New edition and photo contest give travelers with pets plenty to smile about

ORLANDO, Fla., (May 31, 2013) – AAA has released the newest version of the popular Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook®. Now in its 15^th edition, the guide features more than 14,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels and campgrounds that welcome travelers and their four-legged friends. The annually updated guidebook provides detailed information for finding and selecting the right place to stay, hotel pet policies, pet travel advice and emergency vet clinics.

“Whether for seasoned pet travelers or first timers, this resource helps ensure an enjoyable pet-friendly vacation by providing up-to-date details travelers can trust when making travel decisions,” said Bill Wood, executive editor and vice president, AAA Publishing and Travel Information.

The AAA PetBook, available in print and digital versions, has seen a 40 percent increase in pet-friendly AAA Approved hotels and campgrounds since its first edition in 1999. “The industry has changed with the evolving needs of travelers,” continued Wood. “Pets are truly part of the family for many travelers, and the growing number of travel options, like those listed in the AAA PetBook, makes it easier to plan a trip that includes furry family members.”

The release of the new edition, teeming with scenic, smile-provoking photos of pets enjoying safe travel, also marks the opening of the next annual AAA PetBook Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western. Travelers who snap a candid photo of their winner during this year’s vacation can enter through Nov. 30, 2013. Each year, winners are selected to appear on covers of the next edition and receive additional prizes. See inside The AAA PetBook for details, or access official contest rules, an entry form and the contest photo gallery at AAA.com/PetBook.

Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook, 15^th edition, is available at many AAA and CAA offices as well as select bookstores for a suggested retail price of $18.95. The digital edition, available at online booksellers, carries a suggested retail price of $9.99.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

Traveling pooches in the great outdoors pictured on next AAA PetBook edition

ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2013) – Two dogs from California took top honors in the latest annual AAA PetBook^® Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western, a AAA Preferred Hotel Partner. The furry champions are featured on the 15^th edition Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook^®, coming this May.

Along with cover fame, winners receive additional contest prizes, including cash, pet treats, copies of the book and a Best Western Travel Card^® usable at more than 4,000 hotels worldwide, including more than 1,600 pet-friendly properties. The winners, along with 43 finalists, also enjoy a year of star treatment on the AAA.com/PetBook photo gallery.

Jack Ryan, a Pembroke Welsh corgi, this year’s first-place winner, is pictured on the book’s back cover at Shaver Lake, Calif., a favorite camping spot for his family. “We take our dogs on all our camping trips and they thoroughly enjoy every minute of it,” said owner Susan Robinson. “They enjoy all the sights, smells and the sheer joy of the beautiful surroundings that camping has to offer. I could not bear to leave them at home.”

The second-place winner, Mandie, a Labrador retriever, graces the book’s spine romping in the snow at Mammoth Lakes, Calif. “We love to explore outdoor places with Mandie,” said owners Gisenyi and Jeremy Wansor. “She brings us joy with her enthusiasm and spontaneity. She is so much fun to have around!”

Separate from this year’s winners, an exceptional photo from a previous contest will appear on the front cover of the 15^th edition AAA PetBook. Cody Bear, a golden retriever from Pennsylvania, is pictured state relaxing at his home state’s Seven Springs Resort, where he and his canine sister Ginger  can run to their hearts’ content. “Cody Bear is a part of our family, and we wouldn’t dream of leaving him home,” said owner Kathy Havey.

Many Americans consider their pets as full-fledged family members when planning vacations. They long to hit the road with their canine or feline companions, but hesitate for fear of not finding accommodations that welcome four-legged guests. Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook provides listings for more than 14,000 pet-friendly accommodations in the U.S. and Canada. These include thousands of AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels as well as 750 campgrounds.

The detailed hotel listings include fees, permitted pet sizes and conditions of stay for properties at every Diamond Rating level, from clean and simple motels to family-oriented properties to luxurious resorts. The book also includes information about pet-friendly activities, planning tips, travel etiquette and safety.

