All about Best Western GB
Best Western have been around in Great Britain for a good few years now and we’d
like to think we’re looking good for our age. For over 30 years we have been pooling
our talents (and more importantly, our commitment to quality) to deliver a personal
level of service meaning that our customers get the best of both worlds – the warm
local smile and the big quality as standard!
Hotels with personality
Every Best Western hotel is individual and crammed full of its own personality giving
customers a whole host of choices from castles to coaching inns, sea views to mountain
views and modern to listed buildings. The only thing that is the same is their commitment
to the quality, value and standards of service that every guest receives.
Local produce is important to our hotels and some go even further by growing their
own food and drink within their grounds. From lemon curd freshly made from the hotels
lemon tree to white wine grown and bottled in the grounds there is so much more
to our hotels than first impressions. In fact, it’s the lasting impressions that
we are interested in and that is exactly what we do well with fantastic customer
service from a bunch of people who really care about your stay.
Our history…
The group started out as a simple informal link between properties with each hotel
recommending another to travelers. It is from these humble beginnings we have grown
into the largest group of independently owned and managed hotels in the world –
but we believe we still have the same ethos as the day we started.
Best Western GB is part of Best Western International, based in Phoenix, America
who founded the brand back in 1946. The group spread its wings in the swinging sixties
and started to license the brand overseas. Today it is represented in over 80 countries
around the world with over 4,000 hotels all independently owned and managed.
The British story started in 1967 with Interchange Hotels who joined with Consort
Hotels in 1999 to start the British arm of the Best Western brand. Interchange and
Consort Hotels remains today as the parent company of the Best Western GB brand and
Beacon purchasing.
Best Western Hotels is the international trading name of
Interchange and Consort Hotels Limited
Company Registration Number: 1002192
VAT Registration Number: 240 5224 06
Place of Registration: England
Registered Office Address: Consort House, Amy Johnson Way, Clifton Moor, York,
North Yorkshire. YO30 4GP
Our Values
Best Western are a group of independent hotels who are packed with personality,
all with the same goal – to make sure our guests have a stay that’s one to remember!
You’ll find Best Western hotels in handy locations all over the globe – over 270
in Great Britain and over 4,000 worldwide to be precise! What’s more, each and every
hotel is a passionate believer in delivering top notch service and staying true
to the individuality of their hotel.
So what do we mean by independence? Well, as all Best Western hotels are independently
owned and run, you can be sure that you’ll stay in a hotel that’s unique from any
other, unlike many of the chains that you so often see nowadays. And you’ll get
all of this along with first class, personal service and the warmest of welcomes.
It’s all about hotels with personality!
So what’s important to us?
• Quality – nothing’s more important to us (and you!) than the quality of our hotels
and the service we offer. Which is why at Best Western we have own strict quality
checks as well as those done by external bodies like the AA or Visit Britain.
• Independence – we don’t believe customers should have to settle for the same old
chain hotels. But we do believe in individuality, creativity, self expression, quirkiness,
difference and the most heart felt welcome. We see these values as key to a memorable
stay, and they can only truly be delivered by an independent hotel.
• Being at the heart of the community – by taking care of our environment as well
as giving a helping hand to the communities that surround our hotels. We’re advocates
of the Green Tourism business scheme and encourage all our members to join in.
• Fair value pricing – this means charging a fair price for your stay, and being
honest in all communications about the price you pay, avoiding fictitious promotions
that show big discounts off prices that don’t exist.
• Enjoying everything we do – we like to have fun and want you to have fun when
you stay with us (even if it’s for a not-so-fun business meeting!).
We’re (more than) keen to be green!
As the biggest group of independently owned and managed hotels in Great Britain,
we have big ideas when it comes to looking after our environment and the local community.
Here at Best Western Central Office we hold a bi-monthly Corporate Social Responsibility
meeting where we chat about new ways to behave as a socially responsible business.
We’re always thinking up new ideas from recycling paper, tea bags and orange skins
to helping children in local schools learn how to read.
And it’s not just Central Office who have a head for all things green. Our member
hotels do more than their bit too! They try to buy from local suppliers wherever
possible, and they too support the charities and organisations in their local area.
