GREENSBORO, N.C. (August 11, 2020) – Wyndham Rewards®, the world’s most generous rewards program spanning more than 30,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals, checked in to Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. this week as proud title sponsor of the 81st annual Wyndham Championship.
Known as one of the most fan-friendly stops on the PGA TOUR, this year’s tournament—which starts Thursday and runs through Sunday—puts a virtual spin on its longstanding tradition of vacation-themed fun while continuing the proud charitable work of Wyndham Championship Fore! Good, the tournament’s signature charitable platform. The shift follows the tournament’s previously announced decision to play without spectators out of an abundance of caution for players, volunteers, and tournament officials amid the evolving dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Now, more than ever, people are looking for a chance to escape, to get away from the everyday,” said Eliot Hamlisch, EVP of Loyalty and Wyndham Rewards program leader. “For many, the Wyndham Championship has always been that escape. While this year’s tournament may look and feel a little different, our hope is that it will inspire fans, reminding them of the power of travel and letting them know that when they’re ready to hit the road, Wyndham will be there to welcome them.”
Broadcasting on Golf Channel and CBS, the tournament will transport fans to a tropical oasis while offering surprise and delight, vacation-themed giveaways via various Wyndham social channels. Signature course elements include the Club Wyndham Beach, located just off the par five 15th hole and a giant, one-of-a-kind sandcastle behind the 18th green. Other course elements include an array of imagery of Wyndham’s most aspirational resorts alongside larger-than-life versions of vacation staples like a giant beach ball, flip flop, and more.
Two Distinct Travel Companies, One Amazing Rewards Program Named the number one hotel rewards program by readers of USA TODAY, Wyndham Rewards unites the global portfolios of two of the world’s leading hospitality companies: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchise company, and Wyndham Destinations, the world’s largest vacation ownership and exchange company.
In recent months, both companies have debuted comprehensive health and safety initiatives designed to help protect travelers and team members—from increased frequency of cleanings of high-touch surfaces, to use of EPA-approved disinfectants, face covering requirements and new social distancing measures.
Added Hamlisch, “Whether it’s a road trip with the family to visit a favorite beach or a weekend away to explore one of our nation’s amazing national parks, we’re seeing an increased readiness to travel with an emphasis on safety. With tens of thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals, wherever it is you want to go, chances are, there’s a Wyndham just 10 minutes away.”
Battle for the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 Tightens The race to be in the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 culminates with the Wyndham Championship, the final event before the FedExCup playoffs. Recognizing the top-10 finishers in the FedExCup regular season, it offers a collective $10 million bonus with the points leader earning $2 million.
Justin Thomas finished tied for 37th at the PGA Championship and clinched the $2 million Wyndham Rewards Top 10 bonus as the FedExCup regular-season winner. Collin Morikawa, who won the PGA Championship and moved to second in the Wyndham Rewards Top 10, is not playing this week’s Wyndham Championship. Webb Simpson, third, and Sungjae Im, fifth, enter this week’s Wyndham Championship with a shot at the $1.5 million second-place bonus. In addition, Lanto Griffin (12), Sebastián Muñoz (16), Adam Long (24), Joaquin Niemann (25) and Harris English (28) are also playing the Wyndham Championship, and with a good finish, each can move into the Wyndham Rewards Top 10.
Giving Back through Wyndham Championship Fore! Good Creating positive impact in the community is a central focus of the Wyndham Championship, and Wyndham Championship Fore! Good—the tournament’s signature philanthropic platform—helps give back to worthy causes in central North Carolina and beyond.
New to the tournament this year, when a PGA TOUR golfer makes birdie or better on holes 15, 16 or 17 during the third and fourth rounds on Saturday and Sunday, Wyndham Rewards will donate $500 to one of the Championship’s signature charities via “Birdies Fore Backpacks, donating up to a total of $100,000.
Through Birdies Fore Backpacks, Wyndham Rewards works with local organizations—Backpack Beginnings, Forsyth Backpacks, Out of the Garden Project and United Way of Greater High Point—to help feed children from low-income families around the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. Backpacks are packed with nutritionally-sound meals, which families take home every weekend. Just $5 can feed one child for a weekend while $150 can feed a child for a school year. Since its creation in 2014, the program has provided more than 590,000 meals to thousands of local families.
In addition, the tournament’s popular hole-in-one competition returns to the par three 16th hole at Sedgefield. During official tournament play Thursday through Sunday, should a PGA TOUR golfer make a hole-in-one, Wyndham Rewards will donate one million Wyndham Rewards points to Birdies Fore Backpacks.
Wyndham Championship Fore! Good builds on broader efforts by Wyndham and its properties around the globe to support their local communities amid the pandemic as well as those on the front lines—providing rooms for doctors and nurses, donating supplies, and opening their kitchens to help feed those in need. Through its previously announced #EverdayHeroes program, Wyndham Rewards is also honoring essential workers, providing truck drivers, warehouse workers, grocery associates, healthcare workers, teachers and more with complimentary gold membership upgrades. Workers may apply for their instant upgrade at www.wyndhamrewards.com/heroes.
About the Wyndham Championship Contested annually on the Donald Ross-designed course at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., the Wyndham Championship was founded in 1938 and is the sixth-oldest event on the PGA TOUR excluding the Majors. The tournament thanks title sponsor Wyndham Rewards and presenting sponsor Truist for their continued support. Additional tournament information is available at www.wyndhamchampionship.com and the tournament’s social media channels, including the Wyndham Championship Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram.
