BEST Western Hotels confirmed in November that the Palace Hotel and Casino in Douglas would be re-branded as a Best Western hotel.

The Palace Hotel and Casino has taken on the branding of the company to become The Best Western Palace Hotel and Casino.

Adrian Brockhouse, director of hotels and leisure at The Sefton Group, said: "We've been working closely with Best Western to ensure that the hotel meets the rigorous standards required to enable it to adopt the Best Western brand.

"This presents an exciting opportunity for everyone involved with the hotel. Joining the Best Western brand brings with it many advantages for the hotel and the Island in general through additional marketing exposure within the UK and further afield."

Best Western hotels are independently owned and run and there are more than 270 in Great Britain and 4,000 worldwide.

A statement on the Best Western website says: "As all Best Western hotels are independently owned and run you can be sure that you’ll stay in a hotel that's unique from any other, unlike many of the chains that you so often see nowadays."

Hotels which take on the Best Western branding are promised expert advice from the other hotels, a "huge" brand profile, access to "millions of new customers" through the company's loyalty scheme, help with marketing and the ability to "pick the brains" of a highly trained revenue management team to help maximise profits.

The Palace Hotel will be the first Best Western in the UK to incorporate a casino and will be the only branded hotel in the Isle of Man.

Keith Pope, director of Best Western, said: "Best Western Palace Hotel and Casino is a great addition to our portfolio of 'hotels with personality'.

"The hotel offers fantastic facilities and is a great place to stay for both business and leisure travellers. We believe this hotel has a great future with us."

The hotel still remains under the operational control and ownership of The Sefton Group.

This story is part of isleofman.com's Review of the Year 2011.