Best Western, the Clifton Moor-based consortium of independently-owned hotels has become a preferred supplier to QinetiQ, Europe's largest science and technology solutions provider - a deal reckoned to be worth £7.5 million.

The consortium beat off competition from rival hotel groups for the contract which lasts for 14 months.

The agreement puts at the disposal of QinetiQ some three hundred hotels in the UK and 4,000 world wide.

Already Best Western has organised educational workshops at all main QinetiQ offices to raise awareness about its hotels.

Peter Richardson, director of contracts at QinetiQ said he was "impressed by Best Western's ability to provide a wide choice of quality accommodation"

The celebration about the successful bid comes as Beacon, Best Western's purchasing arm, announced that its turnover had soared by ten per cent to £127 million last year easily smashing its target of three per cent.

Most impressive growth was seen in the utilities and services offered by the purchasing group which increased on the 2001 figure by £5 million.

Updated: 09:01 Tuesday, March 25, 2003