WORLDWIDE: Wyndham’s Black Owners and Lodging Developers (BOLD) and Women Own the Room franchisees now have access to peer-to-peer connections and mentorship with the new Accelerator Circle.
Created on the foundation of building community for diverse hoteliers, the Accelerator Circle gives BOLD and Women Own the Room franchisees exclusive access to Wyndham’s network of existing owners and industry experts through quarterly, small-group virtual meetups focused on fast-tracking hotel openings and maximising performance.
Wyndham says the Accelerator Circle is a step towards the company being the world’s largest hotel franchisor to reinforce its commitment of bringing greater diversity to hospitality.
BOLD and Women Own the Room have resulted in more than 90 hotel deals with Black and women hoteliers with more than 20 hotels that are now open.
Galen Barrett, VP, strategic franchise initiatives, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said: “Navigating hotel ownership isn’t easy, with many owners facing the same challenges over and over.
“Wyndham’s Accelerator Circle connects a dynamic community for Black and women entrepreneurs who haven’t always had the support of our industry. It’s a space for owners to exchange knowledge, learn from seasoned pros, and the expected result? A more diverse industry with a new wave of empowered, savvy owners.”
In line with its Owner First approach to franchising, Accelerator Circle sessions will focus on topics that come directly from franchisees, including securing financing, hotel