Wyndham CEO Geoff Ballotti: Strong demand drivers paint positive picture for the industry

New Franchise Offering - Wyndham Hotels and Resorts launches a new franchise offering for independent hotels in the economy lifestyle segment [1] - The offering targets the overlooked gap in the economy soft branded landscape, with over 30,000 economy hotels in the US, and over 50% of those not branded [2] - This allows small business owners to preserve their individuality while accessing Wyndham's sales, marketing, distribution, and technology [2] Hotel Benefits - Hotels gain access to Wyndham's distribution network, purchasing power, sourcing technology, and loyalty program [4] - Wyndham Rewards boasts high membership and recognition, lowering customer acquisition costs for hotels [5] - Hotels can attract guests directly, reducing reliance on online travel agencies and their higher commissions [6] Financial Performance & Market Sentiment - Year-to-date, Wyndham's stock is down approximately 18% [6] - RevPAR was down 3% in the second quarter, but earnings grew 5% and EPS grew 11% [7] - The company reported a record first half of openings and sees historic growth in its development pipeline [7][8] - There is optimism for the year ahead, with expectations for a positive turn in demand drivers [9] - One hotel ran 91% occupancy this weekend and is forecasted to run 90% occupancy this month [4]