Photos of winners and finalists, contest rules, entry forms and valuable pet travel tips can be accessed at AAA.com/PetBook. The next photo contest opens in May when the 15^th edition Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook, cover price $18.95 U.S., hits the shelves at participating AAA and CAA offices and bookstores, and the digital edition, cover price $9.95, is available through online booksellers.

About AAA

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

ABOUT BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Best Western International, Inc., headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., is a privately held hotel brand made up of more than 4,000* BEST WESTERN®, BEST WESTERN PLUS, BEST WESTERN PREMIER  hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Now celebrating 67 years of hospitality, Best Western welcomes hundreds of thousands of guests nightly. Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales, marketing and promotional support, and online and mobile booking capabilities. More than 15 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western hotel worldwide. The brand’s partnerships with AAA/CAA, race car driver Michael Waltrip, and Harley-Davidson® provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. In 2012, Best Western won a record number of awards, including AAA’s Hotel Partner of the Year, CAA’s Partner of the Year, TravelClick’s eMarketer of the Year and Compuware’s Best of the Web Gold awards.
*Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate.

ORLANDO, Fla., (Sept. 6, 2012) – With so many digital cameras readily at hand, it’s a snap to capture pets enjoying vacation activities in breathtaking settings. Travelers who enter their best shot in AAA’s annual photo contest have an opportunity to see their pet featured on a cover of The AAA PetBook and the AAA.com/PetBook photo gallery.

For the fifth consecutive year, the AAA PetBook^® Photo Contest is sponsored by Best Western, which has more than 1,600 pet-friendly hotels worldwide. The contest is open through Nov. 30, 2012. Entries are judged on artistic qualities and ability to convey the joys of safely traveling with a pet. Candid photographs are preferred. Contest rules, entry forms and photos from the previous contest are available on the AAA.com/PetBook website.

Winners appear on the next edition of Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook^®, released each May. First- and second-place photos appear on the back cover and spine of the softcover book and opening pages of the digital versions. More than 40 irresistible finalists are pictured in a photo insert, and winners and finalists are also showcased on the AAA.com/PetBook photo gallery — a virtual brag book for proud pet parents. Additional prizes include cash, pet treats, copies of the book and, for the first-place winner, a $150 Best Western Travel Card usable worldwide.

Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook^® provides reliable, up-to-date information on more than 14,000 places to stay and play with pets. Listings include pet-friendly AAA Approved and Diamond Rated lodgings across the U.S. and Canada. Details include fees, permitted pet sizes, conditions of stay and pet amenities for properties at every AAA Diamond Rating level including — for pampered pets — AAA Five Diamond hotels.

For outdoor lovers, the book also lists more than 600 pet-friendly campgrounds and RV parks, AAA Approved attractions that offer kennel service or allow pets, and national public lands and dog parks open to visiting pets. Readers will also find useful tips on preparing four-legged travelers for the road or air, pet etiquette, insurance and emergency animal clinic locations.

The softcover edition of Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook is available at many AAA and CAA offices and select bookstores with a cover price of $18.95. Digital editions for popular tablets and ereaders are available through online booksellers at a suggested digital price of $9.99.

About AAA

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

ABOUT BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Best Western International, Inc., headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., is a privately held hotel brand made up of more than 4,000* BEST WESTERN®, BEST WESTERN PLUS® and BEST WESTERN PREMIER®  hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Now celebrating 66 years of hospitality, Best Western welcomes hundreds of thousands of guests nightly. Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales, marketing and promotional support, and online and mobile booking capabilities. More than 15 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western hotel worldwide. The brand’s partnerships with AAA/CAA, racecar driver Michael Waltrip, and Harley-Davidson® provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Best Western in 2011 was named AAA’s and CAA’s Hotel Partner of the Year and bestwestern.com was named the 2011 Compuware Best of the Web Gold award winner.

