Earlier in June, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts debuted its 21st brand, Registry Collection Hotels, making an entry into the luxury resorts business. It opened a flagship property — the 144-room Grand Residence Riviera Cancun, a Registry Collection Hotel, in Cancun, Mexico.
Dimitris Manikis, President, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts EMEA tells Vinita Bhatia what distinguishes Registry in the company’s portfolio and its owner-first approach it does not plan to dictate and prescribe every single aspect of the guest experience.
What prompted Wyndham to step into the luxury resort segment, given that its focus has largely been on guests visiting economy to midscale hotels?
Luxury was one of the hardest segments hit amid the challenges of the pandemic. Now, a growing number of independent owners are seeking out proven and established partners to help them recover.
Many luxury hotels had to temporarily close, while others saw significant drops in occupancy. The economy and midscale segment fared better and were sustained by essential workers and travellers seeking safe and socially distant getaways.
Registry Collection Hotels fills an important space at the upper end of our portfolio, allowing us to very selectively provide support to independent hoteliers who meet the highest standards of luxury service and accommodations. Through Registry Collection Hotels, hotels can maintain their independent spirit and individuality while tapping into Wyndham’s scale, services and distribution as well as its loyalty programme.
What is the ethos of the Luxury Registry Collection Hotels? How will it be distinctive from the other 20 brands in the Wyndham stable?Â
Registry Collection Hotels adds a luxury offering to the upper end of Wyndham’s growing brand portfolio. Handpicked to deliver incredible experiences in spectacular destinations, its hallmark is the allure of their unmistakable individuality, elevated by thoughtful design and world-class service.
What distinguishes Registry in Wyndham’s portfolio—aside from its segment—is the character and individuality of its hotels as also the elevated level of service that guests receive. Each hotel in the collection is distinctly different, showcasing the best of a destination while delivering a unique and memorable experience. The unifying thread is thoughtful design and premium service.
What is Wyndham’s planned pipeline for Luxury Registry Collection in the next five years?
We’re currently in talks with a number of developers and owners and we look forward to sharing more in the months ahead. We estimate having 20 to 25 hotels open or under development over the next several years.
When can India expect to welcome Registry in the country?
We are currently in talks with several developers and owners and look forward to sharing more in the months ahead.
Many independent luxury resorts owners are reeling under immense pressure due to the pandemic, with poor revenues due to lower inflow of tourists and stringent lockdown measures. How will Wyndham work with them to revive their business for this new brand and get higher room occupancy in the immediate future?
As the pandemic eases, hoteliers—particularly independents—are looking for a partner who can help drive their recovery and build a brighter future together. With the arrival of Registry Collection hotels, we are being both thoughtful and realistic in how we look at the luxury space.
Wyndham is uniquely positioned to support independent owners, adding immediate and meaningful value through our unmatched scale while helping drive rate and occupancy. With this new brand, we continue our owner first approach and provide access to an experienced team of hospitality professionals and an array of services: strategic sourcing, global sales, revenue management, marketing and distribution, operations support, training and more.
What kind of sales, marketing and reservations support will Wyndham provide to these owners to drive more direct bookings at a lower cost of distribution?
Aligning with the sales, marketing and reservations support Wyndham provides to all our brands, we use our scale, to drive down cost, while enabling partners to tap into our global distribution platforms, best in class technology offerings and award-winning loyalty programme. Wyndham Rewards has 87 million enrolled members around the globe providing valuable visibility and engagement to our partners.
What kind of flexibility will Wyndham offer hotel owners when it comes to brand standards, so that they can focus on business recovery?
We provide an owner-first approach to hospitality, which has played a key role in the recovery of our partners. It also continues to be the cornerstone of what differentiates Wyndham from other hotel companies.
Owners and developers do business with us because they know us, they like us and they trust us and that’s what our owner-first approach is all about. Similar to how we approach partnerships with our Trademark brand, we are not planning to dictate and prescribe every single aspect of the guest experience. Rather, it’s our expectation that owners and hotel teams will leverage their independence and the individuality of their property to create something that excites guests. Attention to detail and elevated service are paramount and that’s what we’re focused on making sure hotels deliver.Â
What are some short and long term benefits that these properties will offer to Wyndham Rewards members?
All properties within Registry Collection Hotels participate in Wyndham Rewards, allowing members to earn and redeem points for their stays. Registry Collection Hotels follow the same redemption structure as all of Wyndham’s 20+ brands. Members can redeem a free night with Registry Collection Hotels for 30,000 Wyndham Rewards points per night and can earn 10 points for every dollar spent.
