Best Western Goes Full Throttle for NASCAR's Return to Phoenix

Sport's Official Hotel to Host Week-Long Events Beginning November 1

PHOENIX, Oct. 29 -- Best Western International, the Official Hotel of NASCAR, welcomes America's fastest-growing sport back to town with a series of events celebrating next weekend's action at Phoenix International Raceway.

Headquartered in Phoenix, Best Western and several of its member hotels throughout Arizona will host a variety of activities beginning Monday, which are open to the general public. These include:

   *  November 1 - Best Western InnSuites Hotel & Suites,
      6201 N. Oracle Road, Tucson:  Best Western #99 Busch Series Show Car
      on display, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.  A crew shirt signed by NASCAR driver
      Michael Waltrip will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to
      Operation Marathon, benefiting the Victory Junction Gang Camp for
      chronically ill children.

   *  November 2 - Best Western InnSuites Hotel & Suites,
      1615 E. Northern Avenue, Phoenix:  Best Western #99 Busch Series Show
      Car on display, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.  Hotel staff will be attired as the
      Best Western Pit Crew.

   *  November 2 - Best Western Inn Phoenix-Glendale,
      5940 N.W. Grand Avenue, Glendale:  Best Western #99 Busch Series Show
      Car on display, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Remote-control car races to be held
      with proceeds benefiting The Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan
      Phoenix.  Live remote by XTRA Sports Radio (910 AM).

   *  November 3 - Best Western Mezona Inn, 250 W. Main Street, Mesa:  Best
      Western #99 Busch Series Show Car on display, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
      Prizes/giveaways to be awarded, including t-shirts, die-cast cars and
      tickets to the Bashas' Supermarkets 200 on Saturday, November 6.  Save
      the Family Foundation of Arizona, an agency dedicated to assisting
      homeless families, will be selling sponsored bricks to support its
      renovation efforts.  Live remote by XTRA Sports Radio (910 AM).

   *  November 3 - Best Western Phoenix Goodyear Inn, 55 N. Litchfield Road,
      Goodyear:  Best Western #99 Busch Series Show Car on display, 3 p.m.
      to 7 p.m.  NASCAR party broadcast live by KNIX Radio (102.5 FM).

"Best Western is proud to be the Official Hotel of NASCAR, and to join in the excitement that this sport brings to the city of Phoenix and the state of Arizona," said Nils Kindgren, vice chairman of the Best Western Board of Directors and owner of the Best Western Inn & Suites of Sun City. "We encourage race fans to join us next week at both our Best Western hotels and at the track as we celebrate the spirit of NASCAR."

Through the company's Arizona Co-op marketing efforts, consumers will also have the opportunity to receive the new "Race Fan Rate" with savings up to 30 percent at more than 60 member hotels across the state. Other special prize offerings include exclusive Best Western Racing Edition Travel Cards, #99 Best Western die-cast cars, -- even a trip to the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

"This exclusive deal allows race fans to experience all the treasures Arizona has to offer," said David Scholefield, director of consumer and field marketing for Best Western. "Next year, when their NASCAR travels bring them back to Arizona, they'll be able to save big while extending their stay in the Grand Canyon State."

In addition to these events, all 16 Best Western hotels in the greater Phoenix area will be decorated with a NASCAR theme. Guests will have the opportunity to sign up for Speed Rewards(TM), a free loyalty program designed specifically for race enthusiasts. As members, individuals can earn valuable points which are redeemable for NASCAR-licensed merchandise such as jackets and caps; free room nights anywhere in the world; dining and shopping certificates; along with special sweepstakes and promotional offerings.

Best Western properties in close proximity to the track -- the BW Phoenix Goodyear Inn; the BW Inn Phoenix-Glendale; BW Inn & Suites of Sun City and the BW Central Phoenix Inn -- will also feature Best Western/NASCAR gift items in each of their combined 400 guest rooms to welcome race fans to Phoenix.

On Wednesday, November 3, employees of Best Western's Phoenix Reservations Center will receive a visit from Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 winner. The NASCAR veteran will sign autographs and even make a few surprise phone calls to Speed Rewards members.

Two days later, Best Western will serve as a presenting sponsor of the first-ever Arizona Business Summit: The Business of NASCAR in Arizona. Hosted by Phoenix International Raceway, the November 5 event is designed to provide Arizona business owners and corporate community leaders with a behind-the-scenes look at NASCAR, educating attendees on how businesses can integrate the power of NASCAR into their marketing mix. Best Western's Scholefield will be featured on the speakers' panel.

At the track, the hotel chain goes full speed with a variety of activities November 4 - 7. Fans visiting any one of the three Best Western booths located along the midway will have the opportunity to sign up for Speed Rewards, receive special discount coupons, and even play games to win fun prizes. Best Western will also host a hospitality suite and tent for VIP clients and special guests.

In January 2004, Best Western International entered into a three-year agreement as the Official Hotel of NASCAR. The company also serves as an associate sponsor of Waltrip and the Dale Earnhardt, Inc.-owned No. 15 NAPA Chevrolet on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. On Saturday, November 6, Waltrip will drive the #99 Best Western Busch Series Car during the Bashas' Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.

For more information on Best Western/NASCAR activities, visit www.bestwesternracing.com or www.bestwesternarizona.com/racefan.

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.

For further information, please contact David Trumble, Director, External Communications, +1-602-957-5753, david.trumble@bestwestern.com, or Denise Seomin, Consumer Media Relations Manager, +1-602-957-5668, denise.seomin@bestwestern.com, both of Best Western International.