What is the role of Best Western International, Inc. as it relates to the Bw Premier Collection?
Bw_Premier_Collection Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ITEM 1
THE FRANCHISOR AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS, AND AFFILIATES
The Licensor
The licensor is Best Western International, Inc. ("we", "us", or "our"). "You" means the individual or entity that signs the Distribution Agreement – the "Hotel Owner". If you are a business entity, "you" means both the business entity and its owners. "Premier Hotel" refers to a hotel that is using the Premier Marks (defined below) and is included on our reservations system and "Signature Hotel" refers to a hotel that is using the Signature Marks (defined below) and is included on our reservations system. Together, Premier Hotels and Signature Hotels are referred to as "System Hotels" and the "Hotel" refers to the Premier Hotel or Signature Hotel you will operate under a Distribution Agreement. If we have an agent in your state for service of process, we disclose that agent in Exhibit B.
We are an Arizona nonprofit corporation formed on December 13, 1957, with a principal business address located at 6201 N. 24th Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85016. We operate: (i) as a licensor under the Licensed Marks (defined below); and (ii) as a membership association and licensor under the "Best Western®", "Best Western Plus®", "Best Western Premier®", "Executive Residency by Best Western®", "@Home by Best WesternSM", "Vīb®", "GLō®", and "Aiden®" names (the "Membership Brands"); and under no other name.
We have never operated a System Hotel, a hotel under a Membership Brand (although we do own one hotel under a Membership Brand and have a majority ownership interest in another hotel under a Membership Brand, each of which is operated by a third-party management company) or any other type of business. While we began offering licenses for Premier Hotels and Signature Hotels in April 2020, Hotel Owners have operated (i) Premier Hotels in the United States and a number of other countries since 2015 and (ii) Signature Hotels in the United States and a number of other countries since 2017.
Source: Item 1 — The Franchisor and any Parents, Predecessors, and Affiliates (FDD pages 6–9)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bw Premier Collection Franchise Disclosure Document, Best Western International, Inc. acts as the licensor for the BW Premier Collection brand. Specifically, Best Western International, Inc. offers the right to convert an existing hotel to a Premier Hotel, utilizing the "BW Premier Collection®" marks. As the licensor, Best Western International, Inc. is responsible for granting the rights to use the brand's trademarks and system to Hotel Owners who enter into a Distribution Agreement.
Best Western International, Inc. is an Arizona nonprofit corporation formed in 1957. While Bw Premier Collection began offering licenses for Premier Hotels in April 2020, Hotel Owners have operated Premier Hotels in the United States and a number of other countries since 2015. Best Western International, Inc. also operates as a membership association and licensor under other brands like "Best Western®", "Best Western Plus®", and "Best Western Premier®".
Several indirect subsidiaries of Best Western International, Inc. also offer hotel licenses under various brands in different regions. For example, B-W International Licensing Mexico, S.A. de C.V. offers licenses in Mexico and other Central American countries, while B-W International Licensing Australia Pty Limited offers licenses in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. These subsidiaries do not provide products or services to Hotel Owners. Best Western International, Inc. acquired AutoClerk, Inc. in July 2019, which is now an approved supplier of guest management systems for System Hotels.