First-of-its kind experience comes as over 80% of U.S. travelers plan to take a road trip
this year, helping them seamlessly create, customize and book multi-hotel itineraries
PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 23, 2022 – Queue up the playlist and pack those snacks because planning the ultimate summer road trip is now easier than ever. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with over 8,900 hotels across more than 95 countries, today announced the launch of Road Trip Planner, the latest digital innovation to its award-winning mobile app. A first-of-its-kind offering from a major hospitality company, the interactive booking tool the road trip discovery, planning and booking process, allowing travelers to seamlessly plot their next trip in minutes. It’s The Easiest Way to Book & GoSM.
Road trips became the go-to vacation for families amid the pandemic and continue to be the preferred way to travel for many this summer travel season. In fact, recent research commissioned by Wyndham for its American Road Trip Index revealed that while over 80% of travelers plan to take a road trip this year, with two-thirds (66%) feeling overwhelmed by trying to figure out where to stay.
“With thousands of hotels across our country’s highways and byways and 22 trusted brands, there is no company better positioned to help travelers experience the road trip of their dreams,” said Jessica Davidson, senior vice president, digital, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “With Road Trip Planner, travelers enter a few details about the trip and instantly get an itinerary with all their hotel stops, bookable in one single transaction. It not only eases the stresses of travel planning but ensures the journey is as exciting as the destination.”
A Seamless Solution for Road Trippers
Created to help travelers both at home and on the go, Road Trip Planner is the latest addition to the ever-evolving Wyndham Hotels & Resorts digital platform, further demonstrating the company’s commitment to delivering value to its hotel owners and guests. While guests enjoy a seamless planning and booking experience, owners benefit from direct bookings that are encouraged through the feature’s ability to book multiple hotel stays at once. Key to the design is functionality that enables guests to plan, create and book trips that work for them—from the family looking to head out west and visit our nation’s parks this summer, to long-haul truckers regularly making their way up and down the coast.
Among Road Trip Planner’s key features:
Custom Itineraries – Customize your route from A to B and discover what you love in between. Tailor itineraries filtering by driving time or distance, preferred brands, amenities, pet-friendly locations and more.
Recommended Routes – Leave the planning to us. Map a route with preferred stops or discover a recommended route based on your travel preferences.
Details at Your Fingertips: Stay connected throughout your journey. View multiple reservations on one screen, look up key amenities and share on-property requests ahead of time.
Pay Your Way – Pay in the way that works best for you including Wyndham Rewards points, cash or mix of the two.
Added Davidson, “Built upon the success and strong adoption of our mobile app, Road Trip Planner is the perfect complement to Lightning Book®, which is our Fastest Way to Book DirectSM and enables guests to reserve a hotel in just a few taps. Now, whatever your travel preferences—be it booking last minute or planning far ahead—Wyndham has you covered. Summer, here we come!”
Understanding the Road Tripper Mindset
Earlier this month, Wyndham teamed up with Wakefield Research to commission its first-ever American Road Trip Index, uncovering key insights around travelers upcoming road trip plans while tapping into pop-culture preferences.
Among some of the top insights from travelers:
Pete is the popular pick: 56% would choose to road trip with Pete Davidson over Kim Kardashian, with Gen Z (60%), Gen X (58%) and Boomers (58%) leading the charge. For Millennials (53%), Kim is still queen.
Adele rocks the radio: 34% put her at the top of their perfect road trip playlist, followed by Queen (28%), Bon Jovi (26%) and Bruce Springsteen (24%).
Take away the TV: 59% would sooner give up a month of TV before giving up a week of vacation, with Millennials (67%) and Gen X (66%) being the most eager to trade in their TV remotes.
Apologies to the in-laws: Asked to pick their top 3 road trip companions, 93% would rather road trip with someone other than them, including a best friend (80%), a sibling (61%) or even a member of congress (9%).
Food is the focus: 1-in-2 (50%) put trying a new restaurant among their road trip travel plans while over a third (34%) are looking forward to exploring a small town.
Going the distance: Road trippers plan to travel on average over 700 miles on their next trip, with over a quarter (27%) planning to travel 1,000 miles or more.
Grabbing the wheel: 53% prefer to be the driver over the passenger, with men (73%) overwhelmingly preferring to drive vs. women.
Wyndham’s Road Trip Planner is available today as part of the award-winning Wyndham Hotels & Resorts mobile app. Travelers can download the app via the Apple App and Google Play stores. Wyndham’s mobile app offers mobile check-in and checkout, innovative in-stay features, best-in-class design, personalized experiences, Wyndham Rewards® account management, gamification and more. Users can also take advantage of unique features like Lightning Book®, which makes it easy to book the nearest Wyndham hotel for the night.
