Wyndham has officially announced a slew of initiatives; covering technology, sourcing, loyalty and marketing, to help hotel owners better serve guests, while simultaneously bringing down costs, unlocking operational efficiencies, and bolstering their bottom line.
Talk about these initiatives on a slightly deeper level; we begin from the one focused on adopting new best-in-class technology. Named as Wyndham Connect PLUS, this particular effort treads up a long distance to enhance Wyndham’s existing guest engagement platform by further embedding AI across the guest journey.
Not just that, features like automated AI text messaging and voice assistance further make it possible for guests to easily book stays, ask questions, and access tailored recommendations, whereas on the other hand, newly integrated self-service check-in solutions help hotels free up critical staffing resources.
Markedly enough, qualified franchisees can pilot the new platform at no extra cost through the end of the year.
Wyndham also took this opportunity to introduce Wyndham Gateway, which would be a new guest Wi-Fi portal that provides a consistent, centralized login experience. The stated portal arrives on scene bearing an ability to unlock a new hotel revenue stream using Wi-Fi upsell opportunities. As it does that, the program also eliminates loyalty enrollment requirements for any hotels leveraging the platform.
Such a one-two combination should be able to help franchisees turn a staple guest utility into a must-have, high-impact upgrade.
Next up, the hospitality giant unveiled Wyndham Marketplace, a novel hotel shopping platform meant tp work alongside the new Wyndham PriceIQ. The idea here is to make it faster and easier for owners to find, compare, and purchase brand-approved products at deeply negotiated rates.
Beyond that, Wyndham confirmed a partnership with sbe’s- Everybody Eats food and beverage solution to let hotel owners offer chef-driven, restaurant quality offerings without the need for extensive equipment or large back-of-house operations.
More on the partnership aspect would reveal how the company will also collaborate with HUB International, the 5th largest insurance brokerage firm globally, to deliver affordable, high-quality insurance at the disposal of owners. As a result, Wyndham franchisees can now enjoy transparent and tailored solutions capable of ensuring compliance with Wyndham brand standards, improving coverage, and lowering costs.
Another detail worth a mention is rooted in the expansion of company’s leading hotel rewards program i.e. Wyndham Rewards®, something which will be achieved through the new Wyndham Rewards Experiences initiative.
This new program will tap into the company’s partnerships with world-renowned sports and entertainment brands, including Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Minor League Baseball, and Caesars Rewards, to allow members to use their points for bidding on premier live events, as well as unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Wyndham Rewards members will also, soon enough, have access to new dining perks. Emerging from an industry-first partnership between Wyndham and Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar®, the development in question will allow Wyndham Rewards members to earn points when they place a mobile order with any of nearly 1,500 Applebee’s restaurants nationwide, all while enjoying free hotel delivery.
Hold on, there is more, considering we haven’t yet touched upon Wyndham’s plans of launching a bold new portfolio-wide marketing campaign: Where There’s a Wyndham, There’s a Way, a campaign which will unite, for the first-time ever, both Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Wyndham Rewards under one singular identity,
The stated program is expected to run through fall and appear nationwide across TV, streaming services, online video, social, out-of-home, search, and metasearch.
Rounding up highlights would be the company’s aim to evolve how it reimburses hotel owners for free night stay redemptions. You see, currently governed by occupancy, reimbursements will soon incorporate guest satisfaction scores to reward and recognize hotels delivering great guest experiences.
“As the world’s largest hotel franchisor, we believe in putting hotel owners first. That means listening to their needs and responding with solutions that help them take their business to the next level. Whether it’s our #1 rated rewards program, our best-in-class technology, or our top-tier sales, marketing and operational support—everything we do, every decision that we make, is grounded in their long-term success,” said Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
