Best Awards for Excellence - Best of BW Australia

8/23/2006

The Best Awards for Excellence - The Best of Best Western Australia

Best Western Australia recognized 14 winners of its annual Best Awards for Excellence at a Gala Dinner last night as part of their National Convention. These awards recognize Best Western hoteliers throughout Australia for excellence in quality and service. The awards were open to all Best Western Australia hotels, motels, resorts and apartments across Australia. The winners were:

Best 4 ½ Star Property
Best Western Madison Motor Inn, Newcastle NSW

Best 4 Star Property
Best Western Crystal Inn, Bendigo VIC

Best 3 ½ Star Property
Best Western Beechworth Motor Inn, Beechworth VIC

Most Improvements & Upgrades within a Best Western Australia Property
Best Western Hospitality Inn, Geraldton WA

Most Positive Customer Comments
Best Western Golden Grain Motor Inn, Horsham VIC

Most Improved Quality Assurance* Score
Best Western Kalbarri Palm Resort, Kalbarri WA

Highest Quality Assurance Score
Best Western Ballarat Suites, Ballarat VIC

Most FlyBuys Points (per room) Issued
Best Western Country Pathfinder Motor Inn, Dalby QLD

Most Gold Crown Club International** Points (per room) Issued
Best Western Early Australian Motor Inn, Mildura VIC

Most International Hotel Passes (per room) Issued
Best Western Great Ocean Road Motor Inn, Port Campbell VIC

Most Central Reservations Office Bookings (per room)
Best Western Great Ocean Road Motor Inn, Port Campbell VIC

Best Application of the Advertising Toolkit by a Co-operative
Best Western Hospitality Inns in Western Australia

Best Application of the Advertising Toolkit by a Property
Best Western Travellers Motor Village, Newcastle NSW

President’s Award
Paul Hodda, Best Western Country Pathfinder Motor Inn, Dalby QLD

The Best Western Australia National Convention, held on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, from 20 to 22 August 2006, was attended by over 200 delegates. The emphasis of the event was on training and providing key business information to Best Western hotel owners/operators. Highlights included:
- A tourism update from Tourism Australia's Lynne Hocking
- AAAT's Lorraine Duffy discussed accommodation sector sustainability
- Keynote speaker Terry Hawkins presented the dynamic "The Path to Success or Failure – Pitman V Stickman"
- Saatchi & Saatchi presented their theory on branding called 'Lovemarks'
- Loyalty Pacific presented workshops on loyalty marketing
- "Understanding Inbound Business" was presented by Gary O'Riordan, Australia Tourism Export Council
- "International Tourism – Online Distribution" was a session run by Irene Williams, Travelport
- "How to access the lucrative group seniors market" was a workshop presented by Heather Pascoe-Smith, Expanding Horizons Pty Ltd
- John Lewis, CTM talked about "Corporate Travel Management –Building Business for Best Western Australia"
- "Industrial Relations Update – Work Group Changes" was discussed by Rae Philips, Inspire Success
- And Best Western Australia staff ran workshops of "Sales & Marketing – Steps for Success" and "Benchmarking for Profits"

Best Western announced several new initiatives at the event, including the new internet strategy, marketing co-ops and revenue management programs as well as new training programs for new and existing Best Western members.

Best Western is comprised of more than 4,100 hotels, motels, resorts and apartments spread throughout 80 countries and territories. In Australia, Best Western proudly offers an extensive range of over 220, 3½ – 5 star motels, hotels, apartments and resorts.

* Best Western offers global standards of excellence. All of our properties undergo a stringent 200 point assessment as part of our quality assurance program and are required to offer BestRequests™ - standard features such as telephone outlet (dataport), hair dryer, iron & board, tea / coffee making facilities, soap / soap dispenser and shampoo in all guest rooms, non-smoking rooms available, photocopying facilities on site, bottled water available and complimentary toiletries available on-site upon request.

**Gold Crown Club International is a Best Western global frequent guest program designed to reward business and leisure travelers for their loyalty with points at more than 4,100 Best Western properties in 80 countries and territories.

Media contact:
Tanya Wilkins
Communications Manager
Best Western Australia
Ph: +61 2 8913 3346
Fax: +61 2 9955 9555
Email: twilkins@bestwesternaustralia.com.au