Wyndham Gives Free Local And Long Distance Phone Calls To ByRequest Guests

DALLAS— In an aggressive marketing move, Wyndham International has created a program through which members of its Wyndham ByRequest guest recognition program receive free, unlimited, local and long distance phone calls, free high-speed Internet access, and free copying and faxing privileges, effective today. The promotional offer is being made to current and new members of the ByRequest program. Fred Kleisner, chairman and CEO of Wyndham, said the move was made when a survey of the program indicated that nine of 10 guests defined the value of free long distance and local calls as important. “And an informal survey of front desk managers also revealed the number-one complaint from hotel guests upon checkout is the cost of long distance calls,” said Kleisner. In an effort to quantify the savings this move could bring to guests, Wyndham published an estimate showing that one of its corporate clients, which books approximately 300,000 transient room nights per year, spends about $40 per person during the course of a two-night stay, on hotel phone charges alone. The savings for this corporation are in the region of $6.75 million over a year, or $67 million over 10 years, according to Wyndham To promote the new program, from June 5 through June 14, Wyndham at a variety of properties is inviting the public to make a free long-distance phone call at designated telephone booths, who locations will feature opportunities for participants to win free Wyndham vacations, getaways and room night vouchers.