Central Maine business briefs

Preti Flaherty praised by lawyers guide; Best Western Plus Augusta Civic Center Inn wins corporate award.

Lawyers guide confers honor on Preti Flaherty law firm

Preti Flaherty again has been named Maine Firm of the Year by Benchmark Litigation for the firm’s litigation performance, according to a news release from the firm.

Benchmark Litigation, a published guide to America’s leading litigation firms and attorneys, recently hosted its annual Benchmark Awards ceremony, at which it recognized the country’s most distinguished litigators and their firms for their work over the past 12 months. Preti Flaherty litigation co-chairman Tim Bryant and attorneys Peter Callaghan and Matt Libby represented the firm in accepting the award.

The event, held at the Essex House Hotel in New York City, included attendees from 40 states and nearly 100 private practice firms.

Best Western’s Augusta franchise wins corporate award

The Best Western Plus Augusta Civic Center Inn in Augusta has received the Best Western Director’s Award for outstanding quality standards, according to a news release from the hotel chain.

The Director’s Award recognizes Best Western hotels scoring in the top 20 percent of more than 2,100 North American properties in cleanliness and maintenance. Hotels must also meet Best Western’s requirements for design and high customer service scores to qualify for the distinction.

Located at 110 Community Drive, the Best Western Plus Augusta Civic Center Inn features 100 rooms and is the hotel closest to the Augusta Civic Center. The Best Western Plus Augusta Civic Center Inn is owned and operated by Giri Hotel Management Inc., which is based in Quincy, Massachusetts. The group owns eight hotels in Maine, including Hampton Inn Oxford; Quality Inn Bangor Airport; Quality Inn at Bangor Mall; Rodeway Inn Bangor; Best Western Plus Augusta; Comfort Inn Augusta, Waterville; Best Western Plus Waterville; and Best Western Plus Brunswick.