A co-sponsor of the association�s Certified Hotel Owners (CHO) Program, the hotel chain is providing educational scholarships and courses for Best Western and AAHOA members. Funding also supports youth classes for future hoteliers.

The April 22nd donation marks the fourth of eight annual gifts that Best Western will make to the organization, which will total $400,000 by 2008.

�The AAHOA continues to make integral contributions to the industry, which is evidenced by its CHO Program,� said Higgins. �We are honored to partner with such an exceptional organization in the pursuit of professional development.�

Best Western Director of Education and Cultural Diversity John Hogan, who assisted in the creation of the program, added, �This is, most certainly, the industry�s most comprehensive study in hotel ownership. Through this special curriculum, owners will gain a sound depth of understanding regarding the multiple and ever-evolving facets of hotel management.�

Included in the CHO Program is an eight-tiered, 16-day training course. Developed to offer hotel owners special insight into operational dynamics, it also identifies those issues unique to the industry, and effective methods for addressing them. CHO certification is provided free of charge to all AAHOA members and any Best Western member who wishes to participate. AAHOA represents 8,400 owners of more than 20,000 hotels throughout the U.S.

Best Western is THE WORLD�S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN® with more than 4,100 hotels in 83 countries and territories. It is a membership association of independently owned and operated hotels that provides marketing, reservations and operational support to its member hotels. Best Western is the official hotel of NASCAR.

Visit Best Western�s newsroom at www.bestwestern.com/newsroom.

Media Contacts:
Paige Donnelly
Media Relations Specialist
(602) 957-5752
paige.donnelly@bestwestern.com
or
David Trumble
Director, External Communications
(602) 957-5753
david.trumble@bestwestern.com