They also work with their guests to help reduce their energy consumption by giving
them the option of whether or not they need new towels and linen every day of their
stay.
We’re also over the moon that some of our member hotels have received awards for
their efforts in helping the environment and their local community. Many have received
accolades from the very impressive Green
Tourism Business Scheme. A big well done goes out to all hotels concerned!
In fact, all of our members are working towards going green to some degree – feel
free to contact the individual hotels to see their own policies.
We have even developed the award winning
Green Hotel where hoteliers can discover over 160 products as well as practical
hints and tips to help them become even greener!
Food at our hotels
All Best Western hotels strive to deliver the tastiest, top quality food to their
customers, using locally sourced produce wherever possible. The long-established
AA Rosette scheme recognises quality cuisine at different levels across the UK,
and many Best Western hotels have achieved this award. One AA Rosette is a huge
achievement, and not something to be underestimated!
Best Western hotel restaurants work really hard to source their food locally, and
that’s not from the local supermarket! Fresh, good quality and organic ingredients
are their top priority, with food sourced from local farmers, markets and suppliers.
Some of our hotels even grow their own restaurant produce. Among them is the Best
Western Leigh Park Country House Hotel and Vineyard, who (as the name would suggest!)
actually produce their own wine on site, which guests can sample in their Vine Restaurant.
Plus, all fresh meat and vegetables in the restaurant are sourced from local organic
suppliers.
And sticking with the theme of alcohol, the Best Western Willerby Manor Hotel near
Hull produces their own top quality wine and champagne, and for a unique real ale
producer visit the Best Western Selkirk Arms Hotel in Kirkcudbright, Scotland… hiccup!
Best Western Blunsdon House in Swindon make their own delicious marmalade - perfect
for your morning toast. While the Best Western Llyndir Hall in Chester produce their
own jams, marmalades and even lemon curd from their lemon trees. And to top it all,
the four-star Best Western Premier Queen Hotel in Chester produce their own amazing
luxury chocolates. All perfect for guests with a sweet tooth!
So for top quality, award winning, locally sourced and produced restaurant food
there really is no reason to venture out of your Best Western hotel!
Best Western International Human Rights Policy Statement
Best Western International believes that ethical business practices are critical
to building the trust and loyalty that lead to lasting success. The vision of Best
Western International is to lead the hospitality industry in superior customer care.
We strive to provide the highest levels of service to Best Western hotels and to
their guests with integrity and honesty such that brand loyalty continues to thrive.
To achieve this vision, Best Western International has adopted the following core
values:
• Excellence in quality and service
• Integrity, both personal and professional
• Honesty and truthfulness
• Accountability
• Fairness and impartiality
• Respect for others’ dignity
• Leadership based upon Best Western values
• Being a good member of the community
Consistent with these core values, Best Western International acknowledges and respects
the standards contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it endeavours
to conduct its business in a manner that is consistent with fundamental human rights.
Best Western International’s core values, practices, culture, and history
embody a commitment to ethical business practices and good corporate citizenship.
Additionally, although each Best Western branded hotel is independently owned and
operated, each hotel is contractually obligated to abide by all applicable laws
and by Best Western’s standards.
Protection of Employees’ Rights
Best Western International is committed to upholding the rights of employees and
aims to provide a safe and healthy workplace. Best Western International supports
the elimination of all forms of forced, bonded, or compulsory labour. It supports
the elimination of employment discrimination and promotes and embraces diversity
in all aspects of its operations. Best Western International is an equal opportunity
employer, and it does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, gender,
national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other
legally protected category.
Protection of Children’s Rights
Best Western International condemns all forms of child exploitation. Best Western
International does not recruit child labour, and it supports the elimination of
exploitative child labour. Best Western International also supports legislation
enacted to prevent and punish the crime of sexual exploitation of children. Best
Western International will work to raise awareness concerning such exploitation,
including through its continued partnership with World Vision, an organization committed
to fighting the exploitation of children, and will cooperate with law enforcement
authorities to address any instances of exploitation of which Best Western International
becomes aware.
We are dedicated to respecting fundamental human rights and to continued dialogue
on the principles set forth in this statement as we fulfil our vision as a company.
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