One of the most dynamic hotel groups in the world, is pleased to announce the new geographical responsibilities of Area Senior Vice President for Central & Southern Europe (CESE), Yilmaz Yildirimlar, and Area Senior Vice President for Northern Europe, Tom Flanagan Karttunen.

Further to their current roles, Yilmaz and Tom have now been appointed as Area Senior Vice Presidents for Eastern Europe, Russia & Turkey (EERUT) and UK, Ireland & Western Europe (UKIWE) respectively

Yilmaz started his career with the Group in Vienna in 1995 and has held several leadership positions at Radisson Blu Hotels in Amsterdam, Manchester and Bucharest. He has served as District Director for South Eastern Europe and Regional Director in Eastern Europe, based in Moscow, until his appointment in 2017 as Area Senior Vice President, Central & Southern Europe.

Originally from Turkey, Yilmaz Yildirimlar studied hotel management and holds an MBA in Finance. He has also achieved several degrees in the fields of leadership, real estate and asset management.

Tom joined Radisson Hotel Group more than 20 years ago and has grown within the company, holding different leadership positions in numerous business areas at Radisson Blu Hotels in Copenhagen, Beijing, Manama, Hamburg and Galway. He has served as District Director Turkey, Azerbaijan & China, based in Istanbul, before being appointed as Area Vice President Eastern Europe & Russia, based in Moscow in 2009, and then Area Senior Vice President, Northern Europe.He has a track record of success in leading Northern Europe, one of Radisson Hotel Group’s most mature markets, and is sure to have equal success in UKIWE

Born in Ireland, Tom holds a Diploma and B.A. Degree in Hotel Management.has played an integral role in ensuring the progression of business growth.

BWH Hotel Group Central Europe, is now present in ten countries in the region: Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Hungary. The forthcoming properties will target different groups and will operate under one of the BWH Hotel Group's brands: four city hotels in Cottbus, Essen, Frankfurt and Prague, two hotels with a more leisure-oriented profile in Ottobeuren in the German Allgaeu region and Zell am See in Austria, a design hotel in Einbeck in Germany and a 351-room hotel in Hanover.

The Group also highlighted the potential of soft brands such as BW Signature Collection, BW Premier Collection and Sure Hotel Collection, as well as the new lifestyle brand Aiden by Best Western, which debuted on the German market in January 2020 with the opening of a 109-room hotel.

Best Western Hotels & Resorts added 3 midscale brands from the WorldHotels Group to its portfolio and recently opened Fleming's Express Hotel Wuppertal was welcomed as a new member of the brand.

In 2020, Best Western Hotels & Resorts is consolidating its position as the 5th largest hotel group in Europe and France with 85,435 and 14,826 rooms respectively. More recently, Best Western France announced a positive balance sheet of activities in 2019, particularly in terms of development and growth in turnover volume.