Travel + Leisure Co. was delighted to sponsor and present at the recent AHICE conference held in Adelaide, where industry leaders shared insights on the latest trends, market analysis, and forecasts for the hospitality sector.

Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) is the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company, with nearly 20 travel brands across its resort, travel club, and lifestyle portfolio, including vacation ownership brand Club Wyndham, the first vacation exchange network, RCI, and Travel + Leisure GO, the signature subscription travel club inspired by the pages of Travel + Leisure magazine.

One of the conference’s highlights was a keynote Q&A with Travel + Leisure Co. President and CEO, Michael Brown, who discussed the growing appetite for leisure travel and the company’s strategy for diversifying its reach through brand partnerships.

• Brown emphasized Travel + Leisure Co.’s competencies in consistently delivering great customers, revenue flow, and loyal members to enhance its partner hospitality and experience brands.
• He also spoke about the renewed demand for mid and long-haul travel, further bolstered by the strong return of cruising and sporting events, and how people have returned to travel with a YOLO (You Only Live Once) mentality.

Furthermore, Brown explained how timeshare is now a big brand industry that is experiencing strong year-on-year performance, with the consumer value proposition of timeshare rising by 20-30% as hotel room rates continue to rise.

Advantages of mixed-use resort developments, and the opportunities they present to hotel owners.
A hot topic at the conference was the benefits of mixed-use resort developments in minimizing risk and maximizing yield for hotel owners. Running a hotel that accommodates both vacation (timeshare) owners and hotel guests offers hotel owners cost-sharing advantages and multiple revenue streams, with year-round high occupancies of vacation club inventory.

Barry Robinson, President and Managing Director of International Operations, Wyndham Destinations at Travel + Leisure Co., also spoke at the conference about the company’s growth across the Asia Pacific region. Robinson discussed the company’s expansion through acquisition, tuck-in acquisitions, and hotel management services, highlighting New Zealand as a market where Travel + Leisure Co. is seeking out opportunities.

If you missed these sessions, recordings will soon be available online for free and exclusive to AHICE delegates. We invite you to learn more about Travel + Leisure Co. and its services, and to stay tuned for future announcements and opportunities.

For hotel management enquiries contact: david.wray@wyn.com

GOLD COAST (24 APRIL, 2023) – Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific Vice President Legal and Compliance Asia Pacific, Donna Borthwick, has been recognised at the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) awards, widely regarded as the most competitive in the international timeshare industry.

Donna, based on the Gold Coast in Australia, won the Legal and Regulatory Manager category against a competitive field of the best legal minds from North America and internationally.

“Donna is a senior figure and key influence in a legal team frequently recognised for innovation, collaboration and a longstanding commitment to compliance. She is considered one of the leading lawyers in the Australasian timeshare industry and, within our business, a model example of professionalism and teamwork for emerging leaders,” said Barry Robinson, President and Managing Director, International Operations, Wyndham Destinations.

“ARDA was particularly interested in the work Donna conducted in collaboration with other teams within our business to develop a method of timeshare sales that ensures ongoing compliance and improved guest satisfaction, while also developing a new quality assurance process,” he added.

A professional contributing across the business, Donna also recently led the international chapter of the company’s Women in Travel diversity resource group – which helps develop and advocate for emerging women leaders – and is a director and active volunteer for Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific’s philanthropic arm, which has raised more than AU$600,000 for children’s charities.

This month marks 10 years for Donna at Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific and she has been recognised repeatedly during that time by her colleagues, the legal profession and timeshare bodies both nationally and internationally. Her most recent recognition was at the international GNEX Vacation Industry Awards, where she took out the Best Legal Services category.

The ARDA awards are committed to recognising the best nominees in disciplines including sales and marketing, product design, advertising, communications, resort design and overall professional excellence. North America is currently the biggest timeshare market in the world and, by extension, the industry body’s awards are seen as the most competitive.

Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific is part of Wyndham Destinations, the largest vacation ownership company globally and a business unit of Travel + Leisure Co., which is the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company.

ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA (MARCH 15, 2023):  TRYP by Wyndham Pulteney Street Adelaide has opened and welcomed its first guests. The brand-new, $50 million 120-room hotel is South Australia’s first TRYP hotel, and presently Australia’s only TRYP by Wyndham branded property.

