INDIA: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, which operates 56 hotels in India, will be bringing a further 21 to the mix.
In India, Wyndham tipped over the 50th hotel mark earlier this year, with new openings in culturally rich destinations including Jaipur, Varanasi, Mohali and Udaipur under the Ramada, Howard Johnson by Wyndham and the upscale Wyndham brand.
The expansion is part of Wyndham’s commitment to growth for the sub-Indian continent with a development pipeline of approximately 30 hotels, with eight expected to open in 2022 alone.
The company already operates Wyndham, Ramada, Ramada Encore, Hawthorn Suites, Howard Johnson and Days Inn in India, but will be growing its mid-scale Ramada brand – and add more serviced apartment offerings.
Dimitris Manikis, president for Europe, Middle East and Africa said: “We recently launched Wyndham Residences and Ramada Residences. These can happen next to a hotel. Midscale branded residences in India have a tremendous potential. This is another segment we would like to grow in the country.”
Wyndham is also planning to introduce Wyndham Garden, as well as Vienna House, after buying the brand in September for US$44 million, adding 40 hotels and 6,000 more rooms to its European portfolio.
Manikis added: “I am very confident that Wyndham and Wyndham Garden are going to be two brands that will have a great future in India. They’re very simple in their characteristics. We also recently acquired a new brand in Europe called Vienna House for US$44 million adding another mid-scale brand in the lifestyle segment which is design and lifestyle-led. It is our 23rd brand in our global portfolio and we are considering bringing that to India as well.”
Four of the new hotels will open by the end of this year in Khopoli and Mumbai in Maharashtra, Siliguri in West Bengal and Viramgam in Gujarat.
We caught up with Dimitris Manikis, president for Europe, Middle East and Africa recently when he spoke about Wyndham’s fastest growing brand Project Echo.
