2nd Quarter 2009 - Issue 7
General News
Meet Ross Hosking—WHG’s New EVP
As Wyndham Hotel Group executive vice president, Global Sales, Ross Hosking oversees all of Wyndham Hotel Group’s revenue producing functions and is responsible for the strategy and development of the company’s global sales department and hotel operations centers.
A lodging industry veteran with more than 28-years of experience, Hosking joined the company in February 2009 after serving Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in White Plains, N.Y., where he was most recently regional vice president of sales and marketing. In that role he was directly responsible for the performance of owned and managed hotels in the Southern United States and Caribbean region, producing more than $2 billion a year in revenue.
Prior to serving as regional vice president, Hosking spent close to two years as regional director of sales and marketing for the Boston region, where he oversaw the operations of 12 hotels, three of which were convention hotels in the city of Boston. During his time in the role, he led the creation of a city wide sales team to support the downtown hotels.
In addition to his corporate experience, Hosking also held several property level positions with Starwood including area director of sales & marketing for the Westin Copley Place Boston, area director of sales and marketing for the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers and director of sales for the Sheraton Washington Hotel. He joined Starwood in 1993.
From 1990 to 1993, Hosking held property level positions for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, serving most recently as director of sales and marketing for the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, where he oversaw all sales, marketing and revenue management functions for the 500-room convention, business and leisure hotel.
Prior 1990, Hosking held various property level sales and operations positions for Sheraton Hotels in the Washington D.C., Baltimore and Stamford, Conn. areas.
Hosking is a 1981 graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and holds his bachelor’s degree in hotel, restaurant and travel administration.
He is based in Wyndham Hotel Group’s Parsippany, N.J., offices.
Wyndham Xiamen Hotel Opens
The Wyndham® Xiamen, the first Wyndham brand hotel and the first 5-star hotel in Asia managed by the Wyndham Hotel Group, opened April 22.
The hotel proudly offers 588 luxurious rooms and suites, most of which are embraced by spectacular sea views. The twenty sixth floor Wyndham Club and 130 serviced apartments are fully equipped with the finest personalized services.
Located at the heart of Xiamen's business and shopping district, the Wyndham Xiamen overlooks popular Gulangyu Island and is just 20 minutes from Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, 20 minutes from Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Center, 10 minutes from the railway station and just five minutes by foot from the ferry terminal. The Business Centre provides state-of-the-art equipment, including four private workstations with internet access to ensure guests’ complete privacy.
Dominique Galperti is the general manager. The 495-associate staff come from 20 provinces of China (out of a total of 34) and speak a total of 19 Chinese dialects/languages and 5 international languages.
The hotel group currently has over 170 properties in China operating under the Ramada®, Super 8®, Howard Johnson® and Wyndham brand names.
Wyndham Hotel Group Goes Mobile with Launch of New Web Sites
Travelers on the go looking to stay at Days Inn®, Ramada®, Super 8®, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge® and Knights Inn® hotels can now search for the nearest location, book or modify reservations and much more, directly from their Internet access enabled mobile devices through recently launched mobile web sites.
Baymont Inn and Suites®, Microtel Inns and Suites®, Hawthorn Suites® and Wingate by Wyndham® brands will launch in the coming weeks.
Wyndham Hotel group is providing mobile websites to address the growing opportunity of mCommerce, which is a new term for “mobile commerce.” According to a JPMorgan and Company study conducted earlier this year, the number of active mobile Internet users is expected to increase by over one-third by 2010, from 76.9 million users in 2009, to 104.6 million users in 2010.
The new sites provide consumers with nearly all of the same content and functionality as the brand’s main web sites but have been optimized for use on over 5,000 mobile devices, including Apple iPhone and Blackberry. Consumers can easily locate the nearest hotel, book, modify or cancel a reservation, download maps, turn-by-turn directions, view property photos and research hotel amenities and brand promotions while traveling.
Access to the sites is available through standard brand Web addresses, such as www.daysinn.com and www.super8.com, which, when entered into a mobile phone’s Internet browser, detect the type of phone being used and adapt to provide the user with the best possible experience.
“We’ve worked hard to develop an interface that is full featured and intuitive, allowing consumers to easily interact with our brands in the way that works best for them,” said Scott Lunsford, Wyndham Hotel Group vice president of eProducts and Internet Solutions. “By supporting such a wide array of devices, we’re ensuring that all users have a great experience regardless of the type of mobile phone they own.”
