Best Western's Canadian winners honoured

DALLAS — Erin McKay, assistant general manager of the Best Western Plus Sawridge Suites, Fort McMurray received the Heroic Hospitality Award for Sales, and the hotel also received the prestigious MK Guertin Award at the recent Best Western Hotels & Resorts Annual Convention held at the Gaylord Grand Texan hotel in Dallas.

The Heroic Hospitality Award recognizes and celebrates individuals who provide exceptional customer service and demonstrate superior professionalism in their everyday line of work. Winners are also associated with the top performing hotels within the Brand.

“Our heroic hospitality award winners are remarkable individuals within the Best Western family who are committed to creating memorable experiences and delivering exceptional service” said James Cosgrove, chairman of the board of Best Western. “I am pleased to honor Erin McKay as an outstanding employee whose dedication is an example to all.”

“As the economy has not rebounded in Fort McMurray, we were unable to maintain a sales manager. Erin took staff from each department, who had never completed a sales call before, and worked with them, trained them and they were able to be a part of our sales calls to local businesses,” said Paul Jones, general manager of the Best Western Plus Sawridge Suites.

“We had restaurant staff and room attendants who became sales ambassadors for our hotel. The group enjoyed the one-on-one with the businesses, and asked to be part of the sales calls going forward. The team was able to offer a unique view on how our hotel operates and it was very well received by our guests. The end result of this effort was growth in new business to our hotel.”

The Best Western Plus Sawridge
Suites also received the MK Guertin Award, the brand's most prestigious award. Hotels that receive this award are considered to
best represent the vision of Best Western’s founder and demonstrate exceptional
levels of quality, guest satisfaction and dedication to the brand. The Best
Western Plus Sawridge Suites was one of 51 hotels out of more than 2,000
properties across North America to win the award.

“Named after the founder, this is our brand’s most esteemed honour – recognizing hotels that consistently demonstrate
superior levels of service to our guests,” said James Cosgrove, chairman of the board of directors for Best Western Hotels and Resorts. “It’s a privilege to
award the Best Western Plus Sawridge Suites for their commitment to excellence
and being a leader within our brand.”

Other Canadian winners at the 2018 Convention

M.K.
Guertin Award

— Best Western Plus Meridian
Hotel – Lloydminster, Alta.

— Best Western Plus Sawridge
Suites – Fort McMurray, Alta.

— Best Western Plus Drayton
Valley All Suites – Drayton Valley, Alta.

— Best Western Plus Liverpool
Hotel & Conference Centre – Liverpool, N.S.

— Best Western Plus Walkerton
Hotel & Conference Centre – Walkerton, Ont.

Gold
Anniversary Award

— Best Western
Plus Cairn Croft Hotel, Niagara Falls, Ont., Cade Holdings,
Inc.

Silver
Anniversary Award

— Best Western
Voyageur Place Hotel, Newmarket, Ont., The Dabrowski
Family