About Wyndham Rewards Named the number one hotel rewards program by readers of USA TODAY, Wyndham Rewards® is the world’s most generous rewards program with more than 30,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide. Designed for the everyday traveler, members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and may redeem points for a wide-range of rewards, including free nights at any of more than 9,000 hotels or tens of thousands of vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally through affiliation with Wyndham Destinations and others. Wyndham Rewards has 84 million enrolled members around the globe. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com. You’ve earned this.®
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with over 9,000 hotels across approximately 90 countries on six continents. Through its network of 813,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 20 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services. The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers 84 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.
About Wyndham Destinations Wyndham Destinations (NYSE:WYND), the world’s largest vacation club and exchange company, is on a mission to put the world on vacation. The company offers more than four million members and owner families the opportunity to own, exchange or rent their vacation experience while enjoying quality, flexibility and great value from a trusted brand. The company’s Wyndham Vacation Clubs offer 230 resorts that provide a contemporary take on the timeshare model through brands Club Wyndham®, WorldMark® by Wyndham, and Margaritaville Vacation Club® by Wyndham. With a global presence in 110 countries, the company’s membership travel business — Panorama — includes today’s leading vacation exchange, leisure travel, and technology brands including RCI, the world’s leader in vacation exchange that provides access to 4,200+ affiliated resorts around the world; and Extra Holidays, offering condo vacations at hotel prices. Year after year, our worldwide team of associates delivers exceptional vacation experiences to families around the globe as they make memories to last a lifetime. At Wyndham Destinations, our world is your destination. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Wyndham’s booking, billing and business solution simplifies travel management and payment to help drive corporate business to its hotels
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (August 4, 2020) – With a focus on finding impactful ways to drive more corporate business for its hotels, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts – the world’s largest hotel franchising company with more than 9,000 hotels across 90 countries – today announced the expansion of Wyndham Direct, a unique booking, billing and business solution. The service, formerly unique to its La Quinta® by Wyndham brand, is now immediately available at Super 8® by Wyndham and Days Inn® by Wyndham hotels in the U.S., with plans to expand further across Wyndham’s portfolio of brands later this year.
Wyndham Direct is designed to help drive corporate bookings to hotels and simplify travel management for companies and their travelers. Using integrated virtual credit card technology from Corporate Spending Innovations (CSI), Wyndham Direct offers easier booking, faster billing and smarter business, supporting hotels as they work to attract small and medium-sized corporate business, grow market share and drive lower-cost reservations. By expanding across the Wyndham’s three largest brands, the program now offers clients access to nearly 3,900 hotels across the economy through upper-midscale segments.
“Wyndham is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to helping our hotels drive more direct bookings, save time and get paid faster,” said Carol Lynch, senior vice president of Global Sales for Wyndham. “Wyndham Direct is a comprehensive solution for our hotels that not only eases the strain on hotel teams, but also makes the client’s experience easier and helps translate into revenues for our franchisees.”
“CSI is excited to partner with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to help power the Wyndham Direct Program and we look forward to providing an innovative, streamlined solution for Wyndham clients,” said Juliann Pless, senior vice president, Travel Payment Solutions at CSI.
Client Convenience and Simplicity
Wyndham Direct offers small- and mid-sized companies a streamlined travel program alternative. It allows company travelers to make reservations directly through central channels using virtual credit card technology charged at check-out – just like a traditional credit card – with no credit card authorization needed. Companies receive a single monthly bill and have the ability to manage travel spend within the Wyndham Direct customer portal, complete with flexible custom reporting features.
Helping Hoteliers
Hotel owners also benefit from the virtually risk-free program from Wyndham by getting paid simply and quickly. Guest folio data is automatically sent to clients, saving time and manpower by eliminating the need to print and send invoices or spend time on collections. Additionally, Wyndham Direct offers robust reporting and data collection to streamline reconciliation processes, simplify and accelerate the payment process for hotel bookings, and help minimize disruptions during the check-in process.
Positively Impacting Business
Wyndham Direct elevates and differentiates Wyndham’s value proposition for corporate travel accounts by offering a simple, client-centric solution allowing corporate travelers to book, pay and track their travel. Appealing to companies seeking simplicity in managing employee travel, Wyndham Direct helps increase market share and drive additional business from weekday road warriors across diverse industry segments such as oil and gas, construction, merchandising, transportation and more. Wyndham’s sales team works one-on-one to attract relevant business, including relief and recovery business, targeting those likely to drive room nights to upper-midscale, midscale and economy hotels.
Wyndham continues to evolve to deliver value to franchisees and capture additional travel demand, including in the mobile space. The Company recently introduced its Instant Hold feature, which facilitates last-minute, on-the-go bookings, requiring only a guest’s name and mobile number to reserve a room for the same day, with no credit card required. The innovation has been particularly critical as road trips continue to rise in popularity and booking windows have shortened during the pandemic, with guest adoption increasing from travelers seeking nearby hotels they can book with ease.
Expansion to new Brands
The Wyndham Direct program debuted at La Quinta by Wyndham hotels across the United States in March and Wyndham continues to expand the program to new brands, increasing its accessibility and footprint to economy hotels – a critical move as the company courts more diverse industries. By leveraging its scale and expansive U.S. presence in drive-to markets, Wyndham is proactively solving for customer’s needs across multiple industries and services. The Company plans to roll out Wyndham Direct to all of its brands and hotels in the U.S. on the SynXisV3 PMS throughout 2020, with plans to further expand internationally in the future.
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with over 9,000 hotels across approximately 90 countries on six continents. Through its network of 813,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 20 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services. The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers 84 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.
