Prachinburi (Thailand) – May 15, 2019 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts has recently been selected to host a major event designed to showcase the natural beauty and authentic culture of Thailand’s exquisite eastern provinces and promote the region as a travel destination.

Organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the “More Fun @ The East” event took place on April 24 and 25, 2019, at the Tawaravadee Resort, BW Signature Collection by Best Western, the group’s new and exceptional resort in Prachinburi Province. This industry-leading event brought together approximately 300 travel industry professionals for a series of face-to-face meetings between buyers and sellers.

The event was attended by Piboon Hattakitkosol, Governor of Prachinburi, and TAT executives, including Wiboon Nimitrwanich, Executive Director for the Eastern Region; Auttaphol Wannakij, Deputy Executive Director for the Eastern Region; Sophon Tontayatai, Director of the Department for the Eastern Market; and Sakol Thongkam, Director of the Nakhon Nayok Office (Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi and Sa Kaeo Provinces).

“We are delighted to welcome TAT executives, VIPs, and our valued partners from the travel industry to Tawaravadee Resort, BW Signature Collection by Best Western, for this important regional tourism trade show,” said Matthew Horvat, General Manager of the resort. “Thailand’s eastern provinces, including Prachinburi, hold incredible potential for both domestic and international tourism. Our natural beauty, fascinating culture, and exciting activities are just waiting to be discovered. Resorts like ours further demonstrate that the region has the potential to host world-class events and holidays.”

The Tawaravadee Resort, BW Signature Collection by Best Western, is the ideal location for meetings and conferences outside the city. It boasts spacious event areas, including a conference hall for 800 guests and several other meeting rooms for up to 200 participants. The "More Fun @ The East" event occupied two of the resort's meeting rooms, while the conference hall was used for a glamorous gala dinner on the final evening.

Prachinburi is one of the lesser-known destinations being actively promoted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to make tourism more accessible to other parts of Thailand. In October 2018, the TAT launched the campaign "Visit a Lesser-Known Town: Must Experience, Love, and Protect!" The campaign focuses on promoting climate-friendly and sustainable tourism in the less-visited regions of the Kingdom.

Although Prachinburi province is only 160 km from Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport, it borders Cambodia. The province also contains parts of the three national parks Khao Yai, Thap Lan, and Pang Sida, which together cover over 3,000 square kilometers – the largest contiguous protected area in Thailand. This offers excellent opportunities for outdoor adventures and cultural exploration.

Nestled in the verdant landscape of Prachinburi, the Tawaravadee Resort, BW Signature Collection by Best Western, is an idyllic, low-rise country house exuding tropical elegance. The property features 199 rooms and suites with garden and lake views. Guests can refresh themselves in the tropical outdoor pool, indulge in the spa, or enjoy a variety of activities such as tennis, badminton, cycling, billiards, and golf on the driving range. Alternatively, they can explore the surrounding area with its forests, waterfalls, and ancient ruins.

With the opening of this new hotel earlier this year, the BW Signature Collection made its debut in Asia – a collection of upper mid-range hotels and resorts that reflect the unique charm and culture of their respective destinations.

About Best Western Hotels & Resorts: Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Best Western Hotels & Resorts is a privately owned hotel brand with a global network of approximately 4,500 hotels in nearly 100 countries and territories worldwide*. Best Western offers 16 hotel brands that cater to the needs of developers and guests in every market. Best Western brands include Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, Vīb®, GLō®, AidenSM, SadieSM, BW Premier Collection®, and BW Signature Collection®. Through a recent acquisition, Best Western now also offers the WorldHotels® Luxury, WorldHotels Elite, and WorldHotels Distinctive brands. Complementing its portfolio, Best Western offers the SureStay®, SureStay Plus®, and SureStay Collection® franchises**. For over 70 years, Best Western has been synonymous with hospitality, providing its hoteliers worldwide with operational, sales, and marketing support, as well as award-winning online and mobile booking capabilities. Best Western continues to break industry records for awards and accolades. In 2018, 66 percent of the brand's North American hotels received the TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence. Business Travel News® ranked Best Western Plus and Best Western as the number one hotel brand in the upper-midrange and midrange categories, respectively, for two consecutive years. Fast Company recognized Best Western Hotels & Resorts as one of the ten most innovative companies in augmented reality/virtual reality. Best Western has also been named AAA®/CAA® Lodging Partner of the Year for ten consecutive years. This award recognizes the brand's commitment to exceptional service and value for money for AAA/CAA's nearly 60 million members in the U.S. and Canada. In the 2018 JD Power North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study, Best Western hotels ranked first in the food and beverage category for breakfast—first in the midrange and second in the upper-midrange. Nearly 40 million travelers are members of the award-winning Best Western Rewards® loyalty program, one of the few programs where points have no expiration date and can be redeemed at any Best Western hotel worldwide. Best Western's partnerships with AAA/CAA and Google® Street View offer travelers exciting ways to experience the brand. Through its partnership with Google Street View, Best Western is the first major company of its size to introduce a virtual reality experience for customers, setting a new industry standard and revolutionizing how guests experience hotels. *Figures are approximate, subject to change, and include hotels currently under development. **All Best Western, WorldHotels, and SureStay branded hotels are independently operated.

Contact information: Sirimanas Maungrod (Cake) | Senior Regional Marketing Communications Manager | Asia Email: [email protected]

Phanintorn Tangtrongjit (Dream) | Assistant Marketing Communications Manager | Asia Email: [email protected]

Best Western Hotels & Resorts BWI (Thailand) Co., Ltd. | Unit 5A-2 | 5th Floor, Gaysorn Place Office Building, 999 Ploenchit Road, Lumpini Phatumwan | Bangkok | 10330 | Thailand | Tel.: +662 656 1260 | Fax: +662 656 1252 | www.bestwesternasia.com