Wyndham Hotels & Resorts reported a strong growth trajectory in Asia-Pacific in 2020, overcoming global uncertainty to achieve a series of important hotel openings, major milestones and a strong pipeline of new properties scheduled to launch in 2021 and beyond.
In a year of significant challenges for the travel and hospitality industries, Wyndham opened more than 125 new hotels and signed a further 140 properties in Asia-Pacific last year, putting it in a leading position in the industry with more than 1,500 hotels in 20 regional markets and territories.
This year, the growth is expected to continue with an estimated 40% increase in openings or approximately 180 hotels anticipated to open in Asia-Pacific. Through its robust pipeline of directly franchised and managed hotels, alongside strong relationships with master franchisees, the company is on track to reach 2,000 hotels in Asia-Pacific within the next three years.
“Strong partnerships with our owners will be key to our continued growth and our mutual success,” said Joon Aun Ooi, president, Asia-Pacific, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “We are building on the momentum achieved in 2020, as industries gear towards recovery in 2021, and our robust openings and hotel deal executions will pave the way for continued growth for the company. With so many great hotel openings and signings, it is a testament to the enduring confidence that our partners have in Wyndham’s world-class brands. As we expand our scale, our reach, our distribution and our base of loyal Wyndham Rewards members, we will help create even greater benefits for everyone in our value chain.”
Alongside the company’s support measures for its existing hotel owners and partners, these openings will put Wyndham in the best possible position to benefit from pent-up demand once travel restrictions eventually ease which is expected to occur in the coming months, the company reports.
Accelerated growth in 2021 builds on milestones in 2020
Wyndham introduced five of its brands to new markets across the region in 2020, as Howard Johnson by Wyndham launched in Cambodia, and Japan welcomed its first Wyndham Grand and Wyndham Garden hotels. In addition, Asia-Pacific’s inaugural Dolce by Wyndham and La Quinta by Wyndham hotels were launched in Vietnam and New Zealand respectively.
Greater China continued to show a strong appetite for Wyndham’s brands and concepts in 2020, according to the company. In total, it executed more than 100 agreements across the country last year, including the signing of an agreement to introduce the Dolce by Wyndham brand to Foshan in the Guangdong province, as well as the introduction of Ramada Encore by Wyndham to Hualien, Taiwan.
More than 100 hotels are expected to open in Greater China this year, and its expansion drive starts with the conversion of the 346-room Wyndham Xinyang Downtown, located in the central business district, the first Wyndham hotel in Xinyang, Henan, as well as the Microtel by Wyndham Tianjin, the first of seven Microtel hotels expected to open this year.
Other key openings anticipated this year include Wyndham Beijing Airport and China’s first La Quinta hotel in Weifang, Shandong province. The Wingate by Wyndham brand will be boosted by the launch of Wingate Beihai Yintan, located in Guangxi province. Meanwhile in Taiwan, TRYP by Wyndham will launch in Linkou, New Taipei City.
Thailand is another strategic market for Wyndham, and the company opened two hotels in 2020 including the launch of Wyndham Grand Nai Harn Beach Resort Phuket and the rebranding of Ramada by Wyndham Bangkok Chaophya Park.
The company plans to open seven new properties in 2021 in destinations across Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. Key openings this year are expected to include Wyndham Bangkok Queen Convention Centre, Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Bangkok Sukhumvit 48, Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Sukhumvit 87 and Wyndham Garden Bangkok Sukhumvit 42, all of which are located in Bangkok’s central business district, along with Wyndham Atlas Wongamat Pattaya, Wyndham LaVita Resort Phuket and Wyndham Garden Platinum Kamala Phuket. Within the next three years, Wyndham intends to open as many as 20 hotels located in destinations such as Pattaya and Phuket.
In Vietnam, Wyndham accelerated its market presence with the introduction of three new hotels in 2020, including several landmark properties. Dolce by Wyndham Golden Lake Hanoi became the brand’s first Asia-Pacific outpost in 2020. The expansion of its upscale offerings includes Wyndham Sky Lake Resort & Villas in Hanoi and the Wyndham Grand Flamingo Dai Lai Resort.
Four additional hotels are expected to be unveiled in Vietnam this year, including the recently opened Wyndham Grand Flamingo Cat Ba, followed by Wyndham Soleil Danang, which will become Danang’s tallest building, according to the company, as well as Wyndham hotels in Quang Binh and Phu Quoc, In total, Wyndham’s portfolio in Vietnam is forecast to almost triple by 2024, from seven to more than 20 properties nationwide.
Wyndham maintained its strong position in South Korea in 2020, with the opening of three new hotels situated in Gumi, Yeosu and Chuncheon. These include Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Dolsan Yeosu and Ramada by Wyndham Gumi. Looking ahead, a series of new Wyndham and Wyndham Grand hotels are due to start operating in South Korea in the coming years.
As part of its multi-brand strategy in Australasia, the company recently opened its LQ by Wyndham Remarkables Park Queenstown which marked the debut of La Quinta in Asia-Pacific. In New Zealand, three new hotels are anticipated to open this year under the Ramada by Wyndham and Wyndham Garden brand in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch. Other new launches ahead include two new TRYP by Wyndham hotels, which will mark the brand’s debut in New Zealand.
More than 15 hotels are in the development pipeline for Australia, including the arrival of new brand concepts like the Wyndham and Wyndham Garden in South Australia, TRYP by Wyndham in Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, as well as the arrival of Wyndham Grand brand in Adelaide.
