The ramp up follows a successful 2023 for the group, during which it opened 158 hotels across the region, and signed 222 more into its growth pipeline. Wyndham CEO Geoff Ballotti kept up the pace in early March, signing no less than 27 new hotel agreements during a four day visit to the region and adding upcoming hotels in countries including Greater China, Thailand and Cambodia.
New country markets
During 2023, the group expanded its presence by launching nine of its brands into eight new country markets across Asia Pacific. Those were Wyndham Grand, Wyndham, Hawthorn, Tryp, Trademark Collection, Ramada Encore, and Howard Johnson. One of those launches was in South Korea, where in November the group opened Wyndham Grand Ijin Busan. The 271 room property boasts views over a breathtaking coastline, while being just 20km from Gimhae International Airport.
The trend towards blended business and leisure trips, or “bleisure”, is presenting a new dynamic in the region, said Joon Aun Ooi, Wyndham’s President, Asia Pacific. “Bleisure tourism across the Asia Pacific region continued to recover nicely in 2023, creating unprecedented opportunities for Wyndham and our franchisees.”
The group started 2024 with a slew of signings in another significant and substantial market in the region, India, and in Nepal. These include a 66 room Ramada being developed in Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, due to open in 2025.
The Wyndham Garden brand is also growing. Later this year, a 46 room hotel will open under the brand in Chitwan, a district of Nepal. And in 2025, a Wyndham Garden will open in Lucknow, the capital and largest city in Uttar Pradesh.
Building the Ramada brand
Ramada is another fast-growing brand in the region, with recent signings including Ramada Potheri, Chennai, Ramada Bodh Gaya Mahabodhi, Bihar and a Ramada Encore in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. And in February 2024 the group signed the 109 room Ramada Kathmandu Dhumbarai, which is expected to open later in the year.
On a grander scale, Wyndham also signed to launch a 310 room Wyndham Grand Hotel & Branded Residences in Amer, Jaipur. The hotel, to be developed by Fine Acers Hotels and Resorts Pvt Ltd, will open its doors in 2027.