Between May 26 to May 30, 2022, members can take advantage of Wyndham’s latest flash sale offer – 8,000 bonus points – redeemable for a $25 Visa prepaid card when they book two-nights or more through Wyndham’s mobile app. Simply tap the Mobile App Flash Sale offer on the app’s home screen to access the offer. Membership in Wyndham Rewards, which is free to join, is required, and non-members can quickly enroll as part of the booking process. A two-night minimum stay is required and stays must be completed by June 30, 2022. For full terms and conditions, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com/app.
Survey Methodology Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 1,000 Nationally Representative U.S. adults 18+, between May 11th to May 15th, 2022, using an email invitation and an online survey. The survey was weighted to ensure accurate representation of US adults ages 18+. The margin of error for the study is 3.1%.
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with over 8,900 hotels across over 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of over 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 22 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers approximately 94 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.
Company Releases 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance Report and is Recognized by DiversityInc and Forbes for its Dedication to Diversity
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (May 4, 2022) – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with over 8,900 hotels across over 95 countries, released its 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report highlighting its dedication to operating in a socially, ethically and environmentally responsible way. These commitments are underscored by recent accolades, including recognition by DiversityInc, which highlighted Wyndham as a company with leading diversity practices for 2022, and Forbes as one of The Best Employers for Diversity 2022.
“The significance of our Company’s vision – to be the world’s leading hotel company by delivering the best value to owners and guests – is more important than ever. We believe as the world’s largest hotel franchisor, we have the responsibility to strengthen the communities in which we serve as we protect the environment for future generations while continuing the growth and success of our global franchise system,” said Geoffrey A. Ballotti, president and chief executive officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “We have witnessed the incredible resiliency of our owners, guests, and team members during these past two years. And as people return to traveling in record numbers, we look forward to welcoming them to Wyndham where we have a brand for every guest as we work to continue to advance our values-driven culture.”
Focus on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Deeply committed to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across the organization, Wyndham believes that diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences help drive the company’s success and was recognized by DiversityInc as a company with leading diversity practices for 2022. The Company was also recently recognized by Forbes as one of The Best Employers for Diversity 2022, and for the fourth consecutive year, Wyndham received another perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index measuring LGBTQ workplace equality.
Wyndham continuously infuses different perspectives into the workplace that reflect its diverse guests, customers, and communities around the world and offers enhanced training to address unconscious biases and racism and also foster allyship.
Advancing its commitment to diversity, Wyndham unveiled its innovative “Women Own the Room” program, the first-ever program by a major hotel company specifically targeting women’s advancement in hotel ownership. Women Own the Room is designed to advance and empower women entrepreneurs to break through the predominantly male-dominated hotel industry and is a natural extension of the brand’s commitment to DEI. The program is generating great interest and has proudly awarded new hotel development contracts to women developers for projects in Colorado, Delaware, Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Florida.
“We have created a culture that fosters an inclusive workplace for our team members, where all individuals are treated with respect and can achieve both personal and professional success,” said, Monica Melancon, chief human resource officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
Leadership in Sustainability
Wyndham is committed to protecting the environment and demonstrating leadership in environmental programs, policies, and performance. Accelerating those efforts, the Company announced that hotels across the world will be required, as part of their brand standard compliance, to attain level 1 in the Wyndham Green Program by April 2023. The Wyndham Green Program is a five-level certification program that helps reduce a hotel’s environmental footprint, includes a proprietary environmental management tool that tracks data to help hotels improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, conserve water, and reduce waste while helping drive the owner’s bottom line. Wyndham’s work has been recognized through its participation in CDP’s climate change and water security responses, where it achieved the management band for sustainability performance and disclosure.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts was recognized as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2022 by Newsweek, which honors those with superior environmental and social responsibility practices. The Company remains committed to reducing the energy and carbon footprint of all Wyndham hotels, and continuously evaluates opportunities to increase efficiencies and the usage of renewable energy where feasible. By 2025, the Company has committed to reducing absolute carbon emissions in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 15%, compared to the 2019 baseline, and achieving 100% renewable energy at corporate headquarters, and North American offices. The Company’s corporate headquarters has a Gold LEED EBOM and Energy Star Certification and provides team members with complimentary access to electric vehicle charging stations to encourage more sustainable commuting and increase adoption of zero-emission vehicles.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts prepared its ESG report in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, integrating the recommendations of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). The company obtained third-party assurance over selected data disclosed in this report, as indicated by the 2021 Assurance Statement included in the report. The report covers the performance of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc for the 2021 calendar year and includes the Company’s owned and managed operations, unless otherwise stated, as well as enhanced disclosure around risk management. All financial figures indicated in the report are in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with over 8,900 hotels across over 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of over 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 22 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers approximately 94 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.
