LAS VEGAS—Wyndham Hotel Group is making a big push in the Asia/Pacific region, particularly in China, India, the Philippines and Korea.
|
Ken Greene |
Ken Greene, president and managing director, Asia Pacific, started the Hong Kong office for Wyndham 15 months ago, and growth has been on a fast track since then. “If there’s anything that keeps me up at night, it’s that business is booming,” Greene said during a break at Wyndham’s Global Conference at The Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. “We can’t be in front of everyone who wants to talk to us.”
Greene, who formerly was group president of Ramada, Days Inn, Howard Johnson and Travelodge, said Wyndham is the largest U.S.-based hotel company in China.
Indeed, China is the company’s biggest focus in the region with 250 hotels of the total 307 in Asia/Pacific: There are 148 Super 8 hotels open; six Wyndham Hotels and Resorts hotels and three more in the pipeline; 40 Ramada properties; 27 Howard Johnson hotels; 30 Days Inn Hotel & Suites, which are mid-to-upscale hotels with bars and restaurants, 24-hour room service and expanded meeting and banquet facilities.
Greene is optimistic about the opportunity in his new home. “There are 100 markets here with more than a million people,” he said. “ … These people are starting to travel. It’s built-in growth for years to come.”
EMEA development
The Europe Middle East Africa region for Wyndham also represents a growth vehicle. There are currently 348 hotels in the company’s portfolio in the region.
Michael Poynter, senior VP and managing director, EMEA, said the brand offerings are approximately 1 to 1.5 stars above their U.S. status, which also holds true in Asia/Pacific.
For instance, Ramada Worldwide is a strong upper-midscale brand in the Middle East and the United Kingdom.
The Ramada Encore product tier in Europe and Asia is a “hip” core hotel with 100-150 guestrooms, Poynter said. It caters to value-conscious guests with free high-speed Internet access, full buffet breakfast, expanded cable or satellite television, in-room coffeemaker and express check-out. Most properties also feature meeting facilities.
|
The Ramada Encore London West |
The all new-build brand is getting a lot of interest in the Middle East and Central Europe, according to Poynter. There are 18 Ramada Encore properties open in the region. The recent acquisition of Tryp Hotels by Wyndham represents a possible synergy, Poynter said. “The exteriors are different, but the brand essences are great.”
Tryp, which is in a different segment than Ramada, has a presence in Spain and Germany with 92 properties. Wyndham will expand its reach to the U.K., Poynter said.
The company currently is conducting research on Tryp’s essential elements, said Daniel del Olmo, senior VP for the brand.
“We know that Tryp guests come for the city experience in major markets, but it’s a brand that speaks to your needs,” he said.
Other development news:
- The Super 8 brand will be introduced to the U.K. in Liverpool;
- there is talk of a Days Inn in Saudi Arabia;
- the 210-room Wyndham Riyadh will be the first Wyndham in the region and is scheduled to open during the third quarter of 2011; and
- it will be five to 10 years before true limited-service brands will be viable in Asia.