Wyndham Hotels testing waters to launch upmarket brand

After introducing its Ramada, Super 8 and Days Inn brands in India in the past one year, US-based Wyndham Hotel Group International is planning to launch its upmarket brand "� Wyndham Hotels and Resorts "� in the country soon.

Wyndham Hotel, a subsidiary of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, is studying the Indian market before rolling out this brand.

"There is a healthy market for our hotels in India and we are in talks with developers,'' said a Wyndham group executive. Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is a four-star upscale brand of the Wyndham Hotel group, which caters to business and leisure travellers.

Last week, the group had joined hands with engineering and construction major Gammon India to launch Super 8 and Days Inn brands in India. According to the seven-year agreement, Gammon India will build 40 Super 8 and Days Inn properties in the country in four years. While Gammon will own and manage the hotels, Wyndham will provide operational, sales and marketing support.

The Super 8 brand will be developed with around 61 rooms, priced between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500. The hotels will be located at highway destinations. The first hotel will be commissioned in the next 15-18 months. Gammon India will make a total investment of Rs 400 crore in the project. Gammon also plans to float a separate entity for its hospitality venture.

Last year, the Wyndham group entered into a tie-up with Royal Orchid Hotels to develop 10 Ramada hotels, totalling 1,000 rooms in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The Wyndham group has nearly 6,500 hotels and more than 541,000 hotel rooms in six continents. All hotels are either independently owned, franchised or managed by a group subsidiary.