You can’t look to the future without remembering where you came from. Best Western Hotels & Resorts is proud to sponsor NostalgiaCon, a pop culture celebration dedicated to the decades, icons and events of the past. Learn how you can take an 80s-inspired trip to Los Angeles and experience the magic of NostalgiaCon. Before you leave, take a trip down memory lane and discover the transformational journey Today’s Best Western has taken throughout the years.
Founded in 1948 by hotelier M.K. Guertin, Best Western differentiated itself as being the link between hotel properties and travelers. Without modern technology, there were limited ways for visitors to decide which hotel to stay at when traveling to a new city. M.K. saw the gap in the market and formed Best Western as a way to guarantee a distinct level of service at every property, no matter where it was located.
After opening hundreds of new locations within North America in the 50s and 60s, Best Western expanded internationally in the 70s. First, to Australia and New Zealand in 1975 and then launching properties in Mexico and Central America. In 1979, we were very proud to welcome our 15 millionth guest.
Looking back to the 80s, nearly 40 years ago, Best Western welcomed a variety of countries into our family, including Norway, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Finland and Italy. Today, Best Western is located in over 100 countries and territories worldwide, offering a variety of hotel brands fit for every type of traveler.
Not only did Best Western introduce new countries in this decade, but The Gold Crown Club International Program was also released in the 1980s. Now known as Best Western Rewards, this exclusive membership club acquired more than 200,000 members in the first year.
In 1995, we went digital and took to the newly released world wide web, introducing our vast collection of member properties online. Launching our free Wi-Fi initiative in 2004, we are proud to keep today’s traveler connected to our modern world.
Continuing to advance our modern brand, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of The Gold Crown International Program in 2008 and renamed the program to Best Western Rewards, our well-known award-winning rewards program that provides members discounted rates, exclusive promotions and exciting redemption opportunities. Additionally, our current, contemporary logo was introduced in 2015, bringing a modern and personable touch to our brand.
It can be a rewarding experience to take a glance back at how far you have come, the places you’ve visited and the memories you’ve created. Celebrate decades of the past at NostalgiaCon 2019, a once-in-a-lifetime 80s-inspired event featuring your favorite icons, films, music and more. Book your trip to the convention at Today’s Best Western using code BESTWESTERN15 to save 15% on NostalgiaCon tickets.