During the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in May 2023, Sleeper’s Deputy Editor sat down with leaders in hospitality to discuss projects, performance and pipeline.

Having posted strong first quarter results for 2023, Wyndham’s President & Managing Director for EMEA Dimitris Manikis talks emerging markets, 

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How would you describe Wyndham’s pipeline at present?

At Wyndham Hotels & Resorts EMEA, we are in an interesting stage of our evolution as a division. A number of things have happened across Europe and the Middle East, right after Covid, which made our plans more interesting in terms of where we will go in the future. First of all, we acquired a new brand – Vienna House – for Central Europe, which was a major move. From an acquisition perspective, it was an optical move because we believe in the growth potential of the European market, as well as the Middle East.

Secondly, the growth is spreading into new markets – for instance we have record openings coming up in 2023 in the CIS region, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia and so forth. That wasn’t a surprise as we had a strategy to grow in those destinations, having foreseen the infrastructural growth and investment in the belt road connecting China to Europe, but the acceleration of our plan came post-pandemic.

Where else is the group looking to grow?

Another region that is growing is India, which is officially the world’s most populous country. The infrastructure and development forecasted for the next ten years is phenomenal, including the way they are connecting tier two and tier three cities. People will therefore need somewhere to stay and plays into our hands, being the leaders in economy and mid-scale. The country’s development will give us the opportunity to not only showcase brands, but also the power of Wyndham in making travel possible for all. For us, the future of India is not just about the tourism within India. There is huge potential for inbound travel too, with visas becoming easier to obtain and the construction of new airports making it more accessible. All of this will make India an international destination going forward.

Saudi Arabia also cannot be overlooked and its plans are inclusive, because they understand that their offering must be rounded and appeal to the middle class. For Wyndham, that is a huge opportunity. Now, the country is looking for partners in opening to the midscale and economy sector. In the next four or five years, we expect our portfolio in Saudi Arabia to be strong, with brands such as Ramada and Wyndham Garden. I am also keen to introduce Vienna House to the Kingdom, because from a lifestyle perspective it fits with what they are trying to achieve. From our budget brands, we are excited to see how Super 8 and Days Inn develop as the tier two and tier three cities need a simpler accommodation model. All in all, our pipeline is positive and our focus on emerging markets is paying off.

Tell us about some of the Wyndham’s recent and forthcoming developments…

In Saudi Arabia, the new Ramada Encore signals a beautiful prototype of the brand in such an important market. I’m also excited about our Ajul Luxury Hotel & Spa Resort in Halkidiki, which marks our first Registry Collection in Europe and is a collaboration with Zeus International Hotels & Resorts, one of our key partners in Greece. Turkey also continues to grow – it’s already our largest market in terms of the number of hotels within one country – and we have some exciting properties coming up, so stay tuned for more details.