About CSI
CSI provides innovative payment solutions to world-leading brands with their highly secure corporate payment solutions that include CSI Paysystems, CSI Travel, CSI Go, CSI Connect, CSI Invoice, and global-fleet fuel cards. Customers can automate 100% of B2B payables including virtual credit card, proprietary network, ACH, check, or foreign exchange with cross-border payments settled in local currency. CSI is part of Edenred, the global leader in payment solutions for the working world. From single- and multiple-use virtual cards with or without information systems integration to identified wire transfers and supplier payment platforms, the Corporate Payment services offered by Edenred enable companies of all sizes and in all industries to meet their specific payment needs. Edenred’s flexible platforms simplify and secure clients’ incoming and outgoing transactions, while also facilitating their payment reconciliation process.
The health and safety of guests and hotel team members is our top priority, which is why, effective August 10, 2020, face coverings will be required for guests and staff in indoor public spaces at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts properties in the U.S. and Canada.
“We all must play a role in slowing the spread of COVID-19,” said Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “This is a simple step we can take to help protect guests, team members, franchisees, and the countless communities we serve.”
The new requirement comes on the heels of updated guidelines from the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) and builds on Wyndham’s previously announced Count on UsSM initiative, which is grounded in guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and designed to elevate hotel health and safety protocols in response to COVID-19. Learn more at www.wyndhamhotels.com/COVID-19.
PARSIPPANY, N.J., July 28, 2020 – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) today announced results for the three months ended June 30, 2020. Highlights include:
Diluted loss per share was $1.86, and adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.10.
Net loss was $174 million for the second quarter and adjusted net income was $9 million.
Adjusted EBITDA was $63 million.
System-wide rooms remained flat year-over-year.
Global comparable RevPAR declined 54% year-over-year.
Paid quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share.
“We generated positive adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter, driven by our drive-to and leisure-oriented franchise business model, along with our immediate and concerted cost savings initiatives,” said Geoffrey A. Ballotti, president and chief executive officer. “We were pleased to see a steady improvement in Average Daily Rate, Occupancy and RevPAR over the past three months. Our select-service, small business owners are uniquely positioned to both remain open and capture emerging travel demand, whatever the shape of the recovery may be. Approximately 85% of our hotels have remained open globally throughout the pandemic, and over 99% of our domestic hotels are open today. Importantly, our economy and midscale brands continue to outperform versus their local markets. We remain committed to supporting our owners during this difficult period, while showing our guests and team members that they can “Count on Us” to put their safety first.”
Revenues declined to $258 million in the second quarter of 2020, compared with $533 million in the second quarter of 2019. The decline includes lower pass-through cost-reimbursement revenues of $94 million, which have no impact on adjusted EBITDA, in the Company’s hotel management business. Excluding cost- reimbursement revenues, revenues declined $181 million reflecting a 54% decline in comparable RevPAR and the impact from hotels temporarily closed due to COVID-19.
The Company generated a net loss of $174 million, or $1.86 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2020, reflecting $1.71 per diluted share in non-cash impairment charges related to certain intangible assets and $0.18 per diluted share in restructuring and transaction-related costs. Net income in the second quarter of 2019 was $26 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, which included a non-cash impairment charge of $0.34 per diluted share and $0.16 per diluted share in transaction-related, separation-related and contract termination expenses. The decline in net income of $200 million, or $2.13 per diluted share, was primarily due to the impact of the non-cash impairment charges and the revenue declines, which were partially offset by lower volume-related expenses as well as cost containment initiatives, including restructuring actions. Full reconciliations of GAAP results to the Company’s non-GAAP adjusted measures for all reported periods appear in the tables to this press release.
Business Segment Discussion
The following discussion of second quarter operating results focuses on revenue and adjusted EBITDA for each of the Company’s segments.
The Company’s franchised system, which included 7,500 rooms transferred from the hotel management segment related to the CorePoint Lodging asset sales, remained flat globally. Excluding the transfer, franchised net rooms declined 50 basis points globally, reflecting the Company’s removal of approximately 9,000 non-compliant master franchise rooms in China.
RevPAR declined 59% globally, or 53% on a comparable basis, due to the impact of COVID-19 on travel demand. In the U.S., RevPAR declined 52%, or 49% on a comparable basis, and internationally RevPAR declined 76%, or 66% on a comparable basis.
Revenues decreased $149 million compared to second quarter 2019 reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on travel demand globally, while a decline in adjusted EBITDA of $79 million was partially mitigated by lower volume-related expenses as well as cost containment initiatives.
The Company’s managed system decreased 11% globally primarily reflecting the transfer of 7,500 rooms to the hotel franchising segment as a result of CorePoint Lodging asset sales. Excluding the transfer of rooms to the hotel franchising segment, the Company’s managed system grew 1%, reflecting 13% growth internationally, partially offset by a 3% decline in the U.S. primarily due to the loss of rooms that were previously covered by unprofitable hotel management guarantees.
RevPAR declined 69% globally, or 63% on a comparable basis, primarily reflecting a 68% decline in the U.S., or 63% on a comparable basis, and a 72% decline internationally, or 60% on a comparable basis.
Revenues decreased $125 million compared to the prior-year period primarily due to $94 million of lower cost- reimbursement revenues, which have no impact on adjusted EBITDA. Absent cost-reimbursements, revenues declined $31 million due to the unfavorable impact of COVID-19 on travel demand globally, while adjusted EBITDA declined $20 million as the RevPAR impacts were partially mitigated by lower volume-related expenses as well as cost containment initiatives.
Development
As of June 30, 2020, the Company’s hotel system of over 9,000 properties and 813,000 rooms remained flat year-over-year. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company opened 62 new hotels totaling 5,700 rooms, a year-over-year decline of 65% as new construction openings were delayed and conversion volumes were lower.
