David Kong, president and chief executive of Best Western International, who recently was in Honolulu, said that as a result of consumer preferences during economic strife, value-based brands such as Best Western International have shown more resilience to the downturn.
While other hotel companies have posted losses to occupancy and revenue per available room, Best Western-branded properties in Hawaii have remained neutral, said Kong.
Kong was in Honolulu to host the company's annual conference and attend the grand opening of the Best Western Coconut Hotel, the chain's most recently branded property in Hawaii. There are four other Best Western-branded hotels in Hawaii.
"There are still lots of people that want to come to Hawaii," said Kong. "It's a very special place; there is nothing like it in the world. It's not just the natural beauty, but the people themselves."
Best Western's Hawaii properties are running about even with the prior year, Kong said.