4th Quarter 2008 - Issue 5
General News
New CEO Announced for Wyndham Hotel Group
Steve Holmes, Chairman of Wyndham Hotel Group, announced the appointment of hotel industry veteran Eric Danziger as president and CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group. Eric has more than 30 years of hotel industry experience. He is a high-energy, charismatic leader who is well-known and extremely well-liked in the industry. He ambitiously built his career from the ìground floor up,î starting as a bellman at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco and growing into progressively senior roles in hotel operations, general management and regional operations.
After 11 years with Doubletree Hotels where he helped grow the company into a chain of 120 hotels, Eric took on his first president role in 1990 for Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, a relatively small hotel company at the time with only seven hotels. He built a team and put in place the infrastructure to support rapid growth, expanding the chain to 100 hotels during his tenure and helping the company successfully go public in 1995. He then joined Starwood Lodging as president and CEO, helping to grow the portfolio worldwide, and later served as president and CEO of Carlson Hotels Worldwide where he again helped diversify the portfolio and grow the company internationally. Ericís vast hotel experience also includes management roles with the Sheraton, Opryland Hotel and Adams Mark Hotels.
Eric most recently was CEO of WhiteFence, an online one-stop comparison shopping and transaction site for home services, and prior to that, served as CEO of a startup online real estate company, ZipRealty.
According to Steve, "Eric has a palpable, heartfelt passion for our industry and an extensive track record of successfully managing hotels and growing brands internationally. Eric is anxious to return to the hospitality industry and I couldn't be more pleased to see him take the helm at the Hotel Group. Eric's ability to engender loyalty and push for exceptional performance, combined with the breadth and depth of his industry knowledge and experience, make him the right leader to help build strong relationships and ensure the future growth and success of the Hotel Group and all our business partners. Eric joined the Hotel Group on December 1 and will lead the Hotel Group to focus our efforts on your success."
Wyndham Worldwide Implements Green Initiatives
Wyndham Worldwide held an October "Global Green Day" event to officially kick off WyndhamGreen, the Company's environmental and sustainability program, and launch the WyndhamGreen Web site.
Wyndham Worldwide is seizing the opportunity to manage energy consumption as a part of the Company's overall green strategy across its businesses and brands, which together encompass nearly 70,000 properties in 100 countries. Due to its numerous brands, properties and distribution points, the WyndhamGreen program is expected to have a large impact on the Company's overall carbon footprint.
"As one of the world's largest hospitality companies across six continents, Wyndham Worldwide initiated WyndhamGreen because it fits our global commitment to corporate social responsibility and the environment. WyndhamGreen is not just a program, but a way of living and working that is based on our vision and values," stated Stephen P. Holmes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wyndham Worldwide. "Wyndham Worldwide has a unique opportunity to leverage our scale and adopt practices that will have a significant and lasting environmental impact. While each individual act may seem small and insignificant, our collective actions are truly meaningful given our global footprint. We are committed to conserving our natural resources, preserving our habitats and preventing pollution."
"Global Green Day" events took place in more than 35 Wyndham Worldwide offices around the globe including U.S. locations in Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando, Fla.; Indianapolis, IN; Springfield, Miss.; Las Vegas, NV; Parsippany, N.J.; Aberdeen, S.D.; Johnson City, Tenn.; and Redmond, Wash. International locations include: Australia, Canada, India, South Africa, Southeast Asia, Mexico and the United Kingdom. The event included educational components on the WyndhamGreen program, access to eco-friendly products and vendor booths, and the launch of the Company's Green Web site, wyndhamworldwide.com/wyndham-green.
Over 14,145 associates attended Wyndham Worldwide's "Global Green Day" across the globe. Wyndham Worldwide's green initiatives are led by Faith Taylor, vice president of sustainability and innovation, and a Green Council with members from across the Company's global businesses and locations.
If you have questions, please contact Greg Land, Wyndham Hotel Group Senior Vice President at Greg.land@wyndhamworldwide.com.
Click HERE to view the WyndhamGreen brochure.
Welcome to Hawthorn Suites
Now your guests have another choice in the Wyndham Hotel Group family of brands. Wyndham Worldwide has entered the all-suites, extended-stay market with the addition of the 91-hotel Hawthorn Suites® chain.
See why Hawthorn Suites is the ideal home away from home and the perfect hotel for your extended stay or weekend get away.
Hawthorn Suites hotels feature studio, one and two-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens and studio suites with wet bars. Amenities include daily complimentary hot breakfast buffet, evening social hour and wireless Internet service. Most hotels offer meeting space, swimming pools, exercise facilities, guest laundry facilities, convenience store items, valet parking and grocery services. Many properties already feature the new brand's Sweet Suite™ bed experience. It features plush, pillow-top mattress with high-thread-count linens, triple sheeting and duvet, fitted bed skirt, decorative bed scarf and Euro pillows.
Unlike many other mid and upper-mid tiers extended stay brands, Hawthorn Suites hotels have a standard daily housekeeping service, so linens are changed every day. Also, Hawthorn Suites offers a complimentary hot breakfast buffet every day. Hawthorn Suites is proud to be the Wyndham Rewards® loyalty program's newest earning and redemption partner.
