Wyndham Plans to Woo Independent Hoteliers Closer to When the Bills Come Due
Wyndham isn’t hiding its plan to capitalize on distressed independent hotels and add them to the brand portfolio, but the hotel company can’t ignore the problem of rising coronavirus cases in markets that led the U.S. into a travel recovery.
It may be a brutal year for the hotel industry, but Wyndham Hotels & Resorts still sees opportunities for growth via struggling independent hotels.
Wyndham executives were among the first in hospitality earlier this year to predict independent hotel operators would rush to sign deals with major global hotel brands out of the pandemic due to travelers craving familiarity. Following what Wyndham calls the worst lodging quarter in history, company leaders are still bullish on independent hoteliers converting to a Wyndham brand like Days Inn or La Quinta.
"The conversion opportunity for us is important," Wyndham CEO Geoff Ballotti said Wednesday during an earnings call. "It's a big opportunity for us domestically and an even bigger opportunity for us internationally."
