M. K. Guertin, a Californian hotelier with 23 years of experience in the business. The hotel chain began as an informal link between properties with each hotel recommending other hotel lodging establishments to travelers. The hotels wanting to join Best Western needed meet the minimum standards which included a proper bed with sheets - something that was not common in the rapidly growing lodging business after World War II.

Best Western International, Inc with its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, own the Best Western brand, marketing and sales programs and operates the Best Western hotels in Northern America. Other regions are operated by affiliate offices, one of them being BW Hotels Osuuskunta.

BW Hotels Osuuskunta has been established in 1995. It is responsible for the Best Western brand, the programs and new hotel negotitions in Finland, the Baltic States and Poland. The head office locates in Helsinki, Finland.

Best Western membership allows the hotel to benefit from internationally known brand,  Best Western's global sales and distribution network and the centralized reservation and customer service offices. However, the hotel will be operationally independent, being responsible for the property and the staff.

Majority of the core Best Western hotels are 3 to 4 star hotels. In 2002, Best Western International created an upscale brand, Best Western Premier. These flagship hotels offer high level of services and amenities. Also the hotel applying to Best Western Premier hotel should have a special story related to location, to building or to its design - to tell and share with the special guests choosing for Best Western Premier to stay for.

Best Western Premier Hotel Katajanokka (2007), that is famous for being a former prison, is the first Best Western Premier hotel in Finland. Best Western Premier Hotel Krakow (2008) is the first Premier hotel in Poland. Best Western Premier hotels can be found from Europe and Asia.