This service supports the direct booking option which builds upon an existing revenue generating channel, creates new marketing opportunities and provides yet another friendly interface to our consumers.
WHG Promotes Brands as This Year’s TIA POW Wow Chair
Wyndham Hotel Group's Global Sales department promoted the company’s brands May 16-20 at the Travel Industry Association of America's 41th annual International Pow Wow travel trade show in Miami, FL.
Wyndham Hotel Group proudly served as chair of this year’s event as a demonstration of its commitment to better serve travel customers worldwide.
The company’s delegation was led by Ross Hosking, Wyndham Hotel Group executive vice president, global sales and distribution, and included members of the Global Sales team, Wyndham Vacation Ownership staff, Wyndham Hotel Group’s global sales agent for Mexico and Central America and associates from several California properties.
At the show, more than 200 meetings were held with current and potential customers to secure new business at the Wyndham Hotel Group booth.
As Chair of International Pow Wow and the International Pow Wow planning committee, WHG assisted and oversaw development and planning of International Pow Wow. WHG received benefits and sponsorship opportunities that provide unequaled visibility and brand presence over the five days of the show.
Eric Danziger, president and CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group, presented a keynote address on why now is a great time for travelers to come to America and why hospitality industry professionals must strive to “explore new ways to serve, to reinvent our business and rededicate ourselves to go the extra mile for our customers, guests, and colleagues, each and every day.”
Wyndham Hotel Group sponsored a luncheon and provided computer kiosks throughout convention space wrapped with Wyndham Hotel Group logos, providing further exposure for Wyndham Hotel Group’s brands and businesses.
To recognize and thank customers for their business, the team hosted a reception at Mango’s Tropical Café in Miami Beach.
Pow Wow event is billed as the travel industry's premier international marketplace and the largest generator of in-bound United States travel. Click HERE to learn more.
Wyndham Worldwide Listed On FORTUNE Most Admired List
Wyndham Worldwide has again been listed as one of FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired Companies for 2009.
Wyndham Worldwide ranked second on the Most Admired list in the hotels, casinos and resorts category, and joins 15 other New Jersey-based companies who were also named Most Admired in other categories, including Johnson & Johnson, Prudential Financial, Merck and Honeywell International. "Wyndham Worldwide is honored to join such world renowned and global leaders on the Most Admired list," said Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and chief executive officer. "As a company, we look forward to celebrating many more of these accomplishments as we continue to drive success through exceptional customer service and strong operational and financial performance."
To produce the listings, 15,000 top executives, directors and analysts were asked to rate all FORTUNE 1,000 companies in their own industry on eight criteria. A company's score must rank in the top half of its industry survey to appear in the listing and only the best are listed as a Most Admired Company.
The full list of companies appeared in the Mar. 16, 2009 edition of FORTUNE.
Wyndham Hotels Honored for Green Innovations
Unique “green” programs introduced by Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®, including ecologically–friendly uniforms made with recycled plastics, were recognized in March by Lodging Hospitality magazine with a Chain Leadership Award, which honors the best in innovation, creativity and business–building in the U.S. hotel industry.
The award singled out Wyndham Hotels and Resorts as the leader in the category of Environmental Action. Lodging Hospitality editors annually solicit reader nominations, and then select the “best of the best programs and strategies employed in the previous year.”
Wyndham President Jeff Wagoner thanked Lodging Hospitality for the award, saying, “We are honored to be recognized for programs that demonstrate leadership in the hospitality industry, add value to our properties and underscore operational excellence.”
Fabric for the eco–friendly Wyndham hotel staff uniforms is manufactured using polyester fibers spun from post–consumer products, including recycled plastic beverage bottles, which are woven into very soft fabrics. By using recycled materials, the hotel chain helps to keep plastics out of landfills. Moreover, the uniforms, which do not require professional laundering, minimize the use of chemicals during cleaning and provide a cost savings to hotel operators.
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is the first national upscale lodging chain to implement the eco–friendly uniform initiative. Cincinnati–based Cintas Corporation was contracted to design and manufacture the uniforms and continue to introduce new eco–friendly fabrics for the Wyndham apparel program.
Click HERE to learn more about Wyndham Green, Wyndham Worldwide's sustainability program.
