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WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS launched the "Accelerator Circle", a community platform for diverse hoteliers, offering BOLD and Women Own the Room franchisees access to Wyndham's network through quarterly virtual meetups. These sessions focus on accelerating hotel openings, maximizing performance and reinforcing the company's commitment to diversity, Wyndham said in a statement. "Navigating hotel ownership isn't easy, with many owners facing the same challenges over and over," said Galen Barrett, Wyndham's vice president of strategic franchise initiatives. "Wyndham's Accelerator Circle connects a dynamic community for Black and women entrepreneurs who haven't always had the support of our industry. It's a space for owners to exchange knowledge, learn from seasoned pros, and the expected result? A more diverse industry with a new wave of empowered, savvy owners." Wyndham's BOLD and Women Own the Room focus on building a supportive community to enhance diversity in hospitality, while Accelerator Circle connects owners to foster shared learning and growth within an engaged network, the statement said. The initiatives have resulted in more than 90 hotel deals with Black and women hoteliers, with more than 20 hotels currently operating across the U.S.

WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS and investment firm Lafayette Square, led by Abhay Patel as managing director, recently launched a funding program to improve capital access for diverse hoteliers. The new program will support Wyndham's BOLD and Women Own the Room initiatives. Wyndham will work with Lafayette Square to connect qualified owners, aiming to provide up to $100 million in financing over the coming years. While not all will qualify, eligible hoteliers can use the funds to advance projects stalled by limited financing, the companies said in a joint statement. Amina James, a Wyndham franchisee and BOLD by Wyndham member, is the first hotelier to receive funding for her Wyndham hotel in Lake Charles, Louisiana. "Because of Wyndham's support, the credibility they saw in me, and their connection to Lafayette Square, I can now say I own two hotels," said James. "BOLD and Women Own the Room are actively changing hospitality by forging the path-and knocking down the barriers along the way-to make hotel ownership possible. That's a vision and a mission I'm proud to be part of."

BLACK HISTORY MONTH is a time to think about unity in general and hoteliers of all races acknowledged that this year. AAHOA observed the month, as did others in the industry through actions and testimonials. A way to engage the local community California hotelier and philanthropist Sunil "Sunny" Tolani in a recent article discussed the importance of the month to him. Tolani is CEO of the Prince Organization in Anaheim, California, and in an interview with New York Wire magazine, he discussed diversity and his company's participation in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in January. The event supports a sense of family among his employees, Tolani said. "Employees make time to volunteer and the MLK Day of Service is a great way we engage with our local community while honoring the legacy of Dr. King," Tolani said. "Whether we plan on cleaning up a public space, mentoring and providing internships to young people, mentoring our staff, inviting the local students to tour the back of house hotel operations, what they do makes a world of difference. Our entire organization felt a sense of pride at what we were able to achieve." Tolani said supporting minority rights also builds meaningful relationships within the communities in which they operate and "taps the passions of millions of guests."

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY is March 8, and hotel owners and large hospitality companies are taking time to make sure the women in the industry are reaching their full potential. Recent data shows women are improving their position in the industry, but more remains to be done. For California hotelier Sunil "Sunny" Tolani, that means giving female employees at his company, The Prince Organization, special training and time off for health care. For Tina Burnett, recently promoted chief development officer at G6 Hospitality, home company of Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands, it means making sure women are included in the same way as their male colleagues. "At our company, we believe women to be just as smart and capable as men-if not more so and there are intelligent and highly competent," Tolani said. "The traits generally associated for good hospitality as good social skills, warmth, compassion, expressiveness, generosity and altruistic impulses. We are focusing on the next generation of women hoteliers and convey to them that really extraordinary careers can be made in our widely diverse Hospitality industry."

RED ROOF ADDED more than 30 women to its ownership community since 2023 through initiatives such as Road to Inclusivity and Diversity in Entrepreneurship with Red Roof, and SHE, inspired by Red Roof. RIDE connects aspiring owners with lenders, while SHE supports women in hospitality with articles, insights and best practices. Also, Lina Patel, Red Roof's director of strategic franchise initiatives, will join a March 18 roundtable at the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference in Atlanta to discuss self-belief and authenticity in business, Red Roof said in a statement. Aligned with Red Roof's mission through RIDE and SHE, the Hunter session "Bet on Yourself at the Table" will explore how hoteliers can enter any space with confidence and conviction.