International hotel franchising group Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has been looking to improve the balance of its portfolio, prioritising growth and hotel signings outside its home US market.
In the first half of 2024, the company revealed the level of success achieved towards its aim of building a stronger presence across the EMEA region. During the period, the group signed 27 new hotels to its pipeline, while it opened 22 new properties, resulting in the addition of a net 1,400 new rooms to the portfolio.
Continued growth momentum
For Wyndham, the numbers contributed to a sixteenth consecutive quarter of growth in its global development pipeline. The latest additions took Wyndham’s EMEA scale to more than 90,000 rooms open and trading.
“The continued rebound in leisure and business travel has been driven by a growing demand for both popular and emerging destinations, as well as experience-focused trips,” said EMEA president Dimitris Manikis. That rebound was evident in Wyndham’s half year results, showing a 15% improvement in revpar for its existing hotels in the region.
He added: “We’re continuing to build on our footprint of incredible hotels across the region, and when you couple that momentum with the Wyndham Advantage, it’s a win-win for owners and guests alike.”
In the UK, the group opened its second Super 8 hotel, in Durham, following the brand’s entry into the UK market in 2023. Further Super 8 hotels are planned for Berlin Spandau and Frankfurt airport.
The Dolce brand also saw progress, opening in Cesme, Turkey and in Versailles, France. A refurbishment of another of the wellness-oriented brand’s resorts is planned for the established site in Bad Nauheim, Germany, in the coming months.
India presents great opportunities for hotel groups, as the country’s massive population enjoys an uplift from economic growth. Wyndham recently opened a Trademark Collection hotel in Amritsar, Ramada Encore in Udaipur Roopnagar; and a Ramada branded hotel at Gorakhpur Gorakhnath Mandir Road.
From economy to luxury
Its India pipeline includes Wyndham Garden hotel projects in Sonipat Murthal, Charbagh, and Lucknow Agra. Also in Lucknow, it will launch a 91 room Howard Johnson hotel in 2025, while the brand will also open a hotel in Bhubaneshwar. And at the luxury end of its portfolio, Wyndham is planning a Wyndham Grand resort hotel in Jaipur. The 310 room hotel, set in expansive grounds, will feature guest villas, shaded pools, and large banqueting facilities designed to host not just business events, but weddings too.
And Turkey remains a key priority market for Wyndham, where it now has close to 120 hotels open. During the first half of 2024 it added the FT Lotus Thermal Hotel & Spa to its Trademark Collection, opened Wyndham Datca Perili Bay and La Quinta by Wyndham Cesme. The group has a further 25 hotels in its pipeline in Turkey, including the Wyndham Garden Hotel Cambasi, a 240 room luxury new build scheduled to launch at the end of 2024.