As expected, the Company’s global retention rate over the last twelve months declined to 93.7% compared to 95.2% during the same period last year due to the Company’s removal of approximately 9,000 non-compliant master franchise rooms in China, as previously disclosed.
The Company’s development pipeline consisted of over 1,300 hotels and approximately 180,000 rooms, a 4% year-over-year room decline, or a 5% decline sequentially, as a result of softer sales activity in the second quarter due to travel restrictions, increased hurdle rates and a more conservative probability factor applied to projects in the pipeline which have not yet secured financing. Approximately 64% of the Company’s development pipeline is international and 76% is new construction, of which 34% have broken ground.
Impairment Charge
The continued disruption to the travel industry resulting from COVID-19 prompted the Company to perform an evaluation and comparison of the carrying value of its assets to their fair value. As a result of this evaluation, the Company recorded a net impairment charge of $206 million ($159 million, net of tax) during the second quarter of 2020 primarily related to the La Quinta tradename. The future cash flows expected to be generated from the La Quinta tradename have not changed materially; rather, the impairment charge was principally attributable to a higher discount rate primarily resulting from increased share price volatility, consistent with the lodging sector and broader equity markets.
Restructuring Charge
In an effort to mitigate the revenue declines resulting from COVID-19 and to further position itself for growth during the recovery period, the Company undertook various restructuring actions that resulted in a charge of $16 million ($13 million, net of tax) during the second quarter. This charge is comprised of $11 million for severance and related benefit costs resulting from the elimination of approximately 180 positions and $5 million of lease-related costs. In combination with the Company’s first quarter COVID-19 related restructuring charge, the Company has now reduced approximately 440 positions and expects to realize $50 million to $55 million of annual savings as a result of these actions.
Cash
During the second quarter of 2020, the Company’s cash balance decreased $85 million to $664 million. The impact of the Company’s franchisee fee deferral program was approximately $67 million during the second quarter. In addition, the Company made $28 million of special-item cash outlays, including restructuring payments, during the second quarter.
Dividends
The Company paid common stock dividends of $8 million, or $0.08 per share, in the second quarter of 2020.
Outlook
The Company’s ability to assess the impact of COVID-19 on its full-year financial results continues to be limited due to the uncertainty in travel demand during the remainder of 2020.
Conference Call Information
Wyndham Hotels will hold a conference call with investors to discuss the Company’s results and outlook on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Listeners can access the webcast live through the Company’s website at www.investor.wyndhamhotels.com. The conference call may also be accessed by dialing 866
342-8591 and providing the passcode “Wyndham”. Listeners are urged to call at least five minutes prior to the scheduled start time. An archive of this webcast will be available on the website for approximately 90 days beginning at noon ET on July 29, 2020. A telephone replay will be available for approximately ten days beginning at noon ET on July 29, 2020 at 800 839-5484.
Presentation of Financial Information
Financial information discussed in this press release includes non-GAAP measures, which include or exclude certain items. These non-GAAP measures differ from reported GAAP results and are intended to illustrate what management believes are relevant period-over-period comparisons and are helpful to investors as an additional tool for further understanding and assessing the Company’s ongoing operating performance. The Company uses these measures internally to assess its operating performance, both absolutely and in comparison to other companies, and to make day to day operating decisions, including in the evaluation of selected compensation decisions. Exclusion of items in the Company’s non-GAAP presentation should not be considered an inference that these items are unusual, infrequent or non-recurring. Full reconciliations of GAAP results to the comparable non-GAAP measures for the reported periods appear in the financial tables section of this press release.
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with over 9,000 hotels across approximately 90 countries on six continents. Through its network of 813,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 20 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services. The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers 84 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com. The Company may use its website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Disclosures of this nature will be included on the Company’s website in the Investors section, which can currently be accessed at www.investor.wyndhamhotels.com. Accordingly, investors should monitor this section of the Company’s website in addition to following the Company’s press releases, filings submitted with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any public conference calls or webcasts.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws, including statements related to Wyndham Hotels’ current views and expectations with respect to its future performance and operations, including revenues, earnings, cash flow and other financial and operating measures and dividends, restructuring charges and statements related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Forward- looking statements include those that convey management’s expectations as to the future based on plans, estimates and projections at the time Wyndham Hotels makes the statements and may be identified by words such as “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “goal,” “future,” “outlook,” “guidance,” “target,” “estimate,” “projection” and similar words or expressions, including the negative version of such words and expressions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Wyndham Hotels to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, general economic conditions; the continuation or worsening of the effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, its scope, duration and impact on the Company’s business operations, financial results, cash flows and liquidity, as well as the impact on the Company’s franchisees and property owners, guests and team members, the hospitality industry and overall demand for travel; the success of the Company’s mitigation efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; the Company’s performance in any recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; the performance of financial and credit markets; the economic environment for the hospitality industry; operating risks associated with the hotel franchising and management businesses; the Company’s relationships with franchisees and property owners; the impact of war, terrorist activity or political strife; concerns with or threats of pandemics, contagious diseases or health epidemics, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and any resurgence of the virus and actions governments, businesses and individuals take in response to the pandemic, including stay-in-place directives and other travel restrictions; risks related to the acquisition of La Quinta and the Company’s relationship with CorePoint Lodging; the Company’s ability to satisfy obligations and agreements under its outstanding indebtedness, including the payment of principal and interest and compliance with covenants thereunder; risks related to the Company’s ability to obtain financing and the terms of such financing, including access to liquidity and capital as a result of COVID-19; and the restrictions on share repurchases or the Company’s ability and plans to pay dividends including the timing and amount of any future dividends, as well as the risks described in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise.
