Best Western hotel leaves Myanmar

Best Western hotel leaves Myanmar

YANGON (Reuters): Best Western International Inc. has
withdrawn its corporate brand from a luxury hotel in Yangon due
to Myanmar's human rights record and hardline treatment of
opposition parties, its local partner said on Sunday.

Robert Thein, managing director of Bangkok-based Baiyoke Hotel
Group which owns Yangon's Kawdawgyi Palace Hotel, said the
Phoenix, Arizona-based hotel chain followed other U.S. companies
by pulling business out of Myanmar last week.

"I attended the (Best Western) meeting there in the U.S. They
say they are not happy with the political situation in Myanmar.
In fact, they made the decision under pressure from Myanmar
dissidents," Thein said.

Best Western is the world's largest lodging brand.