BW announced its accelerated growth plan for China - The company currently has 17 hotels, with 12 formal agreements for new development in place, making Best Western the fastest-growing hotel company in the nation.

"Best Western's worldwide distribution and internationally recognized brand are the primary reasons developers are attracted to this successful global brand," says William Dong. "The flexibility of Best Western's business model is attractive to developers and is the catalyst for the brand's rapid expansion in China and throughout Asia. We offer superior distribution, sales & marketing, operations support and reservations service. We also allow owners the flexibility to run their hotels they way they prefer and we don't require them to report revenues or show us financial statements. All of these advantages open the door for rapid expansion."

"China is the fourth-largest business travel market in the world and the opportunities for Best Western's expansion are tremendous," said David Kong, president and CEO of U.S.-based Best Western International. "The key to our development strategy is to engage people from the region who have the business relationships and market familiarity. William Dong has impeccable credentials as China's former foreign affairs officer and brings a wealth of experience in hotel development making him an excellent choice to oversee Best Western's expansion here."

Best Western's focus for growth includes: Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Xian, Nanjing, Kunming, the Pearl and Yangzi River Deltas and Baohai Bay. The company expects to have 60 hotels offering 10,000 rooms by 2009. All hotels will be top-rated properties at the four- and five-star level serving the needs of both business and leisure travelers.