As travelers consider summer stays, Wyndham launches new ad campaign with promotion inspiring future trips, reminding travelers: chances are, you’re only 10 minutes from a hotel by Wyndham
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (July 23, 2020) – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with 9,300 hotels across approximately 90 countries, is inspiring travelers to book their next trip with its ‘Stay Two Nights, Earn a Free Night’ promotion, offering Wyndham Rewards members a free night – in the form of 7,500 bonus Wyndham Rewards points – when they stay two consecutive nights or more, now through September 10, 2020. The promotion is featured in Wyndham’s latest advertising campaign, reminding travelers that no matter what they’re checking out this summer, a hotel they can count on is about ten minutes away.
Guests who are members of the free-to-join Wyndham Rewards program can book a stay of two consecutive nights or more at www.WyndhamRewards.com/freenight to earn a one-time 7,500 points bonus – enough for a free night at thousands of hotels – upon the completion of their stay. Stays must be booked directly with Wyndham Rewards from July 16 through September 8, 2020 and completed by September 10, 2020. The 7,500 bonus points are additional to any points normally earned for the stay.
“With everyday travelers out there traveling, and vacationers gearing up for road trips this summer and fall, Wyndham is reminding every kind of traveler that our hotels are open, ready to welcome them, and within reach,” said Sheila Schottland, vice president of Brand Marketing at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “This promotion, along with our latest ad campaign, offers travelers a chance to consider where their next stay will take them – whether it is a quick car trip to reconnect with their family or a longer vacation to get away from it all – and makes it that much more rewarding with enough Wyndham Rewards bonus points for a free night stay towards future trips.”
Summer travel “intenders” – those who are considering a drive-to summer trip in the coming weeks – can also find the offer promoted in a new advertising campaign. Focused on engaging everyday travelers at the moment they’re looking to book a hotel stay, the campaign builds upon the Company’s previous “10 Minutes from a Hotel by Wyndham” spot. It reminds travelers that with over 6,000 hotels in the U.S., whatever it is they’re checking out in their travels, they can confidently check-in to a hotel by Wyndham. It is currently running across digital channels focused on targeting travelers who are looking to get back out on the road, supported through television, digital video, streaming radio, social media, email, direct response channels, and various website channels.
As the travel landscape evolves in the wake of COVID-19, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and its brands are committed to the health and safety of guests and team members. The vast majority of the Company’s hotels remain open and are welcoming guests with flexible booking policies and enhanced health and safety protocols through Wyndham’s Count on UsSM initiative. Learn more at www.wyndhamhotels.com/count-on-us.
The ‘Stay Two Nights, Earn One Free’ promotion is available at participating Wyndham hotels. Guests must be members of Wyndham Rewards, which is free to join. To register, book a stay or view full terms and conditions, visit www.WyndhamRewards.com/freenight.
About Wyndham Rewards
Named the number one hotel rewards program by readers of USA TODAY, Wyndham Rewards® is the world’s most generous rewards program with more than 30,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide. Designed for the everyday traveler, members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and may redeem points for a wide-range of rewards, including free nights at any of approximately 9,300 hotels or tens of thousands of vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally through affiliation with Wyndham Destinations (NYSE: WYND) and others. Wyndham Rewards has 83 million enrolled members around the globe. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com. You’ve earned this. ®
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by number of properties with approximately 9,300 hotels across approximately 90 countries on six continents. Through its network of over 831,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 20 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services, with approximately 400 properties under management. The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers approximately 81 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.
World’s largest hotel franchising company drives expansion across the Indian subcontinent
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (July 7, 2020) – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with 9,300 hotels across approximately 90 countries, today unveiled plans to open its first hotels in Nepal and Bhutan, while also announcing the recent opening of the Hawthorn Suites® by Wyndham Dwarka—the first Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham hotel in India.
All three hotels are part of Wyndham’s larger efforts to significantly expand its footprint across the Indian subcontinent and are complemented by additional properties in the region that either recently opened or are slated to open over the next nine months. Wyndham is currently one of the largest international hotel companies in India.
Nikhil Sharma, area director, Eurasia, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said, “Over the last few years, Bhutan and Nepal have seen a steady increase in tourism, making them ideal destinations for us to expand into. What’s more, they perfectly complement the opportunity and uptick of the midscale market in India, which we’ve strengthened today with the introduction of our Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham brand. As the Indian subcontinent continues making waves in the hospitality industry, Wyndham remains laser focused on tapping into its key markets and fulfilling our mission of making hotel travel possible for all.”
Upcoming hotel openings include:
Ramada by Wyndham Valley Thimpu (Bhutan)
Marking Wyndham’s arrival into Bhutan, the Ramada® by Wyndham Valley Thimpu will offer 41 spacious rooms, including many with panoramic views of the magnificent Himalayas. Tucked in the Thimpu valley by the free-flowing Raidāk River, its location will provide easy access to special events at the Tasichho Dzong, the giant statue of Buddha Dordenma, and the sacred Memorial Chorten site. The hotel is expected to open in March 2021.
Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu Thamel(Nepal) Wyndham’s first entry in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, the Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu Thamel is situated in the Thamel district in the capital city of Kathmandu, which has been the centre of the tourist industry for over four decades. The hotel will offer 90 tastefully furnished guest rooms with a range of amenities to make for a comfortable stay and a rooftop with a scenic view of the city. The hotel is expected to open in August 2020.
