Best Western® Hotels & Resorts Corporate Culture

Summary

The video highlights Best Western's rich history, culture, and commitment to its employees. Established in 1946, the company has grown into a global hotel chain with over 1,400 employees. Best Western emphasizes employee satisfaction, fostering a family-like atmosphere with an open-door policy, wellness programs, and career advancement opportunities. The company engages in charitable activities, promotes a healthy lifestyle, and listens to employee feedback through engagement surveys. Its innovative spirit, particularly in digital content, and its caring culture set it apart from competitors, creating a supportive and rewarding work environment.

Takeaways

• 🏨 Best Western was established in 1946 as a membership association for hotels to refer business to one another.
• 🌍 The company has been in operation for over 70 years and has two main locations in the United States: Phoenix, Arizona, where its headquarters and global operations center are located.
• 👩‍💼 The headquarters office in Phoenix has about 250 employees, while the global operations center employs around 550 people.
• 🧑‍💻 Best Western has a total of around 1,400 employees globally, with approximately 200 based outside of the United States.
• 🏡 Some employees work from home, especially those handling phone reservations, allowing for flexibility and better work-life balance.
• 🤝 The company culture is centered around loyalty and family, with a focus on fostering pride and love for the Best Western brand among its employees.
• 🎗️ Best Western is actively involved in charitable activities, such as visiting the Phoenix Children’s Hospital and participating in various community events.
• 💪 The company promotes a healthy lifestyle among its employees, offering activities like Fitbit challenges, wellness fairs, and opportunities for group walks during lunch breaks.
• 📈 Best Western values employee development, offering training, career advancement opportunities, and regular challenges to help employees grow.
• 💬 An annual employee engagement survey is conducted to address staff concerns, ensuring management takes action to maintain high engagement levels and a positive work environment.

Q & A

When was Best Western founded, and what was its original purpose?

Best Western was founded in 1946 as an organization for hotels to refer business to each other as a membership association.

How long has Best Western been in business?

Best Western has been in business for over 70 years.

Where are Best Western’s main offices located in the United States?

Best Western has two main locations in the United States: the headquarters office in Phoenix, Arizona, with about 250 employees, and the global operations center, which has about 550 employees.

How many employees does Best Western have globally, and where are they located?

Best Western has approximately 1,400 employees globally, with about 200 of them located outside the United States. Around 200 employees work remotely throughout the U.S., across about 38 different states.

What is unique about Best Western’s corporate culture?

Best Western emphasizes a loyalty-based culture, focusing on fostering loyalty both from employees and customers. Employees are encouraged to take pride in their work and feel connected to the brand.

What kind of charitable activities does Best Western engage in?

Best Western participates in various charitable activities, such as visiting the Phoenix Children's Hospital, where they make waffles for doctors and nurses, among other events that foster a sense of community.

What does Best Western do to promote a healthy lifestyle among its employees?

Best Western encourages a healthy lifestyle by offering activities like walking groups during lunch breaks, Fitbit challenges, and on-site health and wellness fairs.

What opportunities for career advancement does Best Western offer its employees?

Best Western provides various training programs and career advancement opportunities. Employees are given challenges that help them develop and advance within the company.

How does Best Western gather feedback from its employees?

Best Western conducts an annual employee engagement survey, allowing employees to share feedback or suggest changes. Management takes this feedback seriously and often implements changes based on employee input.

What sets Best Western apart from its competitors?

Best Western stands out due to its caring, teamwork-centered culture. They also lead in virtual reality content on YouTube, offering a volume of VR experiences that many competitors have not matched.