“TRYP by Wyndham is a unique, urban, lifestyle boutique brand with a global presence. Every TRYP embodies the local flavour, rhythm, and beat of cities around the world, offering guests a personal retreat at the heart of an amazing cosmopolitan experience,” said Warren Cullum, Senior Vice President, Operations Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific.

The brand is millennial-focused with creative designs, tech-savvy features, and social spaces. TRYP Pulteney Street Adelaide has put its own urban twist on the brand, to reflect Adelaide’s amazing and vibrant local culture, character, and history.

“It is the perfect time to be opening this uniquely Adelaide hotel experience,’’ said Mr Cullum.

“South Australia has recovered to 90 percent of its pre-pandemic record tourism investment high of $8.1 billion. Interstate, and intrastate, travellers are looking for new reasons to visit Adelaide. What better reason than to be one of the first guests to stay at this world class hotel, right in the beating heart of the city,’’ he said.

The hip and colourful TRYP by Wyndham Pulteney Street Adelaide features three categories of guest rooms: Standard, which will be studio-sized; Deluxe, with superior finishes and fittings; and six more spacious corner suites and Executive Suites on the 11^th floor with an eye-catching design and the highest level of finishes and fittings. The hotel has a gym, library, business centre, and a boardroom capable of hosting small meetings for up to 10 people.

The menus at both the hotel’s Z Bar and Z Café feature fine South Australian wines and craft beer, inspired by the best very best local produce on offer.

TRYP by Wyndham Pulteney Street marks the first hotel development build for South Australian property company, the Ginos Group.

“With TRYP by Wyndham Pulteney Street, we have delivered an iconic building for Adelaide’s skyline,’’ Zis Ginos, Director Ginos Group said.

“We are confident that over time it will become an Adelaide treasure – a place where memories are created, and the best of Adelaide is celebrated,” he said.

Centrally positioned on Pulteney Street in the CBD, the hotel is close to Adelaide Zoo, Botanic Gardens, MOD, Art Gallery of South Australia, and the Adelaide Oval. Business travellers will appreciate the proximity to the city’s corporate offices, while Calvary Adelaide Hospital is also across the street.

Ben Schumacher, Vice President of Operations Southeast Asia & Pacific Rim, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, said, “We are thrilled to see TRYP Pulteney Street Adelaide open its doors today. South Australia is the fastest growing state for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in Australia with six hotels under five different brands set to open in the coming years.”

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has appointed Resort Management by Wyndham, to manage TRYP Pulteney Street Adelaide. Resort Management by Wyndham is a division of Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific, and currently manages 45 properties across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Southeast Asia.

The hotel is celebrating its opening with a limited opening special with rates starting from $155 per night between March 15 and April 30, 2023. To book visit: tryphoteladelaide.com

SINGAPORE (12 APRIL, 2023) – Starting 15 April 2023, Wyndham Sundancer Resort Lombok will welcome guests back after three years with special packages offering up to 30% off on bookings made by 30 May 2023 for stays until 24 December 2023.

Positioned on Lombok’s southwest coast, the five-star resort now boasts one- and two-bedroom suites, and seven new, elegantly appointed hillside villas with private infinity pools and more.

“We closed the resort during the pandemic to upgrade the amenities, introduce free activities, and add luxurious, new hillside villas designed for travelers seeking a next level of exclusivity. The result has been well worth the wait, and we are thrilled to welcome guests back and delight them with these enhancements that will make their stay in Lombok more memorable than ever,” said Michael Burchett, Director of Operations, Indonesia, Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific.

Each villa is fully air-conditioned for added comfort and was specifically designed with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise air flow throughout the generous living spaces. Wi-Fi, modern appliances, locally sourced décor, and bathrooms with showers and oversized bathtubs further enhance the overall guest experience, making Wyndham Sundancer Resort a perfect base from which to explore Lombok’s nature and cultural wonders.  

Whether hiking Mount Rinjani, the second-highest volcano in Indonesia famous for its crater lake view; visiting Tiu Kelep Waterfall, one of Lombok’s most picturesque waterfalls, or taking a short boat ride to the Southern Gili islands for diving and snorkelling, there is plenty to see and do. Tour bookings are among the resort’s amenities, along with:

• a large lagoon-style pool with a children’s area and swim-up bar
• a fitness centre
• a day spa with sauna and treatment rooms
• multiple dining options serving local and international cuisine.

