Best Western moves into Nepal

Best Western will open its first hotel in Nepal in the first quarter of 2013. The 60-room Monty’s will be a brand new mid-scale property in the heart of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu. The hotel will be located on Thamel Road, an area of downtown Kathmandu famed for its vast array of local restaurants and boutique shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs, as well as mountaineering outlets catering to Nepal’s booming adventure travel market. “Nepal’s travel industry is booming, and Best Western is proud to offer a brand new hotel catering to the growing number of tourists wanting to experience this breathtaking country,” said Glenn de Souza, Best Western International’s vice president international operations – Asia & the Middle East. “We are confident that the Monty’s hotel will be extremely popular both with our loyal guests and first-timers. Travellers are increasingly demanding excellent service levels and convenience at reasonable prices, and Best Western is perfectly positioned to meet their needs.” The hotel feature includes; free Wi-Fi, local calls and complimentary breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant. Nepal has witnessed a surge in tourist arrivals in recent years. In 2011, which was designated ‘Visit Nepal Year’ by the country’s Ministry of Tourism, more than 544,000 tourists entered the country through Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport – 21 per cent more than in 2010. This trend has continued in 2012, with arrivals increasing 23 per cent in the first four months of this year, to almost 208,000. With an increasing number of flight connections to Kathmandu, including the launch of new low-cost services by flydubai, Air Arabia, SpiceJet and IndiGo in recent years, demand for this enticing destination looks set to grow and grow.