Renowned pet expert Cesar Millan offers tips on hotel pet etiquette

ORLANDO,Fla., (July 19, 2012) – For many Americans, taking pets along on vacation can make the experience more fun for the whole family. A full 51 percent of travelers with pets say they would bring their pets along on every vacation if they could, according to a recent AAA/Best Western survey of individuals who traveled with their pets in the last 12 months. What hinders them from doing so?

Finding Welcoming Accommodations

Among top considerations in whether to include pets in travel plans is the need to locate welcoming, appropriately matched pet-friendly accommodations, according to the study. Specific aspects of the search include: finding places that accept pets (95 percent), learning about pet policies such as size limits and fees (49 percent) and getting details about available pet services (22 percent). One-quarter of pet travelers who have skipped this important planning step admit to sneaking their pet into a hotel or motel at some point in the past, creating anxiety that can affect pet behavior.

Advance planning using a reliable resource like Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook^®, available in print and digital versions, can alleviate concerns related to accommodations and other pet-travel preparations. The listings for pet-friendly AAA Approved and Diamond Rated lodgings throughout the U.S. and Canada provide important details like fees, permitted pet sizes, conditions of stay and pet amenities. Listings also include more than 600 pet-friendly campgrounds plus dog parks and attractions and national public lands that allow pets. Best Western offers more than 1,600 pet-friendly properties worldwide.

Pet Etiquette Considerations

Respondents also identified observations about other pet travelers, pinpointing several behavioral considerations for owners as well as their pets:

• Owners not cleaning up after pets (77 percent)
• Dogs that bark constantly (57 percent)
• Unleashed pets (49 percent)
• Pets not obedience trained (43 percent)
• Owners not notifying others that pet is aggressive toward people/other pets (41 percent)
• Pets not trained to relieve themselves outside (29 percent)

“Traveling with your dog can be a wonderful experience. Remember, a balanced dog makes a better traveling companion. Always nurture a balanced state of mind,” says pet expert Cesar Millan.

“Plan your vacation with your dog in mind. Here are some tips to make travel more fun and less stressful for your dog,” says Millan:

• Before you start your trip, take your dog for a walk.
• Feeding your pet in the car is not a good idea.
• As you head out on the road, make sure you crate or harness your dog for safety.
• When stopping for a break, never leave your dog in the car, especially when it’s warm outside. Even if the window is cracked open, the car can still heat up and be dangerous to your dog.
• Remember to bring your dog’s scent with you. Having a favorite toy will comfort and relax him.

Travelers can also find useful tips for preparing four-legged travelers for the road or air, plus handy information on pet etiquette, insurance and emergency animal clinics, in Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook and on the AAA.com/PetBook website. The 14^th edition publication is available at many AAA and CAA offices and select booksellers at a suggested retail price of $18.95. The digital edition is available at online booksellers at a suggested digital retail price of $9.99.

More AAA/Best Western 2012 Pet Traveler Study Results

• A full 93 percent said their pet makes a good travel companion, identifying these reasons:
  • Good cuddle buddy when away from home (27 percent)
  • Always lets the owner select the destination (18 percent)
  • Doesn’t hog the hotel remote (12 percent)
  • Snores less than owner’s significant other (7 percent)
  • Helps attract dates (1 percent)

• More than eight in 10 (85 percent) of pet travelers travel with their dog, and two in 10 (21 percent) travel with a cat.

• Top types of vacations enjoyed with pets:
  • Visiting friends and family (78 percent)
  • Road trips (50 percent)
  • Going to the beach (33 percent)
  • Camping (27 percent)
  • Visiting a city (23 percent)
  • Hiking (17 percent)

About AAA

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

About Best Western International, Inc.