Top 10 tips to be featured in brand’s upcoming travel planner designed to help first-time pet parents
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (April 11, 2022) – Do you have the “ulti-mutt” tips for navigating travel with a pup? To celebrate National Pet Day on April 11, Baymont® by Wyndham—the midscale hotel brand known for its “Hometown Hospitality” with more than 500 hotels across North America, nearly two-thirds of which are pet friendly—is launching a nationwide search for the best pup-friendly travel tips. In exchange, 10 pup parents will receive a free weekend hotel stay for two while their tips, and their pups, are featured in an upcoming travel planner helping first-time owners navigate the ins and outs of traveling with a pet.
According to a survey by the ASPCA, more than 23 million American households acquired a pet during the pandemic.[1] Now, many first-time pet owners are figuring out how to travel with their furry friends on their next vacation. Lucky for them, Baymont is here to help make their travel planning experience a little less “ruff.”
“When planning a trip, there are number of things to consider. Add a pet to the mix, especially for the first time, and it may feel a little overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be,” said David Unger, brand leader and vice president of Operations, Baymont by Wyndham. “At Baymont, we want to make travel easy, especially when our furry friends are involved. It’s why we offer no-cost perks like dog treats and water bowls at our front desks. This initiative builds on those efforts, helping ensure our guests – the two or four-legged kind – have a great trip, even before they arrive.”
Amongst all the tips received, Baymont by Wyndham will select the 10 best and feature them in its upcoming pet-friendly travel planner, debuting later this year, alongside a corresponding photo of each winning pup. In exchange for their help, each proud pup’s parent(s) will receive two free nights at the Wyndham Rewards hotel of their choosing, along with a complimentary one-year upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Diamond membership which includes perks like free WiFi, early check-in, late checkout, suite upgrades, rental car upgrades and more.
Think you’ve got what it takes to lead the pack? Parents are invited to submit their best pup-friendly travel tip in 100 words or less, as well as two high-resolution photos of their pup—one headshot and one travel-themed photo—to [email protected]. Submissions will be accepted up until 11:59 PM ET on May 11, 2022. The winning candidates will be selected on or about June 7, 2022.
Baymont is committed to making travel easy for the entire family. Pet-friendly hotels, along with their policies, are easily searchable on www.BaymontInns.com while the brand’s Baymont Buddy program—available at more than 300 locations—lets guests request a complementary water bowl and dog treats upon arrival.
For more information about Baymont’s latest pup-centric program, including official rules, visit www.baymontinns.com/petfriendly.
About Baymont by Wyndham
Good, old-fashioned service never goes out of style, and it’s a stand-out staple at Baymont by Wyndham’s more than 500 midscale hotels throughout North America. Baymont’s signature “hometown hospitality,” which offers guest-centric comforts like friendly service with a smile, fresh chocolate chip cookies at check-in, and free breakfast at every Baymont Breakfast Corner,® is a driving force behind the brand’s ability to triple its system size since being acquired in 2006. Additionally, Wyndham Rewards’ overall share of occupancy for Baymont has grown to nearly one out of every two guests. For more information, visit www.baymontinns.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For development opportunities, visit www.wyndhamdevelopment.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 50,000 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 9,000 hotels or tens of thousands of vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally through affiliation with Wyndham Destinations and others. Wyndham Rewards has over 92 million enrolled members around the globe. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com. You’ve earned this.®
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (March 22, 2022) – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,000 hotels across nearly 95 countries, today unveiled new details about its upcoming economy extended-stay hotel brand. Among them, newly awarded contracts to develop 50 new construction projects with its first two partners: Richmond, Va.-based Sandpiper Hospitality and Dallas-based Gulf Coast Hotel Management.
Operating under the working title “Project ECHO”—an acronym for Economy Hotel Opportunity—the all new-construction brand fills whitespace within the larger Wyndham Hotels & Resorts portfolio while strategically expanding the company into a segment that has seen record growth and resiliency, not just amid the pandemic but throughout the last lodging cycle. Wyndham has been developing the brand since summer 2021.
“Over the last two years, economy extended-stay hotels outperformed all other segments, and in 2021, set new records for occupancy, ADR and RevPAR,” said Geoff Ballotti, president and chief executive officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “Demand for these accommodations only continues to climb—both from guests and developers alike—making now the right time for Wyndham, the definitive leader in the economy segment, to bring our experience and expertise to this high-potential space.”
Economy extended-stay hotels are proven to consistently perform throughout all stages of the lodging cycle and are particularly resilient amid a downturn. During the global pandemic, U.S. RevPAR for the segment grew 8% versus 2019 while the rest of the industry declined 17%. Further, in 2021, the average U.S. occupancy for economy extended-stay hotels was over 78% — 20 points higher than all other U.S. segments combined.
