For Immediate Release

24 October 2006

Best Western increases its focus on sales

Best Western Australia announces three new appointments to its sales team as it launches a new Sales Property Visitation Program and increases focus on inbound business. While sales has always been an important aspect of Best Western Australia’s business, it is becoming even more of a focus as the competitiveness within key international and corporate markets, as well as within the mid market accommodation industry, heats up.

With the downturn in domestic tourism and international visitor numbers decreasing from most of the traditional inbound markets, it’s becoming more competitive than ever to secure these guests, so Best Western Australia has stepped up its sales activities.

Recently Best Western opened an inbound reservations service within their North Sydney office to give valued clients a more user friendly and efficient means of booking any of their 220 properties in Australia. As a result, Coralie Thomson, formerly with the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC), was appointed Reservations Consultant (Inbound Specialist) to assist with the management of this new service. In its first month of operation this new service has increased Best Western International Hotel Pass bookings by 6%, compared to the same booking period last year.

Best Western Australia recently appointed Danielle Moubarak to the role of Sales Manager Victoria. Danielle brings diverse tourism industry experience to Best Western including, most recently, a sales role at Great Sights. Melissa DiPietro was also recently appointed as Sales Manager NSW. Melissa was previously working in the Best Western City Sands in Wollongong, so she hit the ground running with prior knowledge of Best Western’s brand and its products. She also has advertising and marketing experience from her time with Newsnet (national metropolitan division of Newsltd) and function management experience.

Best Western Australia Sales Managers are based around the country to secure business for Best Western properties from travel agents and corporate companies. Recently however, Best Western launched the Property Visitation Program, where Sales Managers will now also visit individual Best Western properties and conduct a property sales analysis so that the hotel staff and the national sales team can combine efforts, working to property specific sales plans. This collaborative partnership approach will ensure increased support and communication with agents, wholesalers, travel management companies and corporate clients as Best Western properties begin to better leverage the national sales efforts.

“Our national sales force is one of the key reasons properties join Best Western as their role is to drive more guests into Best Western beds. As competition increases we need to continuously develop our sales strategy and find new ways to work more collaboratively with our individual hotels to increase their business from all market segments,” commented General Manager Sales & Marketing, Kimi Anderson.

“These new property visitation plans add a new dimension to our sales efforts and, in effect our 220+ hotels across Australia become an extension of our national sales force.

Part of a wholistic approach to working more effectively with the industry, we are also ensuring that all our hotels are equipped with the knowledge and skills required to grab their share of the market through increased support and training. We have launched a new member induction training program, a General Manager’s Training Course and regional training sessions, which all include a sales component.”

Best Western Australia is an affiliate of Best Western International ‑ the World's Largest Hotel Chain with over 4100 independently owned and operated hotels, motels, resorts and apartments in over 80 countries.

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Media contact:

Tanya Wilkins

Communications Manager

Best Western Australia

Ph: +61 2 8913 3346 Fax: +61 2 9955 9555

twilkins@bestwesternaustralia.com.au

www.bestwestern.com.au