Ramada by Wyndham Mussoorie Mall Road (India) Spread across one acre of land, the Ramada by Wyndham Mussoorie Mall Road will offer 45 rooms all with key necessities for guests to enjoy their time. The hotel will be located at one of the most admired hill station destinations in Northern India, also referred to as the Queen of the Hills, popular amongst leisure as well as business travellers. The hotel is expected to open later this month.
Recent 2020 openings include:
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Dwarka (India)
Marking the arrival of the Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham brand in the Indian subcontinent, the Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Dwarka is an eco-spiritual resort offering 202 spacious guest rooms and is in close proximity to Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka Beach and Gomti Ghat. The property, which opened in April 2020, offers expansive outdoor access with an opportunity to focus on wellness and exploring nature.
Ramada by Wyndham Aligarh GT Road (India) A new-construction hotel situated in Aligarh, in the western region of Uttar Pradesh state, the Ramada by Wyndham Aligarh GT Road opened in January 2020 and features 60 contemporary guest rooms, expansive lawn space, and a plethora of amenities. Situated in an ideal location with easy access to the Aligarh Junction Railway Station and Aligarh Bus Stand, the hotel makes a great home base for travel throughout the area.
Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Pune Hinejwadi (India) Situated along the Pune Bangalore Highway, only an hour’s drive away from popular weekend getaways like Lonavala, Khandala, and Lavasa, is the Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Pune Hinejwadi. The hotel, which opened in March 2020, hosts 172 spacious guest rooms and offers an opportunity to explore majestic nearby attractions and outdoor adventures such as the Aga Khan Palace.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ properties around the world participate in Wyndham Rewards®, the world’s most generous rewards program with more than 30,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. Designed for the everyday traveler, members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and may redeem points for a wide range of rewards, including free nights, gift cards, merchandise and more.
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with 9,300 hotels across approximately 90 countries on six continents. Through its network of over 828,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 20 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel Inn & Suites®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, The Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services. The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers 83 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.
Members can now unlock new levels (status) after as few as three nights, plus earn up to 10,000 Wyndham Rewards bonus points over five stays
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (June 30, 2020) – Wyndham Rewards®, the world’s most generous rewards program, today announced it is relaxing requirements for earning Member Levels (status) in 2020, reducing the number of nights members need to stay by 40 percent.
The relaxed requirements build on earlier efforts by Wyndham to help its members amid COVID-19, such as extending the expiration of any previously earned Member Levels through the end of 2021 and pausing points expiration through September 30, 2020. They also complement Wyndham’s recently unveiled summer promotion, which offers members 2,000 Wyndham Rewards bonus points with every qualified stay, up to a maximum of 10,000 points over five stays.
“Throughout the pandemic, we’ve put our members first, providing flexibility while protecting their points and their benefits,” said Eliot Hamlisch, executive vice president, Loyalty and Revenue Optimization, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “Now with travel picking up, and hotels adopting our new Count On Us health and safety protocols, we’re taking the additional step of easing requirements for our Member Levels. It’s one more way we’re letting members know, when they’re ready to travel, Wyndham is ready to welcome them.”
Reach New Levels with Fewer Stays Wyndham Rewards’ Member Levels are already among the most attainable in the industry and now, attaining new levels is even easier in 2020. Members will unlock Gold when they stay three qualifying nights, Platinum when they stay nine qualifying nights and Diamond when they stay 24 qualifying nights. Only stays in 2020 will count towards the new requirements, including those from earlier this year, which will be retroactively applied. Member Level benefits vary by level and range from perks like late check-out, preferred rooms and points accelerators to suite upgrades, welcome amenities and more.
Earn 2,000 Bonus Points with Every Stay Through July 27, 2020, Wyndham Rewards members can earn 2,000 bonus points on every qualified stay, up to a total of 10,000 points over five stays, when they register ahead of completion of their first stay at www.wyndhamrewards.com/bonus. Bonus points are in addition to any points normally earned with no minimum night requirements. Stays must be booked directly with Wyndham Rewards, which includes booking via the Wyndham Rewards website, mobile app, member services or onsite at any participating hotel, among other options. Stays must be completed by July 28, 2020.
Count On Ussm to Put Safety First Wyndham and its hotels, the overwhelming majority of which are open and welcoming travelers, are committed to the health and safety of guests and team members. Last month, the Company launched its Count on Us initiative, a new multi-faceted effort designed to further elevate health and safety protocols at all its hotels in the wake of COVID-19. Grounded in guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the initiative requires hotels in the U.S. to use hospital-grade, EPA-approved disinfectants in all public spaces and guestrooms. Guests can also expect the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by hotel staff, updated operational protocols to allow for easier social distancing and readily available, alcohol-based hand sanitizer in lobbies and guestrooms. Learn more at www.wyndhamhotels.com/count-on-us.
For more information on the above promotional offers, including full terms and conditions, visit www.wyndhamrewards.com.
About Wyndham Rewards Named the number one hotel rewards program by readers of USA TODAY, Wyndham Rewards® is the world’s most generous rewards program with more than 30,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide. Designed for the everyday traveler, members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and may redeem points for a wide-range of rewards, including free nights at any of approximately 9,300 hotels or tens of thousands of vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally through affiliation with Wyndham Destinations (NYSE: WYND) and others. Wyndham Rewards has 83 million enrolled members around the globe. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com. You’ve earned this.®
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with 9,300 hotels across approximately 90 countries on six continents. Through its network of over 828,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 20 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel Inn & Suites®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, The Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services. The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers 83 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.