A Developer-Driven Approach Project ECHO was created with the help of a seven-member development council, which consists of some of the largest and most experienced owners and operators currently in the economy extended-stay segment. The council’s insights are being paired with the experience and expertise of Wyndham’s in-house design and construction team. In recent years, the team has spearheaded the creation of La Quinta by Wyndham’s highly successful Del Sol prototype, currently at over 130 hotels with another 56 in its pipeline; and more recently, Microtel by Wyndham’s Moda prototype, which has another 40 hotels under development. At a time when rising construction costs are driving the need for ultra-efficiency, all three prototypes prioritize owner return on investment with an emphasis on value engineering and streamlined operations, helping optimize operating margins on a recurring basis.
“Wyndham not only understands its owners and developers but listens to and acts on their needs” said Carter Rise, chairman and chief executive officer, Sandpiper Lodging Trust. “That commitment, paired with best-in-class design and a deep, fundamental understanding of the economy guest, is a differentiator in our industry and is ultimately why we chose to partner with Wyndham.”
The purpose-built, 124-room Project ECHO prototype requires just under two acres of land, has a highly competitive cost per key, and features multiple characteristics that intentionally separate it from traditional economy brands. Coming in at just over 50,000 square-feet—nearly 74% of which is rentable—individual rooms average 300 square-feet and consist of single and two-queen studio suites with in-suite kitchenettes while efficiently-designed public spaces—a lobby, fitness center and guest laundry—help to limit labor needs.
“From day one, Wyndham has made a point of reaching out and asking, ‘What should be done differently?’ It wasn’t about dictating to us what the brand would be but rather, wanting to understand its potential and how our experience and expertise could best help developers meet their goals,” said Ian McClure, chief executive officer, Gulf Coast Hotel Management. “For us, that went a long way. It showed they’re committed to getting this brand right.”
Strategic Growth via Multi-Unit Operators With 50 hotels already in the initial pipeline—25 each from Sandpiper and Gulf Coast over the next five years—Wyndham is now eyeing additional growth opportunities. The brand expects to open its first hotel in 2023 and is actively talking to additional, multi-unit operators with experience in the segment, a key part of the brand’s growth strategy.
Wyndham intends to be thoughtful with early development partners, prioritizing brand integrity while building a robust multi-year pipeline. To assist qualified developers, the Company has identified possible development markets across the U.S. and will make available various incentives to select early developers. Wyndham is targeting at least 300 hotels over the next ten years in the U.S. with potential for additional growth internationally.
Industry-Leading Support, Experienced Extended-Stay Leadership Recognizing the immense importance of early franchisee success and the unique business model of economy extended-stay, Wyndham has assembled a dedicated leadership and operations support team around Project ECHO, one deeply rooted in experience with extended-stay brands.
Led by Vice President of Operations Dan Leh, a hospitality industry veteran with more than 25 years of extended-stay experience, the team brings extensive expertise across all facets of extended-stay operations, including but not limited to, design and construction, pre-opening operations, sales, revenue management, labor management, owner relations and more. Their efforts are complemented by dedicated Project ECHO sales teams, both at the local and national level, who will focus exclusively on matching hotels with Wyndham’s robust and expanding list of long-term guests across small, mid-size and Fortune 500 businesses.
On a broader scale, Project ECHO enables Wyndham to now offer guests and developers a portfolio of extended-stay offerings. Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, the Company’s existing midscale extended-stay brand, is a pivotal part of the Company’s new dual-brand concept with La Quinta by Wyndham, which continues to see robust interest from developers with 36 hotels currently under development—two of which are being developed by Trusha Patel, inaugural member of Wyndham’s Women Own the Room program.
Additional details around Project ECHO—including the brand’s official name—are slated to be announced when the brand formally launches later this year. For more information, including development opportunities, visit www.projectecho.wyndhamhotels.com.
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,000 hotels across approximately 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of over 810,000 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 22 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 over 92 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.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, including the expected addition of hotels and similar statements concerning possible future results or performance. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future results or performance, speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including the risks described in Wyndham Hotels and Resorts most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any of which could cause actual results or performance to be materially different from the future results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise.
Like others around the world, we are deeply saddened by the crisis developing in Ukraine and our hearts go out to the Ukrainian people. Wyndham is supporting those affected by this humanitarian crisis including:
Donating $100,000 to support the humanitarian relief efforts of Save the Children, which is currently on the ground in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Save the Children aims to reach 3.5 million children and their families with immediate aid and recovery support including food, water, hygiene kits and dignity kits, psychosocial support, safe spaces and cash assistance;
Donating 1 million Wyndham Rewards points to Save the Children’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund;
Creating a Wyndham Rewards point donation program benefiting Save the Children’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, which enables 92 million Wyndham Rewards members, our franchisees and team members to donate points to support humanitarian efforts. The Company will match donations up to 10 million points;
Donating Wyndham profits from business operations in Russia to humanitarian relief efforts; and
Establishing a Wyndham Global Workplace Giving Campaign where franchisees and team members can donate directly to Save the Children’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund and help send much needed hygiene products to those in need.