The resort is one of seven properties in Indonesia managed by PT Wyndham Hotel Management, a local subsidiary of Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific. Others are in Bali, Surabaya, Jakarta, and Palembang and fall under the Wyndham and Wyndham Garden brands.

For bookings and more information on the reopening packages with stay inclusions, please visit www.wyndhamsundancerlombok.com.

GOLD COAST (14 MARCH, 2023) – Australian-based staff at Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific have been recognised at the GNEX Vacation Industry Awards, some of the most prestigious international recognitions in the timeshare industry.

An Asia Pacific timeshare leader, Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific won Best Interior Design for a refurbishment of the three-bedroom Presidential apartments at Club Wyndham Airlie Beach, while Vice President of Legal and Compliance Donna Borthwick was recognised with Best Legal Services. This is the sixth time in a row the business or a team member has received the legal award.

“We are thrilled to once again to be recognised in the global timeshare industry for the properties we develop for our vacation owners and our commitment to compliance,” said Barry Robinson, President and Managing Director, International Operations, Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific.

“Credit particularly goes to Donna and the rest of our legal team, who have been acknowledged across the industry for such a long time – six years – as a group encouraging innovation and working with their colleagues on solutions that benefit our vacation club members.”

Donna is based in Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific’s Gold Coast office and is considered one of the leading lawyers in the Australasian timeshare industry. She recently worked with the company’s sales professionals to develop a revolutionary way of selling timeshare that has improved guest satisfaction and she leads the International Chapter of the company’s Women in Travel diversity resource group.

The refurbishment of the Presidential apartments at Club Wyndham Airlie Beach was one of Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific’s most ambitious renewals, costing $3 million. The apartments were originally three-storey homes that underwent a rigorous work program, including extended roof lines, new decking, sanded and polished floorboards and wool carpets in bedrooms. The apartments offer inside and alfresco dining settings, outdoor showers, spa bath, private cabanas, day beds, and a Bose sound system.

Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific oversees a collection of 70 hotels and resorts, markets and sells vacation ownership in Club Wyndham South Pacific and provides support to affiliate Wyndham Destinations International. Its resort portfolio encompasses Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Hawaii and Europe.

The company is a division of Wyndham Destinations, the vacation ownership business line of Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL), the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company.

PHUKET, THAILAND: Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay is growing its own fresh produce for guest meals through a specially-planted orchard and herb garden, in a push to be even more sustainable.

Team members have transformed a 6,000 square metre block of land above the resort with 160 coconut trees, 180 banana trees, 180 papaya trees, and four kinds of home-grown spices: lime, kaffir lime, lemongrass and fingerroot. All these are common ingredients in Thai cooking and the produce grown here will be served to guests.

“At Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay, we believe in being more sustainable wherever it is possible. Planting this orchard and herb garden makes use of land which was previously unproductive and lowers both the spending and consumption of the resort,” said General Manager, Dominic Egger.

“The quantities of fruit and spices will eventually be substantial enough to consistently supply all our food and beverage outlets onsite. Guests participating in our renowned cooking classes will also be able to go through this garden and pick their own fruit and spices to feature in their dishes,” he added.

Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay has four food and beverage outlets onsite: Latitude 98 Restaurant, serving popular Thai-infused meals and international favourites; Thabtim Café, offering an array of classic and mixologist crafted cocktails, alongside healthy drinks; The Deck, a laidback café with delicious burgers, pizzas and gourmet snacks; and the Infiniti Lobby Bar, serving innovative classic and sparkling cocktails until late in the evening.

As part of the initiative, food waste onsite will also be collected and used as fertiliser for these fruit trees and herbs. The resort team has also experimented with concepts like growing pineapples through discarded pineapple heads in order to further reduce waste and consumption.

To celebrate the recent planting and recognise the many team members who gave their time to the venture, resort team members were recognised with a “into-the-wild” barbecue lunch together on the site.

Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay recently received Level 2 certification under the Wyndham Green program, which involved the installation of water efficient shower heads, controls for all heating and cooling, conducted preventative maintenance and recycled hazardous materials. The resort’s team are committed to sustainability and regularly clean local beaches and recycle.

