Guests at Best Western - the UK’s biggest independent hotel group - have been handing over their loyalty points in their thousands in the last few days in a bid to help the aid effort on the devastated Caribbean island.

Best Western Premier Signature Pattaya - the newest property in Best Western International’s luxury collection, ‘Best Western Premier’ - is opening its doors in Thailand’s long popular seaside tourist resort.

Best Western International announces the addition of the Best Western Clearwater Grand Hotel and Suites, located at 20967 U.S. Highway 19 North in Clearwater, Fla. Owned by Pure Water Hotel Group, the hotel offers 146 guest rooms including 32 suites.

Hotel News Now has an interesting story describing the recent Best Western owners meeting. According to the story, Dorothy Dowling, Best Western’s SVP of Marketing and Sales asked the members in attendance if they would be willing to join Choice in the fight against Expedia by pulling their hotels from the site.

Best Western is preparing to open its first hotel in Doha, Qatar. The Best Western Doha Seef Hotel is scheduled to open next month, in June 2009.

Best Western has announced a strategic plan to expand into the Persian Gulf Region, with 25 hotels targeted within 2010. The group recently signed its first two properties in The Middle East. The 320-room Best Western Premier Dhow Palace Hotel and the 222-rooms Best Western Premier Creek Hotel. Both hotels are located in Bur Dubai and are scheduled to open in May 2009.