Best Western International has named Michael Kistner CIO and Vice President Information Systems. Kistner will be responsible for all telecommunication and information systems.

Kistner comes to Best Western from Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) in Phoenix where he served as senior vice president of the e-commerce center and hotel information technology. Leading the information technology charge, Kistner was involved in Internet vendor management, resource allocation, organization formation and strategic planning.

In 1983, Kistner joined Super 8 Motels where he, as executive vice president of operations, headed the IT department and was responsible for modifying corporate financial systems. From 1993 to 1996, Kistner held the vice president, management information systems position at HFS, Inc. in Phoenix. He was responsible for all information systems to include financial, marketing and central reservation aspects.

Kistner earned his bachelor of science degree in accounting from Northern State University in South Dakota and a master of science degree in information systems from Colorado State University.

“We are pleased to welcome someone of Michael Kistner’s caliber to our company,” says President and CEO of Best Western International, Jim Evans. “Michael brings nearly 20 years of experience from the information systems field and his previous positions within the lodging industry will be a great asset for Best Western.”

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