John Kelly
Board Chairman

John Kelly brings decades of experience in the hospitality industry to the Board of Directors of Best Western^® Hotels & Resorts. His diverse background includes serving as the managing partner of a restaurant company; designing, building, operating, and owning hotels; and initiating sales strategies to favorably position hotels for potential contracts.

The Kelly family previously owned and operated the Best Western El Reno in El Reno, Oklahoma and continues to own and operate the Best Western Plus Oklahoma City Yukon in Yukon, Oklahoma, which they built in 2000. The Best Western Oklahoma City Yukon has received numerous accolades from Best Western, including eight consecutive outstanding quality awards “Best of the Best” and the MK Guertin Awards every year since its inception.

John has served as a Governor for Best Western since 1997, receiving the “All Star” Governor Award in 2007 and 2011. He was also a member of the Best Western Reservation and Technology Committee from 1997 – 2007 after the Two Way ballot was passed by the membership. 

He served as Chair of the Committee for three years, where he was responsible for the oversight and strategic planning of the brand’s Information and Technology Program.

In addition to Kelly’s work with Best Western, he has also been an active member of his community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association, the State of Oklahoma Tourism Advisory Committee, the El Reno Airpark Authority, the El Reno Visitors and Tourism Advisory Committee, and served on the El Reno City Council.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1966, Kelly spent his childhood in Plat Woods, Kansas, Norwich, N.Y., and El Reno, Oklahoma. As an adolescent and teenager, his family owned and operated Hensley, Inc., which included a Best Western hotel, Hensley’s Restaurant, a gas station/convenience store, a full-service tire store with light auto repair and Consumer’s Oil Company & Jobber ship. He learned the value of hard work and versatility at a young age, working nearly every job in each one of these establishments at one point or another.

After proudly serving his country as a Naval Aviator in U.S. Navy and receiving a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Oklahoma, Kelly and his wife of 33 years, Sadhna, moved back to Oklahoma where he continued to serve as a reservist while they began their family.

After a formal separation from the U.S. Navy, Kelly turned his attention to helping raise his three daughters, Samantha, Allison, and Hannah, and integrating himself into the world of hospitality and tourism marketing.

In the sphere of business, he has sought to excel in creating efficient and effective companies that promote personal ownership of each employee in the product provided. When not working, you can be sure to find Kelly in a boat on Grand Lake of the Cherokees, on the slopes of the nearest ski-hill, exploring the world or cheering on the Oklahoma City Thunder.