Wyndham Sees Opportunity at the Top of the World With Plans to Open First Hotel in Nepal
Photo Credit: Wyndham's Indian subcontinent growth strategy is focused on the economy scale of the market. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Skift Take
Wyndham's optimistic growth plans around India's strong market fundamentals are great, but the company can't lose sight of the pandemic's continued grip on hotel recovery timelines.
The catastrophic impact of coronavirus on travel demand isn’t keeping Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from expanding and even introducing a new brand to the Indian subcontinent.
Wyndham announced plans this week to open its first hotels in Nepal and Bhutan over the next year while also moving forward with plans to grow its Hawthorn Suites brand in India. The company sees strong market fundamentals in the region for more of its economy and extended stay brands like Hawthorn, Howard Johnson, and Days Inn as well as the midscale Ramada brand, currently its biggest brand in India.
“I believe, in the post-Covid world, the brands will have a far stronger story to tell,” said Dimitris Manikis, president of Wyndham’s Europe, Middle East, Eurasia, and Africa division. “Why? Because we bring confidence, create the right infrastructure for owners and consumers to feel comfortable, bring technology, bring safety, and bring protocols and distribution channels.”
Wyndham’s initial
