Terrance Bichsel

Terrance ‘Terry’ Bichsel serves as the 2016 vice chairman of the Best Western® Hotels and Resorts Board of Directors. He was elected to the Board of Directors in November 2014 to represent the interests of Best Western hotel owners in seven western states, including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, and Canada’s western provinces. Mr. Bichsel previously served as the 2015 secretary-treasurer.

Mr. Bichsel, a certified hotel administrator, is a 40-year veteran of the hospitality industry. He started his hospitality career in high school working part-time in a restaurant. Mr. Bichsel has been a general manager and regional vice president for multiple branded hotels. He has held executive management positions for industry leaders to include senior vice president/COO for John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. (Springfield, Mo.), president-Parks & Resorts Division ARAMARK Corporation (Philadelphia, Pa.), and senior vice president-worldwide for Holland America Cruise Line (Seattle, Wash.). In these capacities Mr. Bichsel has been responsible for more than 20 new hotel openings in his career; operations; strategic planning; acquisitions and divestitures; new product development; client, franchisor and partnership relations; asset management; sales and marketing; profitable growth; and quality initiatives.

Mr. Bichsel grew up in Tacoma, Wash. and has lived throughout the U.S. to include Chico, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Denver, Colo.; Springfield, Mo.; Philadelphia, Pa.; and the Seattle, Wash. area.