Best Western Hotels & Resorts, a trusted and respected leader in hospitality for more than 73 years, has undergone a significant transformation in recent years — investing $2 billion into its hotels, expanding from one brand to 16 and unveiling a fresh new identity to appeal to today’s travellers.
Among Best Western’s many recent advancements is the introduction of its innovative boutique-hotel offerings, particularly GLō — a refreshing and energetic new-construction brand that’s breaking the suburban cookie-cutter hotel mold.
So, what exactly attracts travellers to GLō? As the name implies, the brand glows in many ways. GLō’s architecture and design have elements that speak to the name with the use of signature LED elements. LED lighting is articulated on the side of the building and in the glowing blue scarf, providing an unmistakable beacon at night, while the “Lite-Brite” wall greets guest outside and extends inside behind the glowing welcome desk. During the day, the alternating blue and gold window panes bring the building to life.
Travellers are delighted with the brand’s sleek and modern interior finishes, accented with bold pops of colour, inviting and spacious communal areas, state-of-the-art-fitness facility, multi-functional work spaces, free Wi-Fi and complimentary full hot breakfast.
While delivering an alluring, one-of-a-kind experience for guests was top of mind for Best Western when launching GLō, so too was providing the development community with a boutique-hotel concept for the upper-midscale segment that is cost-efficient and flexible to build.
While boutique hotel brands are hot and here to stay, many of them are currently designed for the luxury, upper-upscale and upscale segments. GLō fills a void by providing a chic and contemporary boutique product for secondary and tertiary markets, with a build strategy that’s difficult to beat.
Form and function are carried throughout the design in the thoughtful approach to signature furniture elements and durable but stylish finishes in the guestrooms and lobby. Furniture pieces maximize space and are multi-functional (some even concealable) and the floor plan is designed so adjacent guestroom baths are centre-loaded, which saves about 40 to 50 sq. ft. in construction costs.
Developers will also appreciate GLō’s expansion and contraction flexibility, as its construction offers the ease of “going up” or extending the length of the building to accommodate additional rooms.
In addition to its space-saving design, services such as virtual check-in and the ability to offer beer and wine for purchase in the sundry shop without the hassle of operating as a full F&B outlet brings increased cost efficiency.
Designed as a four-storey, 79-room new-construction hotel, GLō is forecast to cost $80,000 per key and, depending on the market, generate a healthy Average Daily Rate of approximately $79 in the U.S.
GLō Arrives in Canada
In late 2018, Best Western celebrated the brand’s highly anticipated arrival to Canada with the opening of GLō Kanata Ottawa West. Conveniently positioned off Highway 417, the hotel’s suburban location, combined with its quick access and close proximity to Ottawa’s premier entertainment venues and attractions, made it an ideal area for GLō to flourish and provide an unmatched boutique experience for travellers visiting the capital city.
GLō Kanata Ottawa West is delivering elevated hospitality to Canada and is quite literally serving as a ray of light for Best Western’s new generation of hotel offerings.
For more information on GLō, visit bestwesterndevelopers.com