Becomes first global hotel company to establish a presence in Awashima and Nagaizumi, both emerging destinations for local and international travelers
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (June 17, 2020) – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,300 hotels across 90 countries, today announced the continued expansion of its portfolio in Japan, converting two hotels to its Wyndham Grand® and Wyndham Garden® brands: the 60-room, all suite, Wyndham Grand Awashima and 95-room, all suite, Wyndham Garden Nagaizumi.
Both hotels, which have recently undergone upgrades, mark the debut of their brands in the country and make Wyndham the first global hotel company to expand into the emerging destinations of Awashima and Nagaizumi. They also further elevate Wyndham’s larger portfolio across the Asia Pacific region, which consists of more than 1,700 hotels across 12 brands including Ramada® by Wyndham, Days Inn® by Wyndham and TRYP® by Wyndham, among others.
“These newest openings are indicative of the long-term potential we see in Japan and reinforce Wyndham’s continued commitment to bringing our globally recognized brands to key markets around the world. Awashima and Nagaizumi are both beautiful destinations with a wealth of natural and historical wonders for visitors to explore, making them the perfect addition to our growing global portfolio and our award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program,” said Joon Aun Ooi, president, Asia Pacific, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
“The introduction of the Wyndham Grand and Wyndham Garden brands in Japan further reinforces our commitment to making hotel travel possible for all. We believe travelers will continue to seek out unique experiences and destinations, and our expanding presence in Japan will enable us to welcome new generations of guests to enjoy all that Wyndham has to offer,” said Andy Flaig, head of development, South East Asia and Pacific Rim, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
Wyndham Grand Awashima, formerly known as the Awashima Hotel, is a Mediterranean-style resort hotel located on the tranquil island of Awashima. Set against the backdrop of Mount Fuji, the property boasts 60 suites with spectacular ocean views. Located away from the hustle and bustle of the city, guests will enjoy an array of facilities, including an outdoor onsen, a concert hall and a wide range of dining options, including restaurants that specialize in local dishes using fresh ingredients from Shizuoka Prefecture.
Wyndham Garden Nagaizumi, formerly known as Nagaizumi Garden, features 95 suites with traditional Japanese or contemporary styles, all equipped with kitchenettes. Situated on the gentle slopes of Mount Ashitaka, guests are surrounded by panoramic views of Numazu City and Suruga Bay. Enveloped in lush greenery, visitors can bathe in the Momozawa natural onsen, which contains vanadium from Mount Fuji, while travelers with pets will be delighted to know that the hotel is pet-friendly and even has a dog café, Blue Bird.
All of Wyndham’s hotels and resorts in Japan participate in Wyndham Rewards®, the world’s most generous rewards program with thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide. Designed for the everyday traveler, members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and may redeem points for a wide range of rewards, including free nights, gift cards, merchandise and more.
Note: Select photos of the above hotels may be downloaded here.
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with 9,300 hotels across approximately 90 countries on six continents. Through its network of over 828,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 20 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel Inn & Suites®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, The Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services. The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers 83 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.
About Wyndham Grand Travel is the best excuse to enjoy the grand things in life. With locations in some of the world’s most sought after vacation destinations – including Shanghai, Istanbul, Doha, Salzburg and Orlando – Wyndham Grand® hotels transform ordinary moments into unforgettable experiences. Decidedly not stuffy, but approachable by design, this upper-upscale hotel brand helps travelers make every moment count. If you are interested in developing a Wyndham Grand hotel, please visit development.wyndhamhotels.com.
About Wyndham Garden Travel isn’t always easy, but that’s where Wyndham Garden® comes in. Designed with a lens on the little details, Wyndham Garden offers guests as a smart and nurturing hotel experience to help them travel at ease. Hotels include flexible meeting spaces, inviting lobbies, welcoming lounges and complementary high-speed internet access. With a strong and growing footprint around the world, including many hotels conveniently located near major airports, Wyndham Garden brings a carefree convenience and peace of mind to both business and leisure travelers escaping the hustle and bustle. If you are interested in developing a Wyndham Garden hotel, please visit development.wyndhamhotels.com.
Ongoing benefits include the ability to earn and redeem on stays, 1:1 point transfer and status match
Parsippany, N.J. (May 21, 2020) – Wyndham Rewards®, the world’s most generous rewards program, today announced the extension through 2021 of its partnership with Caesars Entertainment and Caesars Rewards®, the world’s leading casino and entertainment loyalty program. The collaboration delivers industry leading perks for members of both programs across Wyndham’s approximately 9,300 hotels and more than 30 world-class Caesars destinations.
Through the affiliation, Wyndham Rewards members have the ability to earn and redeem points at participating Caesars Rewards destinations across the U.S. and Canada when they book direct through Wyndham channels. They also have the option to transfer Wyndham Rewards points to Caesars Rewards credits, or vice versa, at a 1:1 ratio, up to 30,000 points per year. Additionally, Platinum and Diamond members of both programs may match to the corresponding level of their non-primary program—Platinum to Platinum, Diamond to Diamond—while Caesars Rewards Seven Stars members may match to Wyndham Rewards Diamond.
“As the travel landscape continues to evolve, it’s more important than ever that we continue to connect our members with best-in-class partners and benefits while letting them know that when they’re ready to travel, we’ll be ready to welcome them,” said Eliot Hamlisch, executive vice president of loyalty and revenue optimization for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “Access to Caesars Rewards benefits provides our members exciting and diverse gaming, hospitality and entertainment options.”
“Caesars Rewards continues to set the standard for loyalty within gaming and entertainment, including collaboration with likeminded partners to further elevate member benefits,” said Chris Holdren, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Caesars Entertainment. “With Wyndham Rewards, our members are able to make their travels even more rewarding, thanks to Wyndham’s unparalleled portfolio of properties and generous rewards.”
