Group items tagged

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' Women Own the Room surpassed 15 hotel openings and 50 signings in just over 24 months. The program has expanded its network to more than 550 women, leveraging Wyndham's scale to break down barriers to hotel ownership, Wyndham said in a statement. "For decades, the hotel industry has been complacent in allowing women to remain on the sidelines of hotel ownership and in turn, has missed out on the opportunity to strengthen itself through greater diversity," said Galen Barrett, Wyndham's vice president for strategic franchise initiatives. "Women Own the Room and the subsequent programs it has inspired throughout the industry are finally changing the narrative and Wyndham is proud to lead the way." According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Castell Project, although women comprise nearly 60 percent of the hospitality workforce, they hold only one leadership position for every 10 men.

A NEW ENVIRONMENTAL, social and governance report released by Choice Hotels International highlights steps that would allow the company to reduce utility costs, save time for franchisees, and increase Choice's ESG commitments. Those steps include new energy- and water-saving technology, diversity goals for hotel ownership and more. The report entitled "Building a Better Tomorrow, Today" lays out the company's plan to being a good corporate citizen, according to a release. "Choice Hotels shares a uniting belief that tomorrow will be even better than today, and we are committed to building that better tomorrow," said Patrick Pacious, Choice's CEO, in the report. "As one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world, we are building on more than 80 years of success in developing a portfolio of diversified brands and creating a lasting, sustainable legacy for the future - one hotel, one family, one community at a time." Key findings The report further details measures being undertaken by Choice to integrate ESG standards and principles into its long-term decision-making and operations, including: Reporting Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions for the first time and aligning ESG disclosures with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board standards and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Appointing an executive with knowledge of the business as vice president, sustainability and creating two new ESG governance forums to strengthen Choice's ESG strategy and execution. Joining the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, a global network that champions responsible hospitality, and becoming one of its largest members. Relaunching HERtels by Choice, driving a 53 percent year-over-year increase in the company's hotel franchise deals with woman owners. Committing $25 million in incentives for contracts with underrepresented minority and woman owners by 2025. Setting a goal to increase the representation of women in senior leadership roles to 50

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS recently launched "IHG LIFT," an owner growth program aimed at providing hotel development support for historically underrepresented groups in the hospitality industry and promoting diversity within IHG's hotel owner community, the company said. The new program seeks to remove shared barriers to hotel ownership within these groups, promoting diverse owner-entrepreneurs for success. IHG will invest more than $30 million over the next five years to aid the program, offering support, capital access, and guidance throughout the hotel lifecycle for eligible owners in the U.S. and Canada. The IHG LIFT program name stands for leadership, inclusivity, facilitation and transformation, reflecting the necessary change and ongoing evolution within the industry, a company statement said.

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."

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.