Wyndham Worldwide to add 50 hotels in India by 2018

Global hospitality major Wyndham Worldwide is planning to add 50 hotels over the next three years as part of its expansion plans in the country.
The US-based firm will also add 35 affiliated resorts in India under its vacation exchange arm RCI network during the same period as it looks to tap one of the fastest growing markets in the world.
"We plan to add 50 hotels in India by end of 2018. We currently have 25 hotels here. We will also be adding 35 affiliated resorts in the country in the next three years," Wyndham Worldwide Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen P Holmes told PTI.

The company, at present, has 130 affiliated resorts that are operational in India with 60 partners, including Mahindra Holidays.
"We signed 10 hotel deals last night," Holmes said, adding that RCI had signed up three affiliated resorts last month.
Out of the 10 hotels, eight will be in India while two will be in the countries of Indian region. The time share resorts are all in India, he added.

Commenting on the potential of the Indian market, Holmes said it "is becoming one of the fastest growing travel markets in the world".
"Right now India represents a small portion of our overall business but no market is growing faster than Indian market and it has a greater potential particularly in the timeshare side in the world. It will have a much larger share for us in the future," he added.

The penetration of timeshare ownership is very low in India and it has great potential for growth, Holmes added.
The company's global portfolio encompasses virtually every type of travel accommodation -- from hotels to timeshare to vacation rentals and more, he added.
When asked about the investments the company plans to make for expansion, Holmes said: "Our investments are in technology, people and in marketing side."
Emphasising on the growth the company has had in timeshare segment, RCI President Gordon Gurnik said: "On timeshare side in the last five years we have grown by 40 per cent growth in the number of affiliated resorts in India."

RCI, which has about 1.25 lakh active members in India sees enormous potential of growth given the factors such as youthfulness of Indian population, desire to travel in the country and abroad.
It has over 4,500 affiliated resorts around the world in more then 100 countries and with around 3.8 million members.
Wyndham Hotel Group has around 7,700 properties globally with 6,68,500 hotels rooms under recognisable brands in categories ranging from upper-upscale to economy.
Wyndham Worldwide, offers customers a broad suite of hospitality products and services across various accommodation alternatives and price ranges.