Best Western Plus founded by M.K. Guertin started in 1946 and began as an informal channel between the properties and the guests or travelers. Guertin with over 23 years of experience in the lodging and accommodation business started this “guest referral system” mainly through phone calls from his office to the that of the property. By 1962, Best Western Plus became the first ever hotel reservation covering the entire United States.
A year after, the Best Western Plus became the largest motel industry in the nation with 699 properties and 35,201 rooms under its management. Membership loyalty programs became a “thing” during the late 1980s for most hotels operating in the Americas. Best Western Plus launched its Gold Crown Club International Program and acquired 200,000 members the same year and with sales of more than $40 million.
Best Western Plus continued its expansion and reaches places like Greece, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana. BY 2015, a new master band logo was introduced, giving it a more modern and polished look, intended for the upper midscale market. At present, there are over 4500 privately owned hotels in 100 countries and territories working under the Best Western Plus brand.
