Over the next six months, Best Western International is on pace to have more than 200 properties in Asia by 2010.

The chain's Asia presence has expanded from just six hotels in 2001 to 106 today. While most of the chain's North American hotels are considered to be in the mid-market segment, Best Western is positioning itself as a four-star chain in Asia. In five years, Best Western will have 50 hotels in China, including two slated to open in Beijing before the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The chain also recently signed a new master licensing agreement that is expected to bring 100 hotels and 10,000 rooms to India over the next decade. Best Western has 11 hotels in South Korea, 11 resort-style properties in Thailand, 17 hotels under development in Japan, four hotel contracts to be signed in Indonesia in the next six months and two hotels under development in Vietnam. (MR)