We continue to monitor the situation as it evolves. While Wyndham does not maintain a corporate office or hotel management presence in Russia, we are working with our team members in the broader region to support the Ukrainian people and our Ukrainian franchisees and hope for a peaceful resolution to this crisis.
Innovative Program Helps Advance and Empower Women Entrepreneurs Through Hotel Ownership
PARSIPPANY, N.J., March 8, 2022 – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,000 hotels across nearly 95 countries – announced today the addition of two new women hoteliers as part of the brand’s “Women Own the Room” initiative, on the heels of last month’s first two signed agreements. Designed to advance and empower women entrepreneurs to break through the predominantly male-dominated hotel industry, the “Women Own the Room” program provides assistance with financial solutions, personalized operational support, and networking and educational opportunities. These impressive new program members will be opening new hotels in Dover, Del and Warrenton, Va.
“Women want to own and develop hotels – the momentum we’re seeing proves it – they’ve just lacked trusted partners and advocates who will help guide them in their pursuits,” said Lisa Checchio, Chief Marketing Officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “The mentorship opportunities and resources Women Own the Room provides are invaluable and will better inspire and prepare future generations of women hoteliers.”
Wyndham celebrated its first “Women Own the Room” signed agreements with new owner Trusha Patel in January 2022 for the debut of two new La Quinta and Hawthorn Suites dual-branded hotels in Texas. The two new women entrepreneurs announced as members are:
Hetal Christian, just opened a Wyndham Garden hotel in Dover, Del. Christian looks forward to the expanded development and operational support the program provides as she expands her portfolio into the profitable upper midscale segment.
Neha Jadhav, will open a La Quinta and Hawthorn Suites dual-branded hotel in Warrenton, Va. This new hotel will be her first new construction project.
While the tourism and hospitality industry workforce is comprised of 70% women, only 10% of development roles are held by them. “Women Own the Room” helps to clear the path for women eager to make their mark on the hospitality industry and aims to amend the lack of female representation in hotel ownership, real estate, and investment funding roles. With Wyndham’s longstanding commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion – including gender diversity, women’s economic empowerment and advancing women entrepreneurs – this program is a natural progression of the hotel brand’s efforts to create a level playing field within the hospitality industry.
In addition to extensive mentorship and networking opportunities, the program offers a development incentive program that provides meaningful Wyndham financing, discounts on initial fees and complimentary first-year operating services to support the success of hotels developed by women.
“There are so many paths available to take in hospitality. A new construction project provides me with new challenges, but also new barriers that Women Own the Room is helping me break through,” said Neha Jadhav. “Wyndham has helped me navigate this new territory, provided me with the necessary tools for future success, and given me the opportunity to share my experiences with other women hoteliers. I’m proud to help pave the way for others and look forward to supporting more women pursue their dream of hotel ownership.”
To get involved and stay up-to-date on the Women Own the Room’s upcoming events, visit www.womenowntheroombywyndham.com. Developers interested in collaborating with Wyndham can visit Wyndhamdevelopment.com or contact the Wyndham Franchise Development team by email at [email protected].
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,000 hotels across approximately 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of over 810,000 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 22 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 over 92 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’s Newest Female Hotelier Signs a Multi-Property Agreement as Part of the Innovative Program Supporting the Advancement of Women-Owned Hotels
PARSIPPANY, N.J., January 25, 2021 – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) – the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,000 hotels across nearly 95 countries – announced today its first signed agreement as part of its innovative “Women Own the Room” program. Trusha Patel, Founder and CEO, Platinum Holdings, becomes the pioneering program’s first member with two new construction La Quinta and Hawthorn Suites dual-branded hotels. The first-ever program by a major hotel company specifically targeting women’s advancement in hotel ownership, Wyndham’s recently launched “Women Own the Room” is designed to advance and empower women entrepreneurs to break through the predominantly male-dominated hotel industry and is a natural extension of Wyndham’s strong dedication to a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
From Breaking the Glass Ceiling to Breaking Hotel Ground: “Women Own the Room” Supports Advancement of Women-Owned Hotels
Hospitality industry data shows that women are significantly underrepresented in hotel ownership, real estate, and investment funding roles. Research conducted by Castell Project in 2021 found that while the hospitality industry is one of the most diverse, it lags when it comes to diversity in senior positions and ownership. While women make up 70% of the tourism and hospitality workforce, they only make up 10% of hotel development roles. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is committed to gender diversity, women’s economic empowerment, and advancing women entrepreneurs to level the playing field.
