WorldHotels offers one of the finest portfolios of independent hotels and resorts worldwide, all expertly curated to inspire unique, life-enriching experiences connecting people and places, says Ron Pohl, President of WorldHotels, in this edition of Take 5. Pohl adds: “We are proud to offer travel advisors 10% on commissionable bookings. Travel advisor discounts are based on availability.”
1. WorldHotels has luxury properties in more than 200 destinations. For any Canadian travel advisors who might not be familiar with WorldHotels, are these WorldHotels-branded properties, or is it more of a collection with the properties’ own branding front and centre? And what is the WorldHotels difference?
“WorldHotels is a privately held hotel soft brand within the BWH Hotels global enterprise. Founded by independent hoteliers dedicated to the art of hospitality, WorldHotels offers one of the finest portfolios of independent hotels and resorts around the globe in iconic locations that are expertly curated to inspire unique, life-enriching experiences connecting people and places.
“WorldHotels specifically is comprised of four unique collections, each with its own personality and style to appeal to the needs of today’s traveler. The collections include: WorldHotels Luxury, WorldHotels Elite, WorldHotels Crafted, and WorldHotels Distinctive.
“Members of WorldHotels benefit from the reputation and strong global presence of BWH Hotels while maintaining their individuality and still operating like a local hotel brand. All hoteliers that have recently joined WorldHotels also benefit from the brand’s reputation for providing superior guest service and gain access to the award-winning WorldHotels Rewards (WHR) program, which boasts over 54 million members worldwide.”
2. WorldHotels was acquired by BWH Hotels in 2019. BWH Hotels is the parent company of Best Western Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s largest, most respected and trusted hotel brands. What impact has this partnership had on WorldHotels over the past four years?
“WorldHotels has a rich 50-year history of providing luxury travel experiences. Since joining BWH Hotels, WorldHotels now benefits from the strength of the global enterprise, offering new access and resources of a global hospitality brand while also preserving the uniqueness of its individual hotels.
“With that comes thoughtfully curated marketing and loyalty programs intended to provide substantial value to stakeholders and consumers alike. That means an influence on hotel choice, access to international, regional and local market promotion opportunities, and a network of global partnerships to build brand awareness and gain exposure among millions of potential customers.
“WorldHotels members gain access to a global sales team and the award-winning WHR. This creates an enhanced experience with added benefits, stimulates direct bookings, drives incremental revenue and growth to the market share, and successfully competes with larger hotel chains.”
3. What can you tell us about WorldHotels’ pipeline growth?
“The growth pipeline for WorldHotels has been very strong and is expected to continue. The brand’s North America room count increased by 30% in 2022, adding hotels in key travel destinations across North America and around the globe.
“We also recently welcomed 10 independent properties in Canada – many of which are in British Columbia. Our new Canadian portfolio includes a diverse selection of hotels to showcase the best of what the region has to offer, and we have additional projects throughout Canada currently in discussion.”
4. What sort of details can you share about WorldHotels’ expansion plans?
“WorldHotels has been expanding steadily across various regions of the world. Our global portfolio is expected to grow over 25% by the end of 2023.
“The U.S. is looking promising as it is slated for the most growth for WorldHotels this year. Canada and Mexico, Europe and Asia are all looking strong, as well.
“In terms of global development, we are in a cycle for conversions for the most part, with a variety of new construction projects in APAC. This is good timing to welcome independent hoteliers to the WorldHotels brand, offering individuality with soft branding and industry-leading support from a global brand.”
5. How can Canadian travel advisors connect with WorldHotels, and what outreach do you offer agents in terms of marketing support and other resources, commissions, agent rates and the like?
“As part of the global BWH Hotels enterprise, WorldHotels leverages the BWH Hotels’ Travel Industry Relations Team, which is designed to support travel advisors. We actively participate in webinars and trade shows with many consortia partners and host agencies to keep everyone apprised of our evolving brand and new properties.
“We are proud to offer travel advisors 10% on commissionable bookings. Travel advisor discounts are based on availability. Seasonally, BWH Hotels offers Travel Advisor Sweepstakes an opportunity to win prizes with each GDS booking. So, keep an eye out for the next promotion coming this fall in the GDS.”
To learn more about WorldHotels click here.
