Wyndham Hotel Group is focusing on growing its mid-market and economy brand portfolios across the Middle East, with plans for more Days Inn and Super 8 properties.
The company already has Days Inn properties in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and a Super 8 Motel in Riyadh but Ignace Bauwens, regional vice president, Middle East and Africa, Wyndham Hotel Group reveals there are plans to expand these brands further throughout the GCC and wider Middle East.
Speaking to Hotel News Middle East at Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, which took place on 25 – 27 April at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, Bauwens commented: “Growth is going toward the East. By 2030 we’ll have five million middle class people travelling on a budget. Then we have the millennials and Gen Z who travel differently. Ten per cent of our Super 8 portfolio is in China and automatically, with an influx of Chinese guests to the Middle East, it creates massive opportunities for investors here.
“It’s a standardised brand so people who come in understand what they get for their money and it’s an economy brand and the GCC and Middle East is now completely open and welcoming this. This is our strength – globally we’re the biggest player in these midscale and economy segments.”
In addition to the economy segment, Wyndham is growing its mid-scale Wyndham Garden brand, with properties to open in locations throughout the Middle East, including Manama, Dammam and Ajman.
This year, the largest Tryp by Wyndham – the operator’s select service urban brand – in the world will open in Dubai’s Barsha Heights, adding 650 rooms to the emirate.
In addition, Wyndham Dubai West Bay Marina is scheduled to launch, and the company is also expanding its five-star brand, Wyndham Grand, in Manama toward the end of this year.
“A lot of our 18 brands are coming to the region – we’re bringing more brands and that will strengthen our name,” Bauwens added.