DALLAS— Wyndham International has a new room type designed to provide updated amenities and technology-related services for all of its guests. Called the Room That Performs, the new room type will be available at all Wyndham-owned hotels by the end of the 2001 first quarter, and at all Wyndham branded hotels by the end of 2001. Comfort and productivity are at the heart of the new room model, which embraces high-speed Internet access, a multi-function cordless telephone, superior desk chair and luxury bedding. Input from Wyndham’s current customer base helped create the new offering, which is expected to help the brand compete more effectively in the marketplace against other chains that have also standardized such items. “We did a lot of research on the ideal guest-room— a few year’s worth of research— so we know that this is what our customer wants,” said Jeff Wagner, senior vp/brand programs at Wyndham International. Plus, because Wyndham owns the majority of its properties, the company can implement these upgrades quickly. As for non-Wyndham-owned properties, items will be replaced “as needed” throughout next year, said Wagner, who noted that the process would obviously be accelerated to complete the installation by the end of 2001. To make it easy for all hotels to upgrade, Wyndham has set up a system via its purchasing division that will allow owners to purchase one item at a time or the entire package, explained Wagner. Wyndham has already spent $25 million on the program in 2000. Once complete, more than $50 million will have been spent on the upgrades, according to Wagner (including individually owned hotels). The new Room That Performs includes: high-speed Internet access provided by Wayport, with T1 lines for easy and fast accessibility; two-line cordless phones by Teledex; ergonomic desk chairs designed by Herman Miller; and a pillow-top mattress specially designed by Serta and featuring Joseph Abboud pillows and coverlets.
