Best Western International Opens Chain’s First Atrea Hotel in San Antonio

Developers Are Committed to Build 29 Atrea Hotels; Six Expected to Open in 2009

The first Best Western Atrea hotel, an upper midscale prototype designed to attract business travelers, opened its doors in San Antonio in late April, the World’s Largest Hotel Chain(R) announced today.

The 77-room Best Western Atrea Hotel and Suites, located less than a mile from the Lackland Air Force Base, includes more than 1,000 square feet of meeting space, an indoor pool and spa, business center and fitness center. Guests receive free high-speed internet access and a complimentary hot breakfast buffet.

‘The Atrea prototype was designed and built with direct input from frequent travelers and the development community,’ said David Kong, President and CEO of Best Western International. ‘It’s gratifying to see years of research and hard work bear fruit. Best Western now has a product that can compete effectively in the upper mid-scale market, while delivering the superior consumer value that is the hallmark of our brand.’

First announced at Best Western’s annual Convention in October 2007, hotel developers have committed to build an additional 28 Atrea properties in both the U.S. and Canada. Best Western expects five Atrea properties to open in 2009 in Conyers, Ga., Plainfield, Ind., North Bergen, NJ, Denton, Tex., and Bryan, Tex. Atrea hotels in Calgary and Sherwood Park, Alberta, are expected to open in 2010.

Atrea hotels can be built at a cost of $85,000 to $90,000 per key, substantially less than other upper midscale hotels that cost more than $100,000 per key to build.

Best Western’s Atrea prototype has several features designed to make business travelers more productive, including multifunction community spaces for meetings or social gatherings – which are often missing from upper midscale hotels – to multimedia features in guest rooms.

‘It’s an honor to open the first Atrea property, and offer an inside look into the possibilities of the Best Western brand,’ said Best Western Atrea Hotel and Suites hotelier Ajay Patel. ‘Our Atrea hotel caters to business executives and military personnel, who are drawn to our open meeting space and amenities that maximize their travel budget. Leisure travelers are finding that we’re centrally located to the best theme parks in Texas and the trendy River Walk area.’

To learn more about Best Western’s Atrea design prototype, visit www.bestwesterndevelopers.com.