Best Western International, Inc., headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., is a privately held hotel brand made up of more than 4,000* BEST WESTERN®, BEST WESTERN PLUS® and BEST WESTERN PREMIER® hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Now celebrating 66 years of hospitality, Best Western welcomes hundreds of thousands of guests nightly. Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales, marketing and promotional support, and online and mobile booking capabilities. More than 14 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can redeem at any Best Western hotel worldwide. The brand’s partnerships with AAA/CAA, racecar driver Michael Waltrip, and Harley-Davidson® provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Best Western in 2011 was named AAA’s and CAA’s Hotel Partner of the Year and bestwestern.com was named the 2011 Compuware Best of the Web Gold award winner.
*Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate.

Release of new AAA PetBook edition means thousands of updated listings and the start of the next AAA PetBook Photo Contest

ORLANDO,Fla., (May 24, 2012) – Does your ideal vacation include your furry family members? For many Americans, Fido and Fluffy are essential participants in family outings. But they can pose some challenges when it comes to travel arrangements. Concerns range from locating pet-friendly establishments to finding reliable trip planning information and advice.

For these travelers, the newly released edition of Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook^® — available in print and digital versions — offers a solution they can trust. The annually updated guidebook contains detailed information for finding and selecting the right place to stay. Plus, the guide is packed with a wealth of additional resources for planning pet-friendly vacations.

“A great vacation with pets requires careful planning,” said Bill Wood, executive editor, AAA Travel Publishing. “The last thing travelers want to find on arrival is their pet exceeds the hotel’s size limit or requires extra fees. AAA collects these details to help prevent unwelcome surprises. We’re pleased to provide traveling pet owners with handy tips and insight along with reliable travel information.”

Whether travelers want affordable, comfortable hotels near favorite recreation spots, or luxurious accommodations that extend the royal treatment to two- and four-footed guests, they’ll find it in Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook. The book includes pet-friendly AAA Approved and Diamond Rated lodgings throughout the U.S. and Canada. Listings include fees, permitted pet sizes, conditions of stay and pet amenities for properties across every Diamond Rating level.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the book lists more than 600 pet-friendly campgrounds plus dog parks and attractions and national public lands that allow pets. Readers will also find useful tips for preparing four-legged travelers for the road or air and handy information about pet etiquette, insurance and emergency animal clinics.

“We know pets are very much a part of our guests’ families. As such, we want to welcome pets and their owners to our more than 1,600 pet-friendly properties,” said Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Best Western. “We are proud to be listed in The AAA PetBook, an exceptional resource, and to sponsor the annual AAA PetBook Photo Contest to help showcase pet travelers in action.”

From its outside covers to a special 16-page insert, the guide features scenic, smile-provoking photos of pets enjoying safe travel — a reminder to snap a candid of your winner during this year’s vacation. The current AAA PetBook Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western is open for entries, now through Nov. 30, 2012. Each year, winners are selected to appear on the back cover and spine of the next edition and also receive cash, pet treats, copies of the book and a Best Western Travel Card usable worldwide. See inside The AAA PetBook for details, or access official contest rules, an entry form and the contest photo gallery at AAA.com/PetBook.

Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook, 14^th edition, is available at many AAA and CAA offices as well as select bookstores and online booksellers. The suggested retail price is $18.95. The digital edition, available at online booksellers, carries a suggested digital retail price of $9.99.

About AAA

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

About Best Western International, Inc.

Best Western International, Inc., headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., is a privately held hotel brand made up of more than 4,100* BEST WESTERN®, BEST WESTERN PLUS® and BEST WESTERN PREMIER® hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Now celebrating 66 years of hospitality, Best Western welcomes hundreds of thousands of guests nightly. Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales, marketing and promotional support, and online and mobile booking capabilities. More than 13 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can redeem at any Best Western hotel worldwide. The brand’s partnerships with AAA/CAA, racecar driver Michael Waltrip, and Harley-Davidson® provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Best Western in 2011 was named AAA’s and CAA’s Hotel Partner of the Year and bestwestern.com was named the 2011 Compuware Best of the Web Gold award winner.

*Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate.

California dogs vacationing in national parks to grace back cover and spine of next edition

ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 22, 2012) – Two pooches from California were selected as top dogs in the latest annual AAA PetBook^® Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western, a AAA Preferred Hotel Partner. The four-legged winners will enjoy a year of fame on the 14^th edition Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook^®, available this May.

