Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit is a member of WorldHotels
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BEST WESTERN CEO hopes for record summer
BWH GROUP ’ S LARRY CUCULIC LEADS BY EXAMPLE AND TALKS TO HOTELS ABOUT THE GLOBAL MEMBERSHIP GIANT ’ S PLANS TO GROW AND PROVIDE FURTHER VALUE .
by KATHAKALI NANDI
The early returns are going exceedingly well . We ’ ve been very active in seeking investments . We ’ ve acquired the Hutton Hotel in Nashville as the inaugural project that we ’ ve done together . We ’ re working on two or three things currently which we aren ’ t announcing now . But we anticipate that we ’ ll be acquiring additional assets and developing other assets in the next three to six months .
BWH Hotel Group has emerged from the pandemic with a strong balance sheet , while also providing relief worth millions of dollars to their member hoteliers , according to President and CEO Larry Cuculic .
Appointed to the top job in December 2021 , Cuculic says while the company , with 4,500 properties under 18 brands , is not planning on launching new brands right now , it is focusing on growing the portfolio of its extended-stay options — Executive Residency and SureStay Studio . In the meantime , Best Western ’ s 2019 acquisition of WorldHotels has also helped accelerate its global reach and position in the upper upscale and luxury segments .
“ As the pandemic wanes internationally , North America will remain a strong growth market ,” Cuculic says . “ Additionally , noting our strong international partners , our development strategy will continue to place an emphasis on key international markets such as central Europe and APAC .”
With the group inching towards its pre-pandemic performance
22 hotelsmag . com July / August 2022