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YANGON (Reuters): Best Western International Inc. has withdrawn its corporate brand from a luxury hotel in Yangon due to Myanmar's human rights record and hardline treatment of opposition parties, its local partner said on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