Phoenix,
AZ � June 2003 � Best Western International,
THE WORLD�S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN®, has reorganized its Asian operations
to position the chain for significant brand growth in China, Korea and
other key Asian markets. Best Western plans to add more than 100 hotels
in the next five years throughout the continent.
William
Dong has been named Chief Representative, Director of Operations and Development
� China. Dong reports to David Kong, Senior Vice President Global Strategy
and Development, Best Western International. Dong�s new responsibilities
include overseeing operations and the addition of new hotels to the brand�s
growing portfolio of hotels in the Peoples� Republic of China. He joined
Best Western in mid-2002 with development responsibilities for China. Dong
maintains an office in Beijing.
Glenn
de Souza has been named Managing Director-Asia Worldwide Sales, reporting
to both Kong and Bob Gilbert, Vice President Worldwide Marketing Sales
for Best Western. De Souza�s responsibilities include developing corporate
and group sales and marketing programs for the region. De Souza joined
the company in April of 2002 as Regional Operations Manager. He is headquartered
at Best Western�s offices in Bangkok.
Dong
brings more than 15 years of hotel industry experience and 10 years of
hotel development expertise in China to his new position. He began his
career at Radisson Hotels in Minneapolis. In 1990, Dong joined Accor Asia
Pacific where he was named Chief Representative and General Manager, China
Development. From 1996 to 1999, Dong held the position of Chief Representative
and General Manager for Furama Hotels in China. Prior to his hotel career,
Dong served seven years in Chinese government as a diplomatic officer.
Dong is a Chinese born Canadian.
De
Souza, whose career started in aviation with Pan American Airways, was
born in Singapore and is of Portuguese descent. For the past 25 years,
he has held senior corporate and regional sales and marketing positions
for various international hotel companies including Holiday Inns, Sheraton,
Omni Hotels Asia Pacific, Accor Asia Pacific and Furama Hotels. In addition
to his sales and marketing background, he was general manager of the Hotel
Sofitel Palm Resort and Golf in Malaysia. De Souza has extensive international
travel expertise and relationships with leading travel agencies, tour operators
and multinational accounts.
About
Best Western
Best
Western International is THE WORLD�S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN® with more
than 4,000 hotels in 80 countries and territories. Best Western is a membership
association of independently owned and operated hotels that provides marketing,
reservations and operational support to its members.
For
more information about Best Western, visit the Best Western Newsroom at
bestwestern.com/newsroom.
Carolyn
Marion
Public
Relations Director
(602)
957-5668
carolyn.marion@bestwestern.com
or
David
Trumble
Director,
External Communications
(602)
957-5753
david.trumble@bestwestern.com
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