The 214-key resort is perched on the side of a spectacular cliff with sweeping views of the Andaman Sea and features two outdoor pools, a full-service spa offering traditional Thai therapies, fitness centre, and a large ballroom with sweeping views of the bay. The resort offers 152 private pool suites and villas, each with their own personal six or nine-metre pool overlooking the resort gardens or the Andaman Sea. It offers resort rooms and suites to guests and apartments used by members of Club Wyndham Asia and Innovative Holiday Club by Club Wyndham, two leading timeshare clubs in Asia Pacific.

GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND (NOVEMBER, 2022) – The Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific consumer finance team continues to hit new heights with two award wins and three finalists at the Australian Institute of Credit Management (AICM) Pinnacle Awards, recently held in Brisbane.

Training and Development Supervisor Paul Taylor and Projects Coordinator Jericho Ramos won the Credit Supervisor of the Year and Consultant/Solution Provider of the year respectively. Contact Centre Manager Kelly Bull, Consumer Lending Supervisor Cherese Aitken and Consumer Finance Officer Sarah Merritt were finalists in the Credit Manager of the Year, Credit Supervisor of the Year and Credit Officer of the Year categories.

“Our team manages a portfolio of close to $250 million in consumer loans and the levy budget of Club Wyndham South Pacific, one of the region’s leading timeshare clubs, meaning the team exhibits a broad range of skills while responding to varied scenarios and queries every day,” said Liam Crawley, Chief Financial Officer, Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific.

“We are proud of the skill, capability and commitment consistently shown by the 67 members of our Asia Pacific Consumer Finance team. These individual accolades came hot on the heels of the team winning Credit Team of the Year at the nationwide AICM Awards two months ago,” Mr Crawley added.

The 2022 Queensland Pinnacle Awards recognise the leading performers in the credit management industry and featured 20 finalists from leading companies across the state. With five finalists from its ranks, Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific was the best represented company at the awards. Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific is the largest timeshare development operation outside of North America. It markets and sells vacation ownership interests, and provides consumer financing, to members of Club Wyndham South Pacific, a vacation club with close to 60,000 members.

TOKYO, JAPAN (NOVEMBER, 2022): Wyndham Destinations, the world’s largest vacation ownership company and business line of membership travel giant Travel + Leisure Co., has expanded its operations in Japan with a new sales site in the capital, fresh resort experiences and a new hotel opening.

The sales site, situated in the Ichigaya MS Building in Tokyo, will welcome prospective customers and employ an additional 15 sales staff initially. It is part of a broader plan to introduce Japanese travellers to Innovative Holiday Club by Club Wyndham (IHC), a 20-year club concept promising to revolutionise how people take holidays.

“Prior to COVID-19, Japan recorded approximately 581 million domestic trips and welcomed 32 million overseas travellers, demonstrating both the popularity of Japan and the desire of its people to travel,” said Barry Robinson, President and Managing Director, International Operations for Wyndham Destinations.

“With 17 properties in some of Japan’s most beautiful locations, including Naeba, Atami and Onjuku, along with a strong footprint in nearby Hawaii and a growing portfolio in Asia, Japan is a market of strategic importance to us. We have more than 800,000 members in our diverse holiday clubs globally and we look forward to familiarising travellers in this market with what we offer.”

News of this expansion comes just weeks after Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific opened the 132-room Wyndham Garden Sapporo Odori, situated in the heart of the Hokkaido capital. The company currently oversees the management of 70 hotel and resort properties across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Europe, Southeast Asia and Japan. These include the 16 properties making up Japan’s Sundance Resort Club, which Wyndham Destinations acquired the rights to manage in 2019.

Wyndham Destinations is enhancing its marketing efforts in Japan and forging partnerships with other companies who can utilise vacation ownership, as well as adding a sales and marketing presence at some Sundance Resort Club properties.

Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific has set about endeavouring to improve the experience at its resorts in Japan. This has included adding free activities and complimentary equipment hire, personalising service, and improving sustainability through initiatives like allowing guests to opt out of daily housekeeping.

Wyndham Destinations Japan will use the new sales sites to generate interest in its newest product, Innovative Holiday Club by Club Wyndham, an award-winning concept giving members usage rights at thousands of properties around the world. The site will also provide product and services updates to Sundance Resort Club members. Innovative Holiday Club by Club Wyndham owns a portion of Sundance Resort Club Points and its members are also able to utilise all 16 Sundance properties.

Innovative Holiday Club by Club Wyndham is the result of extensive market research and development and offers a shorter-term commitment and a greater variety of ways to use points than other similar clubs, along with personalised service and industry-leading health and hygiene standards. It was developed by Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific, part of Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL), the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company.