WHG Attends Tianguis Turistico Tradeshow
Wyndham Hotel Group showcased its brands April 25-29 at the 34th annual Tianguis Turistico travel trade show in Acapulco.
Sponsored by the Mexico Tourism Board, Tianguis Turistico is an important promotional platform for Latin America as it brings buyers and suppliers together for four days of business appointments and parties, as well as distinguished speakers and international press to cover the action.
The show’s Sunday opening was delayed with the cancellation of the opening ceremony's guest speaker, Mexico President Felipe Calderon, who stayed in Mexico City to attend to the swine flu emergency that broke out only days before. The official start of the event occurred Monday morning when thousands of business travel professionals gathered to sign deals that would determine their direction and success for this coming year.
WHG’s booth featured photographs of all our property brands in Latin America—Howard Johnson®, Ramada®, Travelodge®, and Wyndham® Garden Hotels. Attending the event from the Wyndham Hotel Group were Sandy Ramon Tarbet, Sales and Marketing for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Latin America Development team, headed by Marco Roca, with Doug Smith, Armando Tinoco, Javier Sanchez and Louis Alicea. Special guests included our GSA in Mexico, President and CEO Alex Pace, and his sales team members Maria Carmona and Maria Carmen Gonzalez. Also attending were Ana Diaz-Coreas and Armando Diaz Sales for The Grand Mayan resort.
This is the first year where Wyndham invited hotel franchisees to participate in negotiations with our buyers. Joining the Ramada brand was General Manager Julian Fernandez from the Ramada Reforma, Mexico City. Joining Howard Johnson was General Sales Manager Dahyanna Bross from Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel Las Torres, Guadalajara. We also had a visit from a future franchisee, Fernando Cuesta of the prospective Ramada Encore Chihuahua that is scheduled to open July 1, 2009.
Other hotels participated in the booths that were sponsored by their state’s government. WHG was well represented by Damallanty Mendez of Howard Johnson Veracruz, Yolanda Guerrero of Howard Johnson Mazatlan and Perla Gomez and Lizbeth Sierra of Ramada Resort Mazatlan. Ramada Hola Culiacan, one of our newest properties, had its own booth hosted by owner Jesus Mario Hernandez and Blanca Rosa Gonzalez from Sales and Marketing.
We are thankful to those who participated and provided support throughout the event. Although this year's participation was impacted by the swine flu emergency and a brief earthquake, Mexico is a country of survivors and Tianguis closed with a positive vision of the future.
The Litolier Group Launches Ramada Plaza New Delhi
The Litolier Group announced in April that it has ventured into the hotel industry with the launch of the Ramada® Plaza New Delhi.
The Ramada Plaza New Delhi offers 419 luxury guest rooms, suites and service apartments catering to varying needs in an inviting ambience. The lobby showcases a French fresco, Italian antique marble and bronze statutes, classical Italian furniture, and sparkling Austrian/venetian chandeliers. Five high-speed guest elevators add to guest convenience and comfort.
The hotel is centrally located in Lutyens’, Delhi and is surrounded by prominent historical buildings and government offices. Its prime location in the heart of the city has made it a commercial and shopping hub for both domestic and international travelers.
Click HERE to learn more.
Globally Yours... Wyndham Hotel Group (Group Segment)
Earn Up to 1 Million Points Per Event
Earn more than a sense of satisfaction and a sigh of relief. The Wyndham Event Rewards® program lets you earn more points than any other event program: for each $1 USD spent you earn 10 points – up to a million points per program or event.
Earning rewards points is easy – and redeeming them is fun. Choose premiumentertainment. Valuable merchandise. Or simply relax and book a vacation you won’t soon forget.
Be Your Attendees’ New Best Friend
With Wyndham Rewards® featuring ByRequest® benefits, attendees who are also members can enjoy personalized stays including free internet access, a welcome snack and drink, the pillows they prefer, extra coffee and towels in the room, and more.
So now you and your attendees can be well received, well treated and well rewarded. Be Well.SM
Click HERE to see a flyer with full program details.
Wyndham Rewards to “Save Summer” for Travelers and Their Friends
Looking for room in your budget to squeeze in a summer vacation without going overboard? The Wyndham Rewards® program is coming to the rescue with “Save Summer,” a promotion that features frugal getaway values at participating brands, the opportunity to win points redeemable for free hotel nights for entrants plus up to five of their friends and even the possibility of walking away with one million Wyndham Rewards points.