“Hospitality is one of the most diverse industries in the world and we should be fostering that diversity at the highest levels including ownership,” said Lisa Checchio, Chief Marketing Officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “While the workforce in the tourism and hospitality industry is comprised of 70% women, only one woman enters hotel development for every 9.6 men. “Women Own the Room” is specifically designed to help overcome the common barriers women face in hotel development and help them open and run their hotels.”
Women Own the Room is built upon the pillars of
Delivering comprehensive financial solutions
Enhanced capital support
Reduced initial franchise fee
Available for new construction and conversion projects
Offering personalized and complimentary operational guidance & support
Personalized opening support
Best-in-class training
Complimentary services designed to help maximize revenue
Establishing an inclusive community for networking & education
Event topics to include: Tips on securing financing
Selecting sites and performing feasibility assessments
Success stories from women in hotel development
Wyndham’s new program aims to help address the nearly 50% of women in business who lack competent advisors to guide them through entrepreneurship by connecting females interested in the hotel business with established female hotel developers who successfully broke the mold. Additionally, the company offers a development incentive program that provides meaningful Wyndham financing, discounts on initial fees and complimentary first-year operating services to support the success of hotels developed by women.
“I grew up in the hospitality industry and have been involved in every facet of hotel ownership, from development to dispositions. When embarking on owning a hotel of my own, it was helpful to have access to the resources that Wyndham provides,” said Trusha Patel, Founder and CEO, Platinum Holdings. “With the support of Wyndham, I have the backing of the world’s largest hotel company behind me. This is an incredible opportunity to realize my personal hospitality objectives, and also an opportunity to inspire other women to fulfill their entrepreneurship goals.”
Two New La Quinta and Hawthorn Suites Dual-Brand Hotels
Ms. Patel will open two La Quinta and Hawthorn Suites dual-branded hotels in the rapidly growing Texas cities of Austin and Georgetown. Each hotel will offer a combined 125 guestrooms – 75 of which will feature the recently refreshed room design from La Quinta’s sought-after Del Sol prototype, and 50 will feature the updated Hawthorn room design including modern, well-equipped kitchens for extended-stay guests. This pairing of select-service and long-term lodging targets different types of travelers, bringing them together under one roof and allows Wyndham to provide options for travelers looking for extended-stays, especially in the growing midscale space. Background about the new hotels:
La Quinta and Hawthorn Suites Austin Airport — The hotel will be conveniently situated less than a mile from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, four miles from downtown Austin, and will be one of the closest hotels to the new Tesla Headquarters and Gigafactory. Guests can easily experience all that the city has to offer such as music and local bites on 6th street and Rainey Street, visiting the Texas State Capital, catching a concert at Austin360 Amphitheater, seeing a performance at Paramount Theatre, or visiting Circuit of Americas racing facility, which hosts the Formula One United States Grand Prix, Road Racing World Championship and more.
La Quinta and Hawthorn Suites Georgetown — Located 30 miles north of Austin along one of central Texas’ largest thoroughfares, Georgetown has experienced explosive growth over the last decade and has transformed into an independent economic hub. The 3.3-acre hotel will be part of Longhorn Junction, the 190-acre mixed use development, which will also welcome a brewery and a variety of restaurants and retail outlets. Guests of the hotel will be able to seamlessly explore the destination and can enjoy boating and fishing excursions on Lake Georgetown in the warmer months.
“Members of ‘Women Own the Room,’ will have access to the tools and support designed to help them achieve success every step of the way, from signing and breaking ground to welcoming their first guests. The program is designed to clear the path for women who are eager to make their mark in the hospitality industry,” said Chip Ohlsson, Chief Development Officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
As a leading hospitality brand, Wyndham is helping advance and champion diversity within the Company and the greater travel industry. Spanning multiple countries and continents, Wyndham team members are a widespread group of individuals with diverse interests and backgrounds who all come together to further one of the world’s most prominent hotel organizations. For three years in a row, the company received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Index, designating Wyndham as a best place to work as well, as having been named by DiversityInc as a noteworthy company for its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
To get involved and stay up-to-date on Women Own the Room’s upcoming events, visit www.womenowntheroombywyndham.com. Developers interested in collaborating with Wyndham can visit Wyndhamdevelopment.com or contact the Wyndham Franchise Development team by email at [email protected].
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,000 hotels across nearly 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 803,000 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 22 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 over 90 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.
PARSIPPANY, N.J., January 10, 2022 – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,000 hotels across nearly 95 countries, continues to expand its global footprint with its entry into Poland with the 205-room upscale Wyndham Wroclaw Old Town. Managed by Mogotel Hotel Group, a leading hotel operator in the Baltics, the property is expected to open early next month and will be located in the heart of Wroclaw’s city center.