Innovative Holiday Club by Club Wyndham points can currently be used to:

• Enjoy holidays at the 16 Sundance Resort Club resorts in Japan
• Stay at any Innovative Holiday Club by Club Wyndham resorts for the term of the club (until 2040)
• Stay at a range of Greenland Kang resorts across China
• Stay in hundreds of other holiday club properties across the Wyndham Destinations network
• Exchange points to stay in thousands of resorts with the world’s leading vacation ownership exchange company, RCI
• Exchange member points to stay at almost 9,000 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts properties globally
• Exchange member points to stay at thousands of vacation rentals around the world

GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND (18 November, 2022) – Seven-time world surfing champion, Layne Beachley, today caught waves with surfing enthusiasts from the Gold Coast and Brisbane business community to raise funds for charity at the Club Wyndham Corporate Surf Challenge.

Now badged Club Wyndham, this is the eighth year the Corporate Surf Challenge was held on the Gold Coast. Following a hiatus of two years, the event attracted a record number of participants this year, with 17 teams competing.

The challenge was created to support the FSHD Global Research Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to improve quality of life for people living with Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy (FSHD), a complex and progressive disease that wastes muscles. There is currently no treatment or cure.

The 17 teams that toook part in this year’s challenge included local businesses: Ray White Surfers Paradise, Harvey Norman Commercial, Multiplex, Bunzl, Coca Cola Europacific Partners, TK Elevator, Our Vacation Centre, Resolution Technology, Dignified Living, Lifestyle Panel, SJS Surfboards, RWSP, Bespoke Interior Solutions, XBC Business Technology, and teams representing Club Wyndham.

The Club Wyndham Surf Challenge is a tag team surfing competition run under the popular Surftag format with each team represented by four surfers. All teams competed in a single elimination first round, where the winners progressed to a quarterfinal, then on to a semifinal and a final. Judging was by Surfing Queensland and every member of the winning team received a custom-made surfboard by SJS Custom Surfboards.

“It’s great to see so many Gold Coast and Brisbane businesses get on board for this fantastic event.  We are so grateful to each participant for helping us support the FSHD Global Research Foundation on their quest to treat and find a cure for Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy. It is a debilitating disease that weakens the muscles in both adults and children, and can rob the ability to walk, talk, smile, blink or even eat,” said Barry Robinson, Wyndham Destinations President and Managing Director, International Operations.

Layne Beachley, who has been a long-time supporter of the event and has attended every year since its inception said, “It’s brilliant to see the Gold Coast and Brisbane business community swap their suits for the surf and compete on the waves for such a great cause.”

SINGAPORE (November 14, 2022) – Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific, a division of
Travel + Leisure Co., the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company with nearly 20 travel brands across its resort, travel club and lifestyle portfolio, has announced the appointment of Michael Parsons to the new role of Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications.

Prior to this appointment, Parsons served as Director, Strategic Merchant & Co-Brand Asia Pacific at Mastercard and Vice President Marketing & Strategic Partnerships Asia Pacific for Accor.

“Michael is a highly accomplished and dynamic executive who brings more than 20 years of hospitality and marketing expertise to the business. We are confident his strong background in branding and communications, digital performance, business development and experience leading international teams, will provide forward-thinking leadership to assist our expansion across Asia and other international markets,” said Barry Robinson, President and Managing Director, International Operations, Wyndham Destinations.

In his role at Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific, Parsons will oversee the marketing, communications and brand strategy of the company’s travel products and services — including its vacation clubs, e-commerce sites, and managed hotel portfolio.

Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific is the largest vacation ownership development business outside of North America, with more than 50 resort locations that provide a contemporary take on the timeshare model. Its industry-leading brands include: Club Wyndham Asia, Club Wyndham South Pacific and Innovative Holiday Club by Club Wyndham, which offer travellers the chance to own their vacations and explore places they’ve never visited before, year after year. The company is also a hotel management firm, overseeing some 70 resorts and hotels.

Educated in Australia, Parsons earned Bachelor degrees at Griffith University on the Gold Coast in Hotel Management and in Business, majoring in marketing. He relocated to Asia in 2008, where lived and worked in leadership roles in both Bangkok and Singapore. He has commenced his role today, November 14, and is based at the Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific corporate head office in Singapore.