Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN) announced that Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO of

the global hospitality company's timeshare exchange and vacation rental division will succeed departing hotel division President and CEO Eric Danziger, who is leaving the company to pursue personal interests effective March 28, 2014.

"During the

past five years, and through some very challenging global economic conditions, Eric provided leadership that strengthened Wyndham Hotel Group's service to its franchisees, expanded its hotel management offerings, and significantly grew its global footprint," said Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and CEO, Wyndham Worldwide. "As a well- respected hotel industry veteran, Eric brought real passion for hospitality to Wyndham, and leaves our hotel division set on a strong course for the future. We thank him for his leadership, congratulate him on his legacy within our industry, and wish him all the best in the future."

Ballotti joined Wyndham in 2008 as president and CEO of

Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, the global leader in timeshare exchange and in professionally managed vacation rentals, with a portfolio that encompasses over 107,000 vacation properties in over 100 countries.

Prior to joining

Wyndham Worldwide, Ballotti spent 20 years in various leadership positions at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. During that time, he served as president of the North America division where he led a portfolio of 450 hotels with 65,000 associates. His previous leadership roles included real estate development, call center and travel distribution management, marketing, sales, and regional multi-brand managed and franchised hotel and hospitality operations throughout North America and Europe.

"Geoff brings a unique perspective that combines his extensive experience

building and growing storied hotel brands, as well as his proven track record of leveraging synergies among diverse hospitality segments and businesses throughout the world and at Wyndham Worldwide," said Holmes. "Over the past six years, Geoff has led aggressive growth for our exchange and rentals businesses in both geographic reach and innovative offerings to customers. I am excited to now ask him to continue his leadership at Wyndham Hotel Group to further grow and strengthen our iconic hotel brands around the world."

Part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of

hospitality companies, Wyndham Hotel Group is the world's largest hotel company based on the number of properties. With approximately 7,490 franchised and managed hotels and over 645,400 hotel rooms around the globe, Wyndham Hotel Group is home to many of the world's best-known hotel brands that include: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®, Ramada®, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Wingate by Wyndham®, Baymont Inn & Suites®, Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham®, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham®, TRYP by Wyndham®, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge® and Knights Inn®.

Following

Ballotti's transition to Wyndham Hotel Group, Gail Mandel, chief financial officer of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals will assume additional responsibilities as chief operating officer for the division, reporting to Holmes. Wyndham Exchange & Rentals encompasses RCI, the global leader in timeshare vacation exchange, which today provides flexible vacation options to its approximately 3.7 million subscribing members each year to almost 4,500 affiliated resorts in over 100 countries; and Wyndham Vacation Rentals, the world's largest professionally managed vacation rentals business, providing access to approximately 103,000 vacation rental properties across Europe and North America.

Mandel began her career at Deloitte & Touche, and has over

20 years of financial and business experience in the hospitality divisions of HFS Incorporated, Cendant Corporation, and Wyndham Worldwide. In her past four years as CFO, Mandel has helped grow Wyndham Exchange & Rentals in close collaboration with Ballotti and the president and managing directors of its exchange and vacation rental companies who, along with the division functional leaders, will now report directly to her.

"In her additional role as COO, Gail will leverage her years of hospitality

industry experience to steward the ongoing growth of our timeshare exchange and vacation rental businesses, where each has strong trajectories and proven leadership teams in place," said Holmes. "We have built an exceptional culture at Wyndham Worldwide which continues to attract the best talent in the industry, and these transitions reflect the depth of our leadership and sound strategies that consistently drive our strong results."

About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world's largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,200 hotels across over 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 872,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 24 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. The Company's award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers over 106 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.

The Company may use its website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Disclosures of this nature will be included on the Company's website in the Investors section, which can currently be accessed at www.investor.wyndhamhotels.com. Accordingly, investors should monitor this section of the Company's website in addition to following the Company's press releases, filings submitted with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any public conference calls or webcasts.

About Wyndham Rewards

Named the number one hotel rewards program by readers of USA TODAY, Wyndham Rewards® is the world's most generous rewards program with more than 50,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide.

Designed for the everyday traveller, members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and may redeem points for a wide range of rewards, including free nights at any of the approximately 9,100 hotels or tens of thousands of vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally through affiliation with Wyndham Destinations and others. Wyndham Rewards has over 103 million enrolled members globally. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com. You've earned this. ®

Michael Valentino
Director, Communications
973-753-8372
Wyndham

Related