Now through Jan. 8, 2009, Wyndham Rewards® members will earn double points, airline miles or rail points for each qualified hotel stay as part of the Double Points or Miles promotion.
Click HERE to learn more about Hawthorn Suites.
Get to Know Microtel Inns & Suites
New to the Wyndham Hotel Group family of brands but not to the marketplace, Microtel Inns & Suites® sets the standard as the fastest growing, all-new-construction hotel chain in the economy segment.
For an unprecedented seventh consecutive year, Microtel has been 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.
With 304 properties, the brand continues to aggressively develop both domestically and internationally. Hotels are now located in 45 states and five countries including Argentina, Canada, Honduras, Mexico and the Philippines. Five new, chic room designs at all new locations.
The brand's new design – being launched at all new Microtel hotels – was created last November as an outgrowth of a competition that Microtel sponsored with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Atlanta, Georgia. It has received "Best Guestroom Design" in the limited-service category in the Hotel World Global Hospitality & Design Awards competition, and Lodging Hospitality magazine's 2008 "Chain Leadership Award."
Look closer at Microtel Inns & Suites for its single, double and suite accommodations, free local and long distance phone calls within the continental U.S., free wireless high-speed Internet access in all guestrooms, and free Get Up & JoeSM continental breakfast.
Rooms feature Dream Well™, Microtel's stylish new and high quality bedding stylish with a plush pillow-top mattress and fitted bed skirt, high quality 200-thread count white and khaki-piped linens with triple sheeting, down-like blanket, decorative top sheet, bed scarf and pillows. Plus remote cable TV with ESPN, CNN and one free movie channel; compact refrigerator, microwave and coffeemaker in all suites and electronic key card entry.
Members of the MicroPass™ frequent guest program earn one free night after nine night stays at any location.
Microtel is a proud sponsor of the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (SATH) and is the preferred hotel chain for travelers with disabilities, little people and seniors. The chain is committed to providing these rapidly growing market segments with quality, accessible hotel accommodations and with a service culture prepared to make their stay enjoyable.
For reservations, visit microtelinn.com or contact 1-800-771-7171, TDD 1-800-824-2082 or 1-888-304-6835 (Spanish speaking).
All Microtel Inns & Suites hotels are independently owned and operated.
About the J.D. Power and Associates Award:
Microtel received the highest numerical score among economy/budget hotels in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates (2002-2008) North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM. (2008) Study based on responses from 53,453 guests measuring 14 economy/budget hotels and measures opinions of guests who stayed in a hotel May 2007-June 2008. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed June 2007-June 2008. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.
Wyndham Conference Centers Offer AirTran Promotion
The Wyndham® Virginia Crossing Hotel & Conference Center in Richmond, VA, the Wyndham® Peachtree Conference Center in Atlanta, GA and the Wyndham® Miami Hotel & Executive Meeting Center in Miami, FL are offering a "higher plane" of savings and productivity with the AirTran Airways Event Savers Program. It's all part of the Wyndham Complete Meeting package, designed to help you achieve productivity on a "higher plane."
Save on meetings with 20 overnight rooms or more, with this special offer:
- Receive a 20% discount on the lowest available Airtran one-way
- Attendees can book their own travel
- Get advance seat assignments
- Fly up to three days prior to and after the event
- Get a one-time waiver of Change Fee per reservation for any name or itinerary change
- And more...
Wyndham Virginia Crossing Hotel & Conference Center
Among Richmond's finest hotels and conference centers, the Wyndham Virginia Crossing Hotel & Conference Center combines elegant accommodations, outstanding restaurants, golf and leisure activities with technology advanced meeting facilities to be one of the premier full-service resorts in the region.
Book now and earn Wyndham Event Rewards* at the only Wyndham conference center in Richmond.
Get details and about this and other offers by calling Wyndham Virginia Crossing sales at 804.727.1400 or e-mail Csnider@wyndham.com. Click HERE to visit the hotel's Web site.
*Get 10 points for every dollar you spend with Wyndham Event Rewards.
Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center
Sheltered from the big-city hassles of Atlanta hotels, the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center is the perfect destination for your next conference or event. Enveloped by 19 wooded acres, our $8.5 million newly-renovated Atlanta conference center is an idyllic place to relax and focus on business.
Contact the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center for information about this and other great offers by calling Jessica Cannon at 305.870.8104 or e-mail Jecannon@wyndham.com. Click HERE to visit the hotel's Web site.
Wyndham Miami Hotel & Executive Meeting Center
Wyndham Miami Airport Hotel and Executive Meeting Center now offers Clear AirSM rooms. On the banks of the Miami River, less than a quarter mile from Miami International Airport, enjoy our locale just 4 miles from downtown with access to Coral Gables, Coconut Grove and sizzling Miami beaches. Reach new heights of productivity with our business center and 19,000 square feet of meeting facilities.
Learn more about this and other great details by calling Marlen Castellanos at 305.870.8151 or e-mail mcastellanos@wyndham.com. Click HERE to visit the hotel's Web site.
