1980s-Style Water Cooler Earns Video Contest Winner One Million Best Western Rewards(SM) Points

PHOENIX, June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- What do the 1980s and a water cooler named Corey have in common? For noted YouTube personality and Los Angeles resident Joel Moss Levinson, both helped him win the grand prize in Best Western International's Points for Free Video Contest.

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The contest commemorated the 20th anniversary of the hotel chain's Best Western Rewards(SM) program, Gold Crown Club International, and winners were announced today.

Tapping into Gen X office workers' high school nostalgia, the contest asked entrants to decorate their break room water cooler in the spirit of the 1980s and film a video explaining why it should win them a vacation. Levinson dressed his water cooler in a stonewashed denim jacket and blond wig, and composed an original song about the creation he named Corey.

For his efforts, Levinson won 1 million Best Western Rewards(SM) points. His prize can be redeemed for the equivalent of up to 100 hotel room nights at Best Western's 4,000 properties worldwide, Best Western's Travel Card, airline miles, retail gift cards, merchandise ... the list goes on.

Levinson said he will redeem his points for Best Western hotel rooms, and his next trip is to Estonia.

"It's exciting to know that I can just go to Best Western's Web site, look up the city I'm headed to, and know I'm going to get a place that's great -- and use points to pay for it! These hotel points will help me see the world, make more videos and enter more contests," said Levinson.

Jennifer Delano, a teacher from Coon Rapids, Minn., received the runner-up prize. Her video explained that her school's break room had been turned into a classroom, so she decorated the room's overhead projector instead. Her punk rock creation danced around the classroom and wished for a vacation.

The videos were judged on creativity, humor and consumer vote, and can be viewed at http://www.bestwestern.com/celebrate20.

"This contest was a fun way to highlight our generous rewards program," said Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Best Western International. "Winners will see first-hand the many ways to spend their points -- on free room nights, Best Western's Travel Card, frequent flier miles, merchandise, gift cards and much more."

Since its inception in 1988, Gold Crown Club International has been one of the industry's most generous reward programs, and one of few programs that is truly international, offering members the chance to earn and spend points at more than 4,000 hotels worldwide. It was the first loyalty program with customized offerings for NASCAR(R), AAA / CAA members and Harley-Davidson(R) riders and enthusiasts. Today, the program has more than 8.5 million members.

To join the free program, visit http://www.bestwesternrewards.com. Best Western Rewards(SM) members can earn points toward free hotel stays, dining and entertainment gift certificates, airline miles and more.

ABOUT BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL

Best Western International is THE WORLD'S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN(R), 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. Best Western's diverse property portfolio, its greatest strength, stems from a business model designed to give owners maximum flexibility to address market-specific needs. Equally committed to the business and leisure traveler, Best Western recently embarked on a five-year mission to lead the hotel industry in customer care. Since 2004, Best Western has served as the Official Hotel of NASCAR(R). For more information or to make a reservation, please visit http://www.bestwestern.com.

    *Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate.

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     Marie Yarroll                             David Cumpston
     Best Western International                Allison & Partners
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