Western hospitality has really spread. Begun in 1946 by hotelier M. K. Guertin and named for its California origins, Best Western has more than 4,000 independently owned and operated hotels (including 2,200-plus in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean), making it the world's largest hotel brand (by number of rooms). Hotels sport its flag in about 80 countries and territories; Australia and the UK have the most outside the US. The company has about 100 Best Western Premier branded hotels in Asia and Europe, which offer a higher level of amenities and services. Best Western is organized as a not-for-profit membership association, with most of its sales coming from monthly fees and annual dues.

Tarsadia Hotels operates about a dozen mostly upscale hotels in California (in Anaheim, Los Angeles, Napa Valley, San Diego, and San Francisco), including the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego. The company's brands (such as Marriott, Hilton, and Doubletree), are in high-end tourist areas and are a cut above the usual limited-service establishment. Tarsadia Hotels also offers sales, marketing, IT, HR, and accounting services to hospitality companies. Tarsadia Hotels was founded in 1976 when B.U. Patel and his sons Mike and Tushar acquired the 20-room Dunes Motel in Anaheim in 1976.

Since 1946, the bright eyed Big Boy has been keeping a smile on your face and your stomach full, but Frisch's has been around longer than that. From creating Cincinnati's first Drive-in restaurant to introducing us to the famous double-decker Big Boy sandwich, Frisch's has been a part of our lives for close to a century. Buddie Boy, Big Boy, Super Big Boy, Brawny Lad -- Frisch's burger menu reads like an arm-wrestling contest marquee. Frisch's Restaurants operates and licenses about 115 Frisch's Big Boy family-style restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. Famous for its double-decker hamburgers, the Big Boy chain also offers chicken, roast beef, pasta, and seafood dinners, as well as a breakfast bar that converts to a soup and salad bar at lunch. More than 25 locations are operated by licensees. In addition, Frisch's operates about 35 buffet-style Golden Corral steak houses in many of the same areas. The family of president and CEO Craig Maier owns more than 55% of the company.

Crystal Palace F.C. (2000) owns and operates Crystal Palace F.C., a professional soccer team that completes in the UK's Football League Championship. Known to supporters as The Eagles, the team was formed in 1905 and took its name from London's Crystal Palace, a building made of wrought iron and glass built to house the Great Exhibition of 1851 (the first in a series of World's Fair exhibitions). Crystal Palace F.C. has called Selhurt Park its home ground since 1924. Controlled by chairman Simon Jordan since 2000, the company was put into administration in early 2010.

Lady of America Franchise Corporation company franchises about 300 fitness clubs in 45 states across the US and about ten foreign countries. Lady of America offers members a workout alternative to the co-ed gym at its Lady of America and LOA Fitness for Women full-service gyms, or the smaller Ladies Workout Express, which is designed to get its members in and out in less than 30 minutes. The company allows men at its Workout Express and Health Clubs of America locations. Lady of America was founded in 1984 by Roger Wittenberns; it began franchising in 1989.

KaleidoScoops operates a chain of franchised ice cream shops under the name KaleidoScoops Ice Cream and More that specialize in frozen treats. With more than 50 locations in Texas and 20 other states, the chain's menu includes ice cream cones and sundaes available in such flavors as Ooey Gooey Chocolate Chewy, Peanut Butter Eruption, and Tootsie Pop Crunch. KaleidoScoops also serves malts, shakes, and smoothies, along with frozen cakes and pies. KaleidoScoops was formed as a member-owned cooperative in 1999 by a group of 40 former franchisees of the Baskin-Robbins chain (part of Dunkin' Brands).

NexCen owns and manages seven brands covering Quick Service Restaurants ("QSR") and Retail Footwear and Accessories, generating revenue through the franchising of those brands worldwide. NexCen's franchised brands include five QSR brands: Great American Cookies, MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery, Marble Slab Creamery, Pretzelmaker and Pretzel Time and two franchised Retail concepts: TAF (The Athlete's Foot) and Shoebox New York. NexCen currently has approximately 1,700 franchised stores across its brands, located in over 35 countries worldwide. NexCen Brands, Inc. strategy is to create value for its stakeholders (including shareholders and franchisees) through the franchising and marketing of its brands. NexCen, through its advertising, marketing and public relations teams, markets its brands to drive greater consumer awareness and brand equity and to grow its presence worldwide through its network of franchised retail outlets. NexCen also recognizes that, as a royalty-based business, its success depends upon the success of its franchisees and through its franchisee support network, advanced information-technology systems, real estate and store opening support teams, continually seeks to provide a turn-key solution and create value for its business partners.

In 1974, Randy Norton and Jim Farley opened a 16 table pizza place in Fairfax City, VA. Mike Ranney joined them a year later, and with the opening of Fantastic Fritzbe’s Flying Food Factory (now Silverado) in 1976, Great American Restaurants was born. Over the past 34 years, their partnership has thrived as a result of their entrepreneurial spirit, enthusiasm for hospitality, and a ton of hard work by thousands of the best team players in the industry. “GAR is fun because our people take pride in being part of something special and love what we do. Our restaurants are filled with guests and staff that want to have a good time. GAR helps everyone feel great. GAR cares about our people on a whole different level than anyone else… and is also obsessive about the details. A unique combination.”

Great Canadian Gaming has about ten casino operations in Canada (British Columbia, Ontario, and Nova Scotia) and Washington state. The properties offer slot machines and/or table games such as blackjack, poker, and roulette. In addition, the company owns and operates one thoroughbred racetrack, four standardbred racetracks, a bingo hall, a community gaming center, several restaurants, two theaters, and a hotel and conference center. Its flagship property, the River Rock Casino Resort, is the leading casino resort in the Vancouver, British Columbia market.

The New Jersey Devils professional hockey team entered the National Hockey League in 1974 as the Kansas City Scouts and relocated to Colorado until it settled in the Garden State in 1982. One last relocation saw the Devils take up residence at the Prudential Center in Newark in 2007 after several years playing host at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford. A regular contender for the playoffs, the hockey franchise boasts three Stanley Cup championships, its last in 2003. An investment group led by Jeffrey Vanderbeek has owned the team since 2004.

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