Wyndham to add 15 new hotels in India by 2015 end

On an expansion spree in India, global hospitality major Wyndham Hotel Group will add 15 new fully operational properties across the country by end of this year. 
The US-based chain currently has 24 operating properties in India with a total of 2,500 rooms at various locations. 
"We will be opening about 15 new operating properties across the country by end of 2015," Wyndham Hotel Group Regional Vice President Indian Ocean Deepika Arora Said. 

The company is looking at locations in cities such as Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Darjeeling, Bengaluru, Raipur, Lucknow, Jammu and Jalandhar among others for this, she added. 

On being asked the business model  Arora said: "So far we have focused on the franchise model and we are the only company that offers all our brands under the franchise model but going forward we will also be evaluating management contract options." 
The company is also open to acquiring hospitality chains with management infrastructure for growth, she added. 

When asked about investments, Arora said: "We are an asset-light company and follow asset-light strategy so our investments are mainly on developing human resources, on marketing and on helping the client increase the revenue." 

India is an important key market for Wyndham Hotel Group and the company plans to tap India's hospitality sector that is mainly domestic-driven and is focusing on leisure and MICE segment. 
"India is one of the key markets for Wyndham from a growth perspective. We are focusing on leisure and MICE segment for growth as it has huge potential. We are also looking at destinations that are still untapped," Arora said. 

The company, which currently has properties under its Ramada, Ramada Plaza, Ramada Encore, Days Hotel, Howard Johnson and Wyndham Grand brands, said the 15 new properties would be mostly under the Ramada brand, there will be a Ramada Plaza, one Howard Johnson and couple of Days. 

Wyndham Hotel Group, part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation currently has 7,650 hotels and 661,000 rooms in 70 countries under its brands such as Dolce Hotels and Resorts, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, Wingate by Wyndham, Baymont Inn & Suites, Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, TRYP by Wyndham, Howard Johnson, Travelodge and Knights Inn.