Best Western to manage and market The Haven

BEST Western International Inc, one of the world’s largest hotel chains, has been appointed by property developer Superboom Projects Sdn Bhd to manage, market and lease out The Haven Lakeside Residences.


Jonathan Badman (left) and The Haven Sdn Bhd co-principal David Yam at the site of The Haven Lakeside Residences.

BWI Hotels Sdn Bhd group director of sales and marketing (Malaysia) Jonathan Badman says this will be the group’s first undertaking of luxury residential eco-resort in Malaysia and the first of its kind in South-East Asia.

Says Badman: “Owners have a choice to stay or to lease out their units. The transaction is between themselves and Best Western Hotels. We will also manage the public areas of the project.”

He says the Arizona-based company will further improve the design and facilities at The Haven to Best Western’s premier level, the equivalent of a four-star and above in hotel rating.

The company manages and operates two hotels under franchise agreements in Malaysia currently, these being Best Western Kinabalu Daya Hotel in Kota Kinabalu and Best Western Marina Island Resort in Pangkor. Both are its core three-star brand.

In the second quarter of this year, it will be opening in three new locations namely Best Western Sandakan Hotel and Residence in Sabah (170 rooms), Best Western Premier Dua Sentral KL (352 rooms) and Riverside Malacca (170 rooms).

The group will be having four new locations in 2012 and 2013 in Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, and The Haven in Tambun, Perak.

“If we cannot bring value into a relationship, we will not do it. In the case of The Haven, it will be a win-win situation,” Badman says.

The Best Western brand began operations in Malaysia in 2005 and Asia will be its growth market. The group manages and operates 165 properties in Asia and the Middle East. It operates in 80 countries and territories globally.

By The Star