Best Western’s Parent Company Looks to Outflank Its Hotel Peers
Skift Take
Best Western Hotels & Resorts lacks youth appeal. But recently installed CEO Larry Cuculic is bringing a military-like approach to strategizing. He appears to be boosting the group's metabolism.
Early Check-In
Editor’s Note: Skift Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill brings readers exclusive reporting and insights into hotel deals and development, and how those trends are making an impact across the travel industry.I wanted an update on BWH Hotel Group, the parent company of Best Western Hotels & Resorts. So I spoke with Larry Cuculic, president and CEO since late 2021.
Cuculic methodically shared his plans for the Phoenix-based group with 4,700 hotels.
Cuculic's approach to strategy may come partly from his legal education and partly from being a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Cuculic talks through his operational decisions and organizational philosophy in a way that sounds like a military tactician — though he prefers the metaphor of an athletic coach.Strategic thinking requires making trade-offs based on well-defined goals. Leadership requires aligning incentives with those goals and communicating the goals clearly and often. It's early days to see how the newish BWH CEO will measure up.
Cuculic plans to fine-tune and expand the Best Western fami