Along with cover glory, winners also enjoy a year of star treatment on the AAA.com/PetBook photo gallery. Plus they receive additional contest prizes, including cash, pet treats, copies of the book and a Best Western Travel Card^® usable at more than 4,000 hotels worldwide, including more than 1,600 pet-friendly properties.

The first-place winner, a Tibetan terrier named Lady, GCH Starlight’s Lady in Waiting, from Torrance, Calif., will be pictured on the book’s back cover on a scenic overlook at beautiful Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. As a show dog Lady is used to being the center of attention, but she doesn’t always have the luxury of being able to see the sights. “When we extended our trip last year to go to Crater Lake, Lady has a blast!” said owner Cassandra Basgall. “Our dogs are our family. It’s hard to leave home without them.”

The second-place winner, Maggie, an American Eskimo/Pomeranian mix from Placentia, Calif., will be featured on the book’s spine in a photo taken during a trek through Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. “Our dogs are our kids. We try to take them whenever we can,” said owner Wendy Gillroy. “Maggie doesn’t even mind the long drive as long as we’re going to be outdoors.”

This year, as a special addition to first- and second-place contest winners, an exceptional photo held over from a previous contest will appear on the front cover of the 14^th edition AAA PetBook. Chase, a Shetland sheepdog from Aloha, Ore., will be shown enjoying the open space at Oregon’s Cannon Beach. ”When Chase isn’t on the beach trying to ‘herd’ the waves, he is in town charming other tourists and trolling for head scratches,” says Chase’s owner, Curtis H. Smith.

Many Americans view their pets as full-fledged family members. They long to hit the road with their canine or feline companions, but hesitate for fear of not finding accommodations that accept four-legged friends. Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook^® provides listings for more than 14,000 pet-friendly AAA Approved accommodations in the U.S. and Canada. These include thousands of Diamond Rated hotels as well as some 600 campgrounds.

The detailed lodging listings include fees, permitted pet sizes and conditions of stay for properties at every Diamond Rating level including — for pampered pets — AAA Five Diamond Award^® hotels. The book also includes information about pet-friendly activities, planning tips, travel safety.

Photos of winners and runners up, contest rules, entry forms and valuable pet travel tips can be accessed at AAA.com/PetBook. The next photo contest opens in May when copies of the 14^th edition Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook hit the shelves at participating AAA and CAA offices, bn.com and fine bookstores. The cover price is $18.95 U.S.

About AAA

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

ABOUT BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Best Western International, Inc. is THE WORLD’S BIGGEST HOTEL FAMILY®, providing marketing, reservations and operational support to over 4,000* BEST WESTERN®, BEST WESTERN PLUS® and BEST WESTERN PREMIER® hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Each Best Western-branded hotel is independently owned and operated. Now celebrating 66 years of hospitality, Best Western has grown into an iconic brand that hosts hundreds of thousands of guests each night. Equally committed to the business and leisure traveler, Best Western has embarked on a mission to lead the hotel industry in customer care. World Vision is the charity of choice for Best Western in building the world’s biggest family, with our hotels and staff sponsoring children in need around the globe. Our partnerships with AAA/CAA, racecar driver Michael Waltrip, and Harley-Davidson® help guests make the most of every trip. For the fastest way to a free night globally, join Best Western Rewards®.

*Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA,  October 15, 2010

Travelers with photos of furry family members on vacation have until Nov. 30 to enter their best shot in the annual AAA PetBook Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western International.

Enter the AAA PetBook Photo Contest by Nov. 30

Travelers with photos of furry family members on vacation have until Nov. 30 to enter their best shot in the annual AAA PetBook Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western International. Entries are judged on artistic qualities as well as ability to convey the joy of safely traveling with a pet. Candid photographs are preferred.