One of the largest cities in Western Poland and home to many renowned universities and research centers, Wroclaw combines rich history and charming architecture with a lively cultural scene across its museums, theatres, art galleries and workshops. Perfectly positioned for exploring the central, picturesque Old Town with many attractions and landmarks, the hotel will feature stylish guest rooms, an expansive atrium and a top floor wellness area, with a state of the art fitness room, sauna and steam bath.
The hotel will offer a wide range of food and beverage outlets including a gourmet restaurant, a cozy lounge and bar to relax and socialize. Those traveling for business will also have access the hotel’s 11 meeting rooms, which accommodate a total capacity of over 400 attendees. In addition, the hotel is conveniently located just 10 miles from Wroclaw’s International Copernicus Airport.
Wyndham Wroclaw Old Town is the latest addition in Wyndham Hotels & Resorts growing portfolio in Europe, including over 350 operational hotels across 30 countries and a development pipeline of over 90 properties.
Christian Michel, Vice President Development Europe, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts EMEA, said: “We are delighted to be launching our first hotel in Poland with our upscale Wyndham brand in collaboration with Mogotel. Poland is a country with strong development potential and a plethora of destinations that attract and suit different types of travelers. With favorable economic conditions and a large domestic demand, Poland brings exciting opportunities for our industry and perfectly fits our growth strategy for Europe.”
Ivans Dokicans, Head of Development & Board Member of Mogotel Hotel Group,commented: “Wroclaw is a beautiful and historic city and we are proud to debut the Wyndham brand in the city. Wyndham Wroclaw Old Town will mark our second property in collaboration with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts following the opening of Wyndham Garden Munich Messe in Germany and we look forward to the continuation of our fruitful partnership.”
Wyndham hotels in Poland and around the world participate in Wyndham Rewards, the world’s most generous hotel rewards program with more than 50,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide.
About About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,000 hotels across nearly 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 803,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveller, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 22 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 programme offers over 90 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 Mogotel Hotel Group Mogotel Hotel Group is a leading hotel operator in the Baltic States, operating in the hospitality and tourism industry since 2002. The company manages a wide portfolio of multi-brand properties across Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine and Bulgaria including over 1,600 rooms ranging from budget, midscale to upper scale offerings. For more information, visit www.mogotel.com
New Full-Service Wyndham Properties in Indiana and Ohio
PARSIPPANY, N.J., December 16, 2021 – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) – the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,000 hotels across nearly 95 countries – announced today an agreement with Ceres Development for three new Wyndham hotels, two in Indiana and one in Ohio. These newly rebranded hotels, celebrating their openings, continue the Company’s steady conversion growth, where it experienced 100 percent more domestic conversions in third quarter 2021 compared to third quarter 2019.
“Joining Wyndham Hotels & Resorts will allow us to collaborate with the company’s global sales, marketing and loyalty teams to help travelers discover these properties and explore new cities,” said David Crisafi, President of Ceres Enterprises. “We will also have the opportunity to simplify operations and streamline efficiencies with the support, experience, and scale that Wyndham provides.”
Designed for both business and leisure travelers, Wyndham is the hotel company’s signature brand that continuously supports everyday travelers by offering a comfortable and convenient stay while on the road. Blending comfort with innovation, the upscale brand features spacious and smartly designed guestrooms, flexible meeting and event spaces, and dedicated work areas throughout the properties, while consistently delivering thoughtful service and amenities. The following new hotels are now part of Wyndham’s portfolio:
Wyndham Noblesville in Indiana Situated in a scenic suburb just north of Indianapolis, the hotel is within walking distance of Hamilton Town Center’s charming shops and restaurants. The 132-suite hotel offers more than 3,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as amenities including a business center, a fitness center and a heated indoor pool, catering to business and transient travelers alike. The property also features an on-site restaurant and bar that serves complimentary breakfast daily. Guests of the hotel can easily explore the surrounding area and catch a concert at Ruoff Music Center or attend a tournament at Grand Park Sports Campus.
Wyndham Westfield in Indiana Conveniently located just 22 miles north of downtown Indianapolis and 37 miles from Indianapolis International Airport, this contemporary hotel is set along the scenic Monon Trail, providing easy access to the nearby 400-acre Grand Park Sports Campus, Pacers Athletic Center, and Clay Terrace shopping center. The property’s 152 modern guestrooms and suites offer a smart design alongside four well-designed event venues to host up to 200 guests.