Wyndham Plans 2009 MPI MeetDifferent Conference Sponsorship
Wyndham is proud to announce plans to help sponsor the February 7-9, 2009 MPI MeetDifferent conference in Atlanta, GA presented by the Meeting Professionals International organization.
If your New Year's resolution is to start exercising, have we got a challenge for you! Stop by the Wyndham START Walking Challenge table in the Global Village during registration to pick up a FREE pedometer. Wear your pedometer every day during the convention. Bring it back to the Wyndham START Walking Challenge table in the Global Village by 5:00pm on Tuesday to record your steps and for a chance to win a stay at the fabulous Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa, A Wyndham Grand Resort in Puerto Rico, Wyndham Rewards points, and much more. The more you Walk, the more you can Win...with Wyndham!
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) provides members human connections to knowledge and ideas, relationships, and marketplaces. Total MPI membership is comprised of more than 24,000 members belonging to 69 chapters and clubs worldwide. For additional information, visit mpiweb.org.
Resort Portfolio Update
Wyndham Worldwide has announced that the 400-room Wyndham Bonnet Creek Orlando Hotel & Spa will open early 2010. The property will feature 18,000 square feet of function space and four food and beverage outlets.
Construction of the 400-room luxury Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Hotel and Spa at Bonnet Creek Resort, adjacent to Walt Disney World® at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2010. It is the first mixed-use development undertaken by parent company Wyndham Worldwide and will be managed by Wyndham Hotel Management Inc.
Visit Us at Upcoming Tradeshows
Wyndham Hotel Group Global Sales will attend the following major international trade show. 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.
NBTA Mexico (Mexico City, Mexico)
- Feb 23- 25
- Booth #: tbd
- Global Sales Representative: Sandy Ramon Tarbet (Captain)
Members Only
Growing...growing...growing!
Great news! You will soon be able to expand your program by offering our two newest brands; Hawthorn Suites®, a chain of all suite, extended stay hotels and Microtel Inns and Suites® a chain featuring all-new-construction hotels ranked number one in guest satisfaction in their segment by J.D. Power and Associates for the last six years.
Adding these two highly regarded brands expands the Wyndham Hotel Group system to 12 brands that encompass nearly 7,000 hotels on six continents. These new brands will be available to book at your discounted rate by end of Q1 2009.
At Hawthorn Suites our goal is to make you feel at home! Whether they need accommodations for a training class, a corporate relocation, a temporary assignment or just for a relaxing weekend getaway or vacation, your members will find the comfort and value they want at Hawthorn Suites extended stay hotels.
The award-winning Microtel Inns & Suites is proud to be the first economy/budget hotel brand to offer guests free local and free long distance calls in the continental U.S., plus free wireless high-speed Internet access in every room in all of its hotels. Get to know Microtel!
Sun or Ski?
Are you already thinking about getting away to sun and fun when winter sets in? Or, are you just waiting for the chance to hit the slopes? If you are, we bet your members are as well. Either way, the winter vacation season is just around the corner. It's a great time to remind your members to begin now to make plans for that getaway vacation.
No passport? You can still get away to warm Caribbean waters, the sun, and fun at our luxurious resort on the beach in Puerto Rico, at the Rio Mar Beach and Spa, a Wyndham Grand Resort.
Or, if skiing is more to your liking, the Wyndham Cap Tremblant Mountain Resort, set in a natural forest setting and surrounded by a mountainous area with forest trails for hiking, biking, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing. Observe the wildlife from its deer observation lookout post. On-site activities include three swimming pools - including a heated pool open year-round, all supervised by qualified lifeguards.
2009 Program Promotions
Have you started working on your promotions for your member benefits program for 2009? Now is a good time to establish a regular calendar of activities to support your program and reinvigorate your members to use their benefits. As we approach the New Year, we suggest you plan on something at least quarterly to update your members on benefits and new opportunities.
Remember to include the news that we will be adding two new brands: Hawthorne Suites and Microtel Inns & Suites!
Need art work for a flyer or a banner ad for your website? Perhaps you need a logo for one of our new programs, such as Endless Vacation Rentals? Contact your account director or our sales coordinator, Brenda Lopez at Brenda.lopez@wyndhamworldwide.com to make your request. We can furnish pictures of our hotels and resorts and occasionally we have other promotional items we can share with you to support your program.
We've learned that ongoing reminders really make the difference to prompt travelers to take advantage of savings opportunities.
Wyndham Hotel Group in India
With some 1.1 billion people, diverse regions, and a vibrant democracy, India has been making progress on a scale, size and pace that is unprecedented in its own history. Becoming one of the world's fastest growing economies with average growth rates of 8 percent over the past three years it has emerged as a global player in information technology, business process outsourcing, telecommunications, and pharmaceuticals. It is now the world's fourth largest economy in purchasing power parity terms.
Wyndham Hotel Group already has 12 hotels operating in India, namely Ramada® and Howard Johnson® brand hotels with more hotels scheduled to open in 2009 and 2010.