US: Wyndham president and CEO Geoff Ballotti has announced a raft of new initiatives including dual branded Hawtorn Suites and la Quinta properties.
Speaking to around 7,000 owners, managers and industry suppliers at the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Global Conference this week, Ballotti announced several new and evolving initiatives the company is working on to meet growing guest demands and drive revenue.
Wyndham is prioritising new-construction growth with the launch of both new and refreshed prototypes that will lower development costs and capture greater efficiencies. The new designs echo the company’s newest brand, La Quinta by Wyndham, and the recent Moda prototype launch from Microtel by Wyndham.
La Quinta will be part of a new dual-brand concept with the company’s extended-stay Hawthorn Suites brand. The prototype is inspired by La Quinta’s Del Sol guestroom prototype, and had seven new-construction agreements signed in the second quarter this year.
The company’s new-construction pipeline is growing at 16 per cent, Ballottisaid. “We’ve never had more hotels in the pipeline,” he said, and emphasised new-construction projects are driving better returns for owners.
Wyndham is also launching Hotel Connectivity Solutions, a new bundle of wireless and network services that will be visible to guests as Wyndham WiFi. The platform will include hardware and equipment that can handle multiple devices from each guest at what the company claims will be the lowest cost in the industry, with no capital cost to owners.
