Best Western International, Inc. Names Larry McRae As Chairman Of The Board Effective January 4
PHOENIX, The Board of Directors of Best Western International, Inc., has named Larry McRae as chairman, effective January 4. Other Board announcements include Raymond Johnston as vice chairman and Charles Helm as secretary/treasurer.
McRae, who has served on the Best Western Board since 2002, was most recently vice chairman, after holding the position of secretary/treasurer. He replaces former chairman Nils Kindgren, who remains on the Board as a director. McRae owns and operates the Best Western Grant Creek Inn in Missoula, MT, and has been a member of Best Western since 1985. He has held several hospitality association positions, including three terms as president of the Montana Innkeepers Association and chairman of the Montana Tourism Advisory Council. In 1990, he was appointed to a four-year term on the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Commission. He represents Best Western hotels in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North and South Dakota, as well as British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada. McRae began his career in the hospitality industry in 1961, and has operated hotels in Colorado, Montana and Texas.
Johnston is a veteran hotelier and owner of the Best Western Las Brisas, Palm Springs, and the Best Western Big Bear Chateau, Big Bear Lake, both in California. He was named to the Board in 2003 and represents Best Western hotels in California, Nevada and Hawaii. Prior to joining Best Western in 1993, he held key executive positions with several major hotel chains, including Westin, Princess International Hotels, Americana Hotels International in Aruba and Holiday Inns of Mexico.
Helm, owner of the Best Western Trail Dust Inn, Sulphur Springs, TX, and the Best Western Crown Colony Inn & Suites, Lufkin, TX, was named to his first three-year term on the Board. He will represent Best Western members in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Active in the business and civic communities of northeast Texas, Helm is a former member of the Texas Hotel Motel Association's Board of Directors. He also served as president of the Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation.
Best Western International is THE WORLD'S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN(R) with more than 4,100 hotels in 80 countries and territories. It is a membership association of independently owned and operated hotels that provides marketing, reservations and operational support to its members.