Two entries will be selected to appear on the back cover and spine of the next edition of The AAA PetBook, which will be released in May 2011. Photos of the winners, along with those of more than 40 inspiring and amusing runners up, are also featured on AAA.com/PetBook website and inside The AAA PetBook.

In addition to cover fame, the first-place winner will also receive $300, pet treats, five copies of the book and a $150 Best Western Travel Card usable at more than 4,000 hotels worldwide. The second-place winner will receive $150, pet treats and two copies of the book. Contest rules, entry forms and photos from the previous contest are available online at AAA.com/PetBook.

Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook^® provides reliable, up-to-date information for complete travel planning assistance. The annually updated guide lists more than 13,000 pet-friendly, AAA Approved and Diamond Rated lodgings in the U.S. and Canada. Details include fees, permitted pet sizes and conditions of stay for properties at every Diamond Rating level including — for pampered pets — AAA Five Diamond hotels.

For outdoor lovers, the book also lists more than 400 pet-friendly AAA Approved campgrounds, AAA Approved attractions that offer kennel services or allow pets, and national public lands and dog parks that welcome visiting pets. Readers will also find useful tips on preparing four-legged travelers for the road or air, pet etiquette, insurance and emergency animal clinic locations.

Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook is available at many AAA and CAA offices, online at bn.com and at fine bookstores. The cover price is $18.95 U.S.

About AAA

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 52 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

ABOUT BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Best Western International, Inc. is THE WORLD’S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN^®, providing marketing, reservations and operational support to over 4,000* independently owned and operated BEST WESTERN, BEST WESTERN PLUS^® and BEST WESTERN PREMIER^® hotels in 80* countries and territories worldwide. An industry pioneer since 1946, Best Western has grown into an iconic brand that hosts 400,000* worldwide guests each night. Equally committed to the business and leisure traveler, Best Western recently embarked on a mission to lead the hotel industry in customer care. World Vision is the charity of choice for Best Western in building the world’s largest family, with our hotels and staff sponsoring children in need around the globe. Our partnerships with AAA/CAA, Michael Waltrip Racing™ and Harley-Davidson^® help guests make the most of every trip. For the fastest way to a free night globally, join Best Western Rewards^®. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.bestwestern.com.

*Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA., August 18, 2010

New survey examines habits of people driving with canine companions and possible distractions

Millions of Americans recognize that dogs are wonderful companions and bring their favorite furry friend along on road trips, day trips and even day-to-day errands. However, in a vehicle this can mean added distractions for the driver. A recent survey conducted by AAA and Kurgo asked dog owners how often they drive with their dog and about their habits behind the wheel. The survey found that drivers not only love to bring Fido along, but they also often engage in risky behaviors when man’s best friend is along for the ride.

Drivers distracted by dogs, many don’t realize it
Thirty-one percent of respondents admit to being distracted by their dog while driving, however 59 percent have participated in at least one distracting behavior while driving with their dog. More than half (55 percent) have pet their dog while driving, and one in five allowed their dog to sit in their lap (21 percent). Other distracting behaviors drivers admitted to include giving food and water to their dog (seven percent) and playing with their dog (five percent). These behaviors can distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that looking away from the road for only two seconds doubles your risk of being in a crash.

Unrestrained dogs dangerous to driver, passenger and man’s best friend
An overwhelming 80 percent of respondents stated that they have driven with their pets on a variety of car trips including day trips, local errands and leisure trips, the pet store, dog parks and to work. However only 17 percent use any form of pet restraint system when driving with their dog. Use of a pet restraint system, such as those available from Kurgo, can aid in limiting distractions and help protect your pet.

“Restraining your pet when driving can not only help protect your pet, but you and other passengers in your vehicle as well,” cautioned Jennifer Huebner-Davidson, AAA National, Traffic Safety Programs manager “An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at 50 mph will exert roughly 500 pounds of pressure, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert 2,400 pounds of pressure. Imagine the devastation that can cause to your pet and anyone in the vehicle in its path.”

