Rich Bennett - Vice President, Design and Supply

Rich Bennett, a 30-year hospitality industry veteran, is Vice President of Supply & Design Services for THE WORLD'S BIGGEST HOTEL FAMILY®. He leads a 75-member team in Phoenix and Toronto responsible for procurement and design. Effectively functioning as the brands buying cooperative, the team provides both services to the brand’s 2,100 North American hotels. His departments provide one-stop shopping for hotels’ construction, renovation and operation requirements. In any given year, Best Western Supply & Design Services is instrumental in the successful completion of well over 100 new construction or major renovation projects. Additionally, the team provides FF&E and OS&E to nearly all of the brand’s properties to some degree.

Since joining Best Western in 2000, Bennett has grown annual sales for Best Western’s Supply Division from approximately $50 million to approximately $250 million. Best Western Design and Supply’s Products Showcase, held in conjunction with the brand’s annual convention, is the industry’s largest, showcasing products and services from nearly 400 suppliers and generating over $20 million in sales.

Bennett began his career in hotel operations as food and beverage director for several Ramada and Sheraton hotels. He then spent more than 20 years at Prime Hospitality, where he was responsible for purchasing, energy, and fleet management for the company’s 200+ owned and managed hotels. During his tenure, the company’s purchasing group facilitated the construction of nearly 200 hotels and the periodic renovations at 230 hotels.

Bennett is a member of the Institute for Supply Management.