Wyndham Avon in Ohio Located in the heart of Avon, Ohio, 17 miles from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, the 113-suite hotel is steps away from a variety of restaurants and shopping at Avon Commons Shopping Center and Crocker Park, as well as family-friendly fun at Main Event and Sky Zone Trampoline Park. Guests can easily enjoy the excitement of downtown Cleveland, including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and return to their spacious suite outfitted with a spa-inspired bathroom and separate living and workspaces. Additional amenities include a heated indoor pool, hot tub, bar, and cozy outdoor fire pits.
“We are so excited to partner with Ceres Development on these three exceptional hotels in key midwestern markets,” said Chip Ohlsson, Chief Development Officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “Conversions continue to play a large part of Wyndham’s development strategy, and we look forward to welcoming more travelers to experience the brand’s modern guest rooms, personalized service and thoughtful amenities.”
“This is an extraordinary opportunity at a key time in the travel industry,” said David Orlean, President, Orlean Company (joint owner of the Avon, Ohio and Westfield, Indiana Wyndhams). “This conversion comes at a time when travel is picking back up, and we are thrilled to be able to now extend the Wyndham experience to guests of these properties.”
About Wyndham The namesake of the world’s largest hotel company, Wyndham hotels across five continents in urban and vacation destinations help travelers discover comfort wherever they are. Hotels are simply comfortable, balancing a gentle harmony of calming elements and chic innovation throughout its smartly detailed guest rooms, distinct dining options and flexible meeting and event spaces. Learn more at www.wyndham.com.
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,000 hotels across nearly 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 803,000 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 22 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 over 90 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.
Earn up to 3,000 Wyndham Rewards bonus points when you link accounts and convert your points
PARSIPPANY, N.J. – (December 7, 2021) Wyndham Rewards® members can now convert their Wyndham Rewards points to cash thanks to a newly launched relationship with leading digital asset marketplace Bakkt and its highly-rated Bakkt App.
Available starting today, members of Wyndham Rewards can easily link their account within the Bakkt App, unlocking the ability to instantly convert their points to cash using the app. Once converted, members may then deposit the funds into their bank account, send them to a friend, purchase discounted gift cards or use them for online and in-store purchases via both Apple Pay® and Google PayTM, among other options. Members may also use the Bakkt App to purchase additional Wyndham Rewards points, either via funds they’ve received from converting other loyalty currencies to cash or through another preferred payment method.
“Wyndham Rewards prides itself on being the world’s most generous rewards program, which means we’re constantly looking for new ways to help our more than 90 million enrolled members engage with and receive value from the program,” said Eliot Hamlisch, executive vice president, Loyalty & Revenue Optimization, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “By teaming with Bakkt and further broadening the program’s appeal, we’re not only creating opportunities to pull in new members, we’re giving existing members even more reasons to stay and earn points with our expansive portfolio of hotels.”
As part of a special introductory offer, now through February 15, 2022, Wyndham Rewards members can earn up to 3,000 bonus points when they link their account (1,000 bonus points) and complete their first transaction of converting their Wyndham Rewards points for cash in the Bakkt app (2,000 bonus points)—enough bonus points to redeem for a discounted night at thousands of participating Wyndham Rewards hotels.*
“We’re thrilled to be adding Wyndham Rewards—the number one hotel rewards program as named by both U.S. News & World Report as well as readers of USA TODAY—to the Bakkt ecosystem,” said Sheela Zemlin, chief revenue officer at Bakkt. “Together, we’re providing members with new redemption experiences and increased flexibility, all while making loyalty points more accessible and easier to use.”
Wyndham Rewards is the only hotel loyalty program to offer members a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay. Free nights start at just 7,500 points per night, while discounted nights start at 1,500 points plus some cash. The program’s Member Levels (status), which are among the most attainable in travel, allow members to unlock great benefits like a preferred room, late checkout and accelerated earning and more.
*This offer is subject to acceptance of the Bakkt App’s Terms of Use (link). Limit one offer per member. Offer is limited to the first 1,000,000 members and is not available to residents of Hawaii. One member may only create one Bakkt account. Full promotion details can be found at www.wyndham.bakkt.com.
Bakkt Marketplace, LLC is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services, and a money transmitter in all states where required. See the full list of licenses here.
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 50,000 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 9,000 hotels or tens of thousands of vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally through affiliation with Wyndham Destinations and others. Wyndham Rewards has over 90 million enrolled members around the globe. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com. You’ve earned this.®
About Bakkt
Bakkt is a trusted digital asset platform that enables consumers to buy, sell, store and spend digital assets. Bakkt’s platform, now available through the Bakkt App and to partners, amplifies consumer spending and bolsters loyalty programs, adding value for all key stakeholders within the Bakkt payments and digital assets ecosystem. Launched in 2018, Bakkt is headquartered in Alpharetta, GA. For more information, visit: https://www.bakkt.com/ | Twitter @Bakkt | LinkedIn
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Source: Bakkt Holdings, Inc.
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