Wyndham Worldwide Announces Division Executive Appointments
Geoff Ballotti to succeed departing hotel division President and CEO Eric Danziger
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...
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 nearly 885,000 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 25 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 approximately 110 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit wyndhamhotels.com.
About Wyndham Rewards
Part of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH), the world's largest hotel franchising company, Wyndham Rewards is the #1 hotel rewards program as named by readers of USA TODAY. Members—approximately 120 million enrolled around the world—earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and can redeem for free nights starting at just 7,500 points. With more than 60,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally, no other hotel rewards program is more generous. Join for free at WyndhamRewards.com.