Wyndham looks to keep expanding its global portfolio. (Photo: Wyndham)

Wyndham plans to add close to 30,000 rooms to its portfolio in the coming years with a strong focus on the APAC region.

With 128 hotels and 28,758 rooms in their pipeline, Wyndham has big plans for the coming years.

However, the spread of COVID-19 has put a damper on some of these projects and caused many launches to be delayed. Despite that, the brand is optimistic.

We find out where future openings are planned and which ones to keep an eye on.

Changing timelines for hotel launches

Of the 128 planned properties, 56 were supposed to open in 2020 and add 12,241 rooms to the company’s portfolio. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many of these projects have either been pushed back in 2020 or moved to next year altogether.

Even without spillover from 2020, there are already 31 hotels in the 2021 pipeline, slated to grow the group’s total key count by 6,995. Another 17 hotels are supposed to open in 2022 while 24 are planned for 2023 and beyond.

Top growth regions for Wyndham

The group’s focus lies on expanding its presence in the Asia Pacific region. 70 new hotels with 16,304 rooms will open there in the next few years. South America comes in second place with 21 planned properties and 3,832 rooms, followed by North America with 15 new hotels and 4,400 keys.

10 new properties will open around the Middle East while Europe will get 7 new Wyndham hotels and 5 will launch in Africa.

Wyndham’s top 5 national growth markets

With such a strong focus on Asia, it is unsurprising that the top 5 national growth markets include three countries in this region. China leads the list with 31 openings and 7,608 rooms. India and Vietnam round it out with 9 and 6 new properties, respectively.

Argentina comes in second place with 12 launches and 1,046 rooms, followed by the United States with 10 new hotels and 3,009 rooms.

Wyndham’s fastest-growing brands

Ramada Worldwide will grow by 43 hotels with 8,035 rooms, making it the fastest-expanding brand in the Wyndham portfolio. The signature Wyndham Hotels & Resorts brand will get 33 new hotels with 12,397 rooms, which indicates a larger average property size than Ramada.

The funky Howard Johnson brand will see 23 new hotels open, adding 2,358 keys. Wyndham Garden Hotels and Wyndham Grand Hotels & Resorts will launch 11 and 8 hotels respectively while Tryp by Wyndham and Dolce Hotels and Resorts will each get 7 and 3 new properties.

Noteworthy hotel projects in the Wyndham pipeline

The largest project currently in the works is the renovation of the 1,294-room Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. Guest rooms will be refurbished, and the existing dining venues will be modernised. The hotel’s western tower will receive a new brasserie-style restaurant with outdoor seating and a view of the Belvedere.

Wyndham Soleil Danang will bring 779 guest rooms to Danang’s beachfront by late 2020. The hotel will occupy one tower in a four-tower development. The three remaining buildings will offer luxury apartments of various sizes. Its location close to both the city centre and the sea will make this hotel a popular destination with guests keen to relax and explore the city.

The 484-room Comwell Copenhagen Portside, Dolce by Wyndham will be developed in the heart of Copenhagen’s largest dockland development, Nordhavn. It will be next to a metro station and close to many businesses as well as the UN city. The new hotel will feature 18 conference and meeting facilities, a bar and restaurant. This property marks the first hotel in Copenhagen entirely operated by the Comwell chain.

Let’s take a look at some more hotel projects by Wyndham: