Best Western International, Inc., operator of the Best Western Hotels & Resorts brand, operates over 4,100 hotels and motels worldwide. The chain, with its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, operates more than 2,000 hotels in North America. The brand was founded by M.K. Guertin in 1946. As of May 2019, David Kong is the president and CEO of Best Western and Dorothy Dowling is the chief marketing officer. In 1964, Canadian hotel owners joined the system. Best Western then expanded to Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand in 1976. In 2002, Best Western International launched Best Western Premier in Europe and Asia.