Wyndham International Develops New Franchise Partnership With Aimbridge Hospitality
Thursday May 8, 4:54 pm ET
Eight Wyndham Garden Hotels Mark First Agreement Between the Two Companies
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2003--Wyndham International, Inc. (AMEX:WBR - News) announced today a new franchise partnership with Aimbridge Hospitality, a newly formed, Dallas-based hotel management company, led by former Wyndham executives, Les Bentley and Dave Johnson. The management of eight Wyndham Garden Hotels recently purchased by Crow Holdings marks the first agreement between Wyndham and Aimbridge Hospitality, and serves as Aimbridge's maiden voyage into the hotel management arena.
"Many of the senior people at Crow Holdings and Aimbridge Hospitality were instrumental in building the Wyndham brand, and more specifically, developing the Wyndham Garden Hotel concept," stated Wyndham International Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Fred J. Kleisner. "As franchise partners, we now look forward to building these former associate relationships into mutually successful business futures."
Aimbridge Hospitality Chief Executive Officer, Dave Johnson stated, "While leaving Wyndham after 15 years with the company was a difficult decision, this was an opportune time to build a hotel management company by capitalizing on the industry's current cycle. Additionally, the new franchise partnership allows me to keep my Wyndham affiliation close at hand while expanding my efforts into other upscale, hotel brands."
Wyndham properties now managed by Aimbridge include:
Wyndham Garden Hotel - Charlotte, N.C.
Wyndham Garden Hotel - Brookfield, Wis.
Wyndham Garden Hotel - Novi, Mich.
Wyndham Garden Hotel - Dallas Park Central
Wyndham Garden Hotel - Pleasanton, Calif.
Wyndham Garden Hotel - Wood Dale, Ill.
Wyndham Garden Hotel - Schaumburg, Ill.
Wyndham Garden Hotel - Overland Park, Kan.
This new partnership between Wyndham and Aimbridge is the Wyndham brand's largest franchise agreement to date.
Crow Holdings, Aimbridge's capital partner for the eight Wyndham Garden Hotels, is a group of international holding companies that own and direct the investments of the Trammel Crow family and its invested partners. The Crow family founded Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in 1981, and remains one of the company's largest shareholders.
Wyndham International, Inc. offers upscale and luxury hotel and resort accommodations through proprietary lodging brands and a management services division. Based in Dallas, Wyndham owns, leases, manages and franchises hotels and resorts in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. For more information, visit www.wyndham.com. For reservations, call 800-WYNDHAM.
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Contact:
Wyndham International, Inc.
Darcie Brossart, 214/863-1335
dbrossart@wyndham.com