The promotion is available now through Sept. 10, 2009.
“In the current economic climate, consumers are not just counting every penny, they’re counting every loyalty point, too,” said Eric Danziger, Wyndham Hotel Group president and chief executive officer. “We always offer significant value across our hotel brands and through our Wyndham Rewards program, but this summer we’re providing travelers with extra incentives to travel and an opportunity to win big.”
Frugal Getaway Values
Several participating brands feature discounts of 15 percent or more off their guaranteed best available rate. At participating Wyndham Hotels and Resorts hotels, travelers can get 50 percent off a second night or a second room. Details of “Save Summer” brand offers are available at www.wyndhamrewards.com/save. Breakfast and high speed Internet access are free at most Wyndham Hotel Group brands year round.
Win Free Hotel Nights
Consumers may download a widget to their Facebook, MySpace and other social networking profiles* that not only allows them to register for the “Save Summer” promotion but also allows them to share it with interested online friends. Every time a friend enters the promotion the originating consumer automatically gets another chance to win. Consumers may also enter online at www.wyndhamrewards.com/save. Membership in the Wyndham Rewards program is not required to enter, and no purchase is necessary. Contest rules are available on the Web site.
When winners are chosen from a widget entry, their first five friends to have registered will also receive points redeemable for a free night stay. Points worth up to 750 free night stays will be awarded throughout the summer.
Win One Million Wyndham Rewards Points
One lucky entrant will be awarded one million Wyndham Rewards points redeemable for goods such as 40 $100 gift certificates, 160 free night stays or 14 airline tickets good within the continental U.S. The winner of the million Wyndham Rewards points will be chosen in a drawing held the week of Sept. 14, 2009.
“We developed the ‘Save Summer’ promotion to enable people to get out there and travel because a vacation really does help buoy the spirit,” said Jill Noblett, Wyndham Hotel Group senior vice president of Loyalty and Direct Marketing. “With everyone working so hard and depriving themselves of a getaway, we wanted to find a way to save summer, and we’re doing that with our value-driven promotion.”
Newest Wyndham Rewards Participant
For the first time, Wyndham Rewards members may earn points at Microtel Inn & Suites® hotels, the program’s newest earning and redemption participant. The award–winning chain of new construction hotels is a leader in its class. The Microtel brand ranked "Highest in Guest Satisfaction among Economy/Budget Hotel Chains" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM for the seventh consecutive year.
Visit www.WyndhamRewards.com for full program details.
Check Out the Enhanced Wyndham eDirectory
The Wyndham eDirectory is better than ever! This online tool allows meeting planners to search for meeting space and includes participating Wyndham Hotel and Resorts®, Wingate by Wyndham®, Hawthorn Suites®, Days® and Ramada® properties with a minimum of 2500 sq. ft. meeting space.
Go now: www.wyndhamedirectory.com.
The directory provides direct access to the most up-to-date information on all participating properties, including function and event space, guest room description, and more. Follow the quick-and-easy tutorial to get started.
Be sure to save the above link into your Internet favorites and check back frequently for updates, as we build the number of participating hotels.
Visit Us at Upcoming Tradeshows
Wyndham Hotel Group Global Sales will attend the following major trade shows. We look forward to seeing you there and welcoming you at our booth.
Please contact us at hotelsales@wyndhamworldwide.com to schedule a time for us to meet and discuss your lodging needs.
(ITE) Incentive Travel Exchange (Las Vegas, NV)
June 22-24
Global Sales Representatives: Kari Dehn, John Iannini
(MPI-WEC) Meeting Professionals International – World Education Congress (Salt Lake City, UT)
July 11-14
Booth #: 1323
Global Sales Representatives: Agnes Abrenica-Suarez, April Urbine, Miriam Santos, Ann Kozeluh, Bruce Wolpert, Shannon Derrick
NAACP (New York, NY)
July 11-16
Global Sales Representative: Evelin Potts
(ASAE) American Society of Association Executives – Annual Meeting (Toronto, ON)
August 15-18
Booth #: 2020
Global Sales Representatives: Erica Hyman, Shannon Derrick, Marian Bianchini, Jay Rios
IncentiveWorks (Toronto, ON)
August 25-26
Global Sales Representative: John Iannini