Wyndham Rewards champions the everyday traveler with a program that is simple, flexible and generous. Those values become even more important in times of uncertainty, and as members consider future plans in the wake of COVID-19, Wyndham continues to update its policies worldwide to provide increased travel flexibility—relaxing cancellation policies, extending membership benefits and delaying points expiration.
For more information on the partnership between Wyndham Rewards and Caesars Rewards, including details on how to book, transfer points or status match, visit www.wyndhamrewards.com/caesars.
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About Wyndham Rewards
Named the number one hotel rewards program by readers of USA TODAY, Wyndham Rewards® is the world’s most generous rewards program with more than 30,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide. Designed for the everyday traveler, members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and may redeem points for a wide-range of rewards, including free nights at any of approximately 9,300 hotels or tens of thousands of vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally through affiliation with Wyndham Destinations (NYSE: WYND) and others. Wyndham Rewards has 83 million enrolled members around the globe. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com. You’ve earned this.®
About Caesars Entertainment Corporation
Caesars Entertainment Corporation (CEC) (Nasdaq: CZR) is the world’s most diversified casino-entertainment provider and the most geographically diverse U.S. casino-entertainment company. CEC is mainly comprised of the following three entities: the majority owned operating subsidiary Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, wholly owned Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties and Caesars Growth Properties, in which we hold a variable economic interest. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, 75 years ago, CEC has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions and its portfolio of subsidiaries now operate 49 casinos in 13 U.S. states and five countries. CEC’s resorts operate primarily under the Caesars®, Harrah’s® and Horseshoe® brand names. CEC’s portfolio also includes the London Clubs International Limited family of casinos. CEC is focused on building loyalty and value with its guests through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. CEC is committed to environmental sustainability and energy conservation and recognizes the importance of being a responsible steward of the environment. For more information, please visit www.caesars.com.
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Economy and midscale lodging leader lays foundation for long-term growth, welcoming nearly a dozen new-construction hotels in Q1 and continuing to grow its new-build pipeline for the future
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (May 19,2020) – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:WH) – the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,300 hotels across 90 countries – continues forging ahead with new-construction growth, opening 11 newly built hotels across the U.S. in the first quarter and breaking ground on a number of hotels in its new-construction pipeline. In the same period, the Company executed agreements for more than 25 future new-construction hotels in the U.S., further expanding its pipeline and planting roots for travel recovery in the long term.
Welcoming New Openings
The Company’s 11 new-construction openings in the U.S. represent nearly 1,000 rooms. The recent openings, including properties across its La Quinta® by Wyndham, Wingate by Wyndham®, Days Inn® by Wyndham, and Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham® brands, are situated in destinations primed for domestic, drive-to leisure travel such as Miramar Beach, Fla.; Houston, Texas; Spokane, Wash.; and Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
Laying Foundation for the Future
Developers are also starting construction on hotels in the pipeline, reinforcing optimism for the industry’s recovery. Developers for Wyndham-branded hotels broke ground on approximately 10 new hotels in the U.S. year-to-date, including a Microtel hotel in Hot Springs, Ark.; a La Quinta hotel in San Antonio, Texas; an extended-stay Hawthorn Suites hotel in Oklahoma City, Okla.; and a Trademark Collection by Wyndham® hotel in Leavenworth, Kan.
“Despite a rapidly changing landscape for hotel developers around the world, a number of our owners are pressing forward with new-construction projects in the economy and midscale segments, reinforcing our overall confidence in the long-term viability of our industry,” said Krishna Paliwal, head of Architecture, Design and Construction for Wyndham. “New-construction growth, however gradual, represents our optimism for the future of travel. Not only do our highly recognizable brands provide significant value to hotel owners who join the Wyndham family, especially during difficult times, but they also represent the consistent, trusted and affordable experience travelers will be seeking now more than ever before.”
Igniting the Conversion Engine
Though construction has generally slowed across the industry, Wyndham continues to welcome new projects while igniting its powerful conversion engine, which is fueled by the strong value proposition across its portfolio of well-known brands. In the first quarter, Wyndham’s conversion pipeline increased 8% globally year-over-year. The Company has a proven track record of growing net rooms during lodging cycle downturns and, with over 15,000 independent economy and midscale hotels in the U.S., converting independent hotels to Wyndham brands remains an important source of consistent rooms growth for the Company through both up and down cycles.
Well-Positioned for Recovery
The impact of COVID-19 continues to rapidly evolve and many factors remain uncertain. As the pandemic begins to abate in the U.S., Wyndham’s existing franchisees are likely to be well-positioned for recovery. The Company operates a nearly 90% drive-to business in the U.S. with a concentration in the select-service chain scale segments – which have outperformed higher end full service hotels during the pandemic – and over 95% of its domestic guests originate within the U.S., making them less reliant on air travel.
Wyndham also recently announced “Count on UsSM,” a new long-term, multi-faceted initiative to build confidence among guests and to support franchisees as it prepares to welcome travelers back to its U.S. hotels. The initiative will immediately focus on further elevating health and safety protocols at Wyndham hotels in the wake of COVID-19, shoring up critical supply chains and introducing new standards, training and guidelines grounded in guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Wyndham has expanded its relationship with industry leader Ecolab on requiring consistent use of Ecolab’s EPA-approved disinfectants in guestrooms and public spaces nationwide.
Those interested in developing a hotel under one of Wyndham’s brands may visit development.wyndhamhotels.com for additional information.
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with 9,300 hotels across approximately 90 countries on six continents. Through its network of over 828,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 20 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel Inn & Suites®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, The Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services. The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers 83 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.
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