Black Bear drops chain connection
The way people search and book hotel stays - mainly via the Internet - is one reason that Lafayette Hotels, a Maine company that owns 23 hotels in the state, including the Black Bear Inn, is ditching the Best Western chain.
Lafayette Hotels recently announced that it would be taking three of its properties out of the Best Western chain, including the Black Bear Inn in Orono.
"This was entirely our decision," Peter Daigle, chief operating officer of Lafayette Hotels, said in a prepared statement this week. "Best Western has been a great partner over the years, but the Internet has made the need for a franchise much less important than in the past."
Effective Dec. 1, the Orono inn became the Black Bear Inn Conference Center & Suites; the Best Western Senator Inn & Spa in Augusta is now the Senator Inn & Spa; and the Best Western Waterville Inn is the Fireside Inn & Suites.
The Fireside Inn & Suites name is trademarked by Lafayette Hotels, which has four other Fireside Inn & Suites located in Bangor, Auburn and New Hampshire.
Daigle noted that all three of the properties in transition were in excellent standing with the Best Western chain, and that the Black Bear Inn received Best Western's "Best of the Best" award for excellent customer service three consecutive years.
"We are not planning to end our relationships at all of our franchised hotels," Daigle stated. "But we are looking at each market carefully." The company has two Holiday Inn hotels, a Comfort Inn and three properties still with the Best Western brand.
Other reasons for the shift included design requirements that chains often place on hotel owners, and that Layafette Hotels officials were concerned that their establishments may be viewed as too similar or "cookie cutter."
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