La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham at Wisconsin Dells is one of the company’s newest properties (Picture: Wyndham)

Wyndham is opening 11 new-build hotels across the US, representing almost 1,000 rooms in total, in the first quarter of 2020.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is busy laying the foundations for long-term growth, opening 11 new-build hotels across the US in the first quarter of 2020 and continuing to develop its new-build pipeline, the company has reported. During Q1, the business also executed agreements for more than 25 future new-build hotels across the country.

Wyndham drives forward domestic travel candidates

The 11 new-build openings represent almost 1,000 rooms in total. And the company added that these schemes, which span its La Quinta by Wyndham, Wingate by Wyndham, Days Inn by Wyndham and Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham brands, are situated in locations well-suited for domestic, drive-to-leisure travel such as Miramar Beach, Florida; Houston, Texas; Spokane, Washington; and Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

Meanwhile, developers for Wyndham-branded hotels have broken ground on approximately ten new hotels in the US so far this year, including a Microtel hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas; a La Quinta hotel in San Antonio, Texas; an extended-stay Hawthorn Suites hotel in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.; and a Trademark Collection by Wyndham hotel in Leavenworth, Kansas.

“Despite a rapidly changing landscape for hotel developers around the world, a number of our owners are pressing forward with new construction projects in the economy and midscale segments, reinforcing our overall confidence in the long-term viability of our industry,” said Krishna Paliwal, head of architecture, design and construction for Wyndham.

“New-construction growth, however gradual, represents our optimism for the future of travel. Not only do our highly recognisable brands provide significant value to hotel owners who join the Wyndham family, especially during difficult times, but they also represent the consistent, trusted and affordable experience travellers will be seeking now more than ever before.”

Wyndham said that though construction has generally slowed across the industry, it “continues to welcome new projects while igniting its powerful conversion engine, which is fuelled by the strong value proposition across its portfolio of well-known brands”.

Hotel giant lines up more conversions

In the first quarter, Wyndham’s conversion pipeline grew by 8% globally year-over-year.

The company also said that the impact of Covid19 continues to change rapidly and many factors remain uncertain, but as the pandemic begins to abate in the US, Wyndham’s existing franchisees are likely to be well-positioned for recovery. The business operates a nearly 90% drive-to business in the US, with a concentration in the select-service chain scale segments – which have outperformed higher-end full-service hotels during the pandemic – and over 95% of its domestic guests originate within the US, making them less reliant on air travel.

Elsewhere, Wyndham recently announced ‘Count on UsSM’, a new long-term, multi-faceted initiative to build confidence among guests and support franchisees as it prepares to welcome back travellers to its US hotels. The initiative will immediately focus on further elevating health and safety protocols at Wyndham hotels in the wake of Covid19, shoring up critical supply chains and introducing new standards, training and guidelines grounded in guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Wyndham has also expanded its relationship with industry leader Ecolab, requiring consistent use of Ecolab’s Environmental Protection Agency-approved disinfectants in guestrooms and public spaces nationwide.