Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. - WH STOCK NEWS

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Lafayette Square investment firm to provide up to $100 million in financing opportunities for diverse hotel owners. The initiative supports Wyndham's BOLD (Black Owners and Lodging Developers) and Women Own the Room programs, which have already resulted in over 100 hotel deals with Black and women hoteliers. Dr. Amina James became the first Wyndham franchisee to receive financing through this partnership, enabling her to acquire and upgrade the Wyndham Lake Charles property in Louisiana. The collaboration aims to address financing inequities in hospitality by providing capital access to qualified diverse hoteliers.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has launched Wyndham Travel Packages, an all-in-one booking platform allowing Wyndham Rewards members to book hotels, flights, car rentals, airport transfers, and activities in one place. The platform offers 10 points per dollar spent on hotels and activities, and 1 point per dollar on airfare, car rentals, and airport transfers. Through December 31, 2024, members can earn double points on all travel packages, with travel completion required by December 31, 2025. Members can enjoy up to 10% off travel package bundles and can use points to cover hotel costs. The platform currently requires package modifications within 24 hours of booking.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has achieved a significant milestone in China, signing nearly 600 direct franchise agreements across the country in five years. As China's largest U.S.-based hotel company, Wyndham operates more than 1,600 hotels and 180,000 rooms across 13 brands. The company's growth includes over 70 new direct franchise agreements in key markets during H1 2024, and nearly 300 direct franchised hotel openings since 2019. This expansion aligns with China's trajectory to become the world's largest travel and tourism market by 2035. The company has also introduced new brands like Hawthorn by Wyndham and La Quinta by Wyndham to the Chinese market.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has entered a 10-year development relationship with Reside to introduce Wyndham Residences in the U.S. The partnership brings five residence-style hotels that are open or under development, targeting top 50 U.S. markets. Two locations are currently open: Reside Seattle Downtown (55 rooms) and Reside Houston Downtown (79 rooms). Future locations include properties in New Orleans (22 rooms) and two in Washington D.C. (81 and 67 rooms). The properties offer upscale amenities including fully equipped kitchens, in-unit laundry, and WiFi, catering to both long-term stays and shorter getaways.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) reported strong Q3 2024 results with system-wide rooms growing 4% year-over-year. Global RevPAR increased 1% in constant currency. The company achieved diluted EPS of $1.29, up 7%, and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.39, growing 6%. Net income was $102 million, slightly down 1% from prior year. Adjusted EBITDA increased 4% to $208 million.

The company's development pipeline grew 5% year-over-year to a record 248,000 rooms, with 197 new development contracts awarded globally. Wyndham returned $126 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. The company raised its full-year 2024 EPS outlook while reaffirming other guidance metrics.

Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) reported strong third quarter 2024 results with net income of $97 million and net revenue of $993 million. The company achieved $1.39 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations and adjusted EBITDA of $242 million. Volume per guest remained above $3,000 with a 4% increase in tours year-over-year and new owner tours up 9%. The company returned $105 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Management expects fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA between $240-260 million and reaffirmed full-year guidance.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has signed an exclusive development agreement with NILE Hospitality LLP to introduce its Microtel by Wyndham brand to India, marking the eighth Wyndham brand in the country. The partnership aims to open 40 Microtel hotels by 2031, targeting key Tier II, III, and IV cities. This strategic move aligns with India's infrastructure development and growing hospitality market.

Microtel by Wyndham, known for its efficiency and modern design, will debut in India with the first hotels opening in 2025. Each property will have a minimum of 50 keys and feature amenities tailored to regional needs. This expansion is part of Wyndham's robust growth strategy in India, where it currently has 60 hotels and expects 25% growth in the next 18 months.

The agreement leverages Wyndham's global presence and NILE's regional expertise to tap into India's expanding economy lodging segment. Franchisees will benefit from the Wyndham Advantage, including access to innovative technology and the Wyndham Rewards program with approximately 110 million enrolled members.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has launched Accelerator Circle, a new initiative to enhance its BOLD (Black Owners and Lodging Developers) and Women Own the Room programs. This initiative provides exclusive access to Wyndham's network of existing owners and industry experts through quarterly, small-group virtual meetups. The Accelerator Circle aims to fast-track hotel openings and maximize performance for diverse hoteliers.

The BOLD and Women Own the Room programs have already resulted in over 90 hotel deals with Black and women hoteliers, with more than 20 hotels now open. The Accelerator Circle will focus on topics such as securing financing, hotel renovations, development, and operations. The first session will be led by WaterWalk CEO Mimi Oliver, discussing how to optimize relationships with franchisors.

BGL Real Estate Advisors has successfully completed the brand conversion and financial restructuring of three new Wyndham hotels, totaling 397 keys, for owners Ceres Enterprises and The Orlean Company. The properties include the 113-key Wyndham Avon (OH), 132-key Wyndham Noblesville (IN), and 152-key Wyndham Westfield (IN). BGL's team advised on the conversion process, sourced fresh capital, and negotiated with lenders to optimize operations.

The restructuring involved retiring previous brand Mezzanine loans, negotiating CMBS loan payoffs, refinancing with a bridge loan, raising preferred equity, and modifying existing loans. Amit Sripathi, CDO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, emphasized the benefits of joining the Wyndham brand, including global marketing and access to Wyndham Rewards. David Crisafi, President of Ceres Enterprises, noted a significant boost in top and bottom lines after switching to the Wyndham flag.