There are a variety of reasonably priced products available to help dog owners reduce distractions their pets might cause while driving while keeping them safe. There have been many recent innovations in this market from Kurgo and others to make these products more comfortable for the dog and convenient to use for the owner. AAA recommends owners utilize a restraint system anytime they are driving with their pet—even close to home.

Pet restraint products, such as those from Kurgo, are available at local pet stores nationwide. To find a dealer near you, visit Kurgo.com.

Pet owners who want to take their pet on a longer trip can find all of the information they need to make their vacation easier and safer in Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook^® including pet-friendly AAA Approved property listings and advice on transporting pets. The book also features information on how to enter the annual AAA PetBook Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western. Entry deadline is Nov. 30 and winning pets will appear on a cover of the next edition. To enter, visit AAA.com/petbook.

AAA members can save on services for their pet by taking advantage of the Show Your Card & Save^® program. Members save 10 percent on pet supplies at Target.com and 10 percent on pet sitting and dog walking services at home or on the road with Fetch! Pet Care. Prescriptions for family pets that can be filled at a traditional pharmacy may also be eligible for a AAA discount. For more information and to obtain a free Prescription Savings Card visit AAA.com/prescriptions or call 1-866-AAA-SAVE (1-866-222-7283). Visit AAA.com/discounts for more information and a complete list of retailers and offers.

Survey Methodology
The online study was conducted among a sample of 1,000 dog owners who have driven with their dog in past 12 months. The study results have an average statistical error of +/- 3.1 percent at the 95 confidence level.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 52 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

Kurgo® (Motivation Design LLC) creates innovative, stylish and high-quality pet travel products that allow families and pets to travel comfortably to their destination together. The Kurgo® product line currently includes convenient products for traveling with your dog such as the Backseat Barrier, Skybox Booster Seat, Wander Bowl, Wander Hammock, Tru-Fit Smart Harness, and the Auto Zip Line, named as a Consumers Digest Best Buy. You can see more about this ever-evolving line of products at www.kurgo.com.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA, June 10, 2010

Release of new edition marks official open for next AAA PetBook Photo Contest

Are you among the millions of Americans who long to bring Fido and Fluffy on vacation? The new 12th edition Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook^® puts the information you need right at your fingertips: pet-friendly lodgings, recreational opportunities and valuable advice on planning and safety. The book also features inspiring and amusing entries from the previous AAA PetBook Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western.

Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook includes more than 13,000 pet-friendly, AAA Approved and Diamond Rated lodgings in the United States and Canada. The listings include fees, permitted pet sizes and conditions of stay for properties at every Diamond Rating level including — for pampered pets — AAA Five Diamond hotels.

“With careful consideration and planning, including your pet in your travels can make for a memorable trip, but poor planning can lead to endless frustration,” said Bill Wood, executive editor, AAA Publishing. “AAA is pleased to provide the millions of traveling pet owners with reliable information for planning vacations that include the whole family.”

For adventurous travelers, the book also lists more than 400 AAA Approved pet-friendly campgrounds. Readers will also find useful tips for preparing four-legged travelers for the road and information about pet etiquette, insurance and dog park locations.

“With more than 1,900 pet-friendly properties in North America, Best Western knows pets are very much a part of our guests’ families. As such, we want to welcome pets and their owners to our pet-friendly properties,” said Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Best Western. “We are proud to help travelers get this information through an exceptional resource like The AAA PetBook.”

This vacation, be sure your plans also include capturing some photos of your pet enjoying safe travel. Each year, two entries from the AAA PetBook Photo Contest are selected to appear on a cover of the next edition of The AAA PetBook. The “Best in Travel” winner will also receive $300, pet treats, five copies of the book and a $150 Best Western Travel Card usable worldwide. The second-place winner will receive $150, pet treats and two copies of the book. Photos and completed forms must be received by Nov. 30, 2010. Check The AAA PetBook for details, or access official contest rules, an entry form and the contest photo gallery at AAA.com/PetBook.

Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook is available at many AAA and CAA offices, online at bn.com and at fine bookstores. The cover price is $17.95 U.S.

About AAA
As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

About Best Western International, Inc.
Best Western International, Inc. is THE WORLD’S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN^®, providing marketing, reservations and operational support to over 4,000* independently owned and operated member hotels in 80* countries and territories worldwide. An industry pioneer since 1946, Best Western has grown into an iconic brand that hosts 400,000* worldwide guests each night. Equally committed to the business and leisure traveler, Best Western recently embarked on a mission to lead the hotel industry in customer care. World Vision is the charity of choice for Best Western in building the world’s largest family, with our hotels and staff sponsoring children in need around the globe. Our partnerships with AAA/CAA, Michael Waltrip Racing^TM and Harley-Davidson^® help guests make the most of every trip. For the fastest way to a free night globally, join Best Western Rewards^®. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit bestwestern.com.

*Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA, February 25, 2010

Vacation photos of five dogs grace the new edition PetBook covers

Results are in for the latest annual AAA PetBook^® Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western. Five top dogs from Massachusetts, California and Colorado will enjoy a year of fame as “cover dogs” on the 12^th edition Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook^®, available this May. Additional contest prizes vary, including cash, copies of the book and a Best Western Travel Card^® usable at more than 1,900 pet-friendly properties worldwide.

First-place winners Rosie, Belle and Ortiz, a family of mixed-breed dogs from Fairhaven, Mass., are pictured on the book’s back cover visiting the Cape Cod Canal. “We travel with our pets because they are our family and we enjoy traveling with them,” said the winning pups’ human companion, Wendy Russell.

The second-place winner, Jack, a labradoodle from Santa Cruz, Calif., appears on the book’s spine visiting Monument Valley in Utah. “Jack is such a great traveling companion, both on the road and in hotels,” said owners Susan and Howard Schwartz. “He makes friends with just about everyone.”

The cover features Yukon Jack, an Alaskan malamute from Bayfield, Colo., visiting the scenic Otter Cliffs at Acadia National Park in Maine. The photo was submitted in a previous year by owner Lisa Bourque who enjoys traveling with Yukon Jack because, “He is a people magnet and he thoroughly enjoys seeing many parts of the country. He goes wherever we go.”

Many Americans view their pets as full-fledged family members. They long to hit the road with their canine or feline companions, but hesitate for fear of not finding accommodations that accept four-legged friends. Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook^® provides listings for more than 13,000 pet-friendly AAA Approved lodgings and campgrounds in the U.S. and Canada.

The detailed lodging listings include fees, permitted pet sizes and conditions of stay for properties at every Diamond Rating level including — for pampered pets — AAA Five Diamond Award^® hotels. The book also includes information about pet-friendly activities, planning tips, travel safety and, for those who love the great outdoors, more than 400 AAA Rated pet-friendly campgrounds.

Photos of winners and runners up, contest rules and entry forms, and valuable pet-friendly travel tips can be accessed at www.AAA.com/PetBook. The next photo contest opens in May when copies of the 12^th edition Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook will be available at many AAA and CAA offices and better bookstores. The cover price is $17.95 U.S.

About AAA

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

About Best Western

Best Western International is THE WORLD’S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN®, providing marketing, reservations and operational support to over 4,000* independently owned and operated member hotels in 80* countries and territories worldwide. An industry pioneer since 1946, Best Western has grown into an iconic brand that hosts 400,000* worldwide guests each night. Equally committed to the business and leisure traveler, Best Western recently embarked on a mission to lead the hotel industry in customer care. World Vision is the charity of choice for Best Western in building the world’s largest family, with our hotels and staff sponsoring children in need around the globe. Our partnerships with AAA/CAA, Michael Waltrip Racing and Harley-Davidson help guests make the most of every trip. For the fastest way to a free night, join Best Western Rewards®, theonlyhotel frequency program that’s truly global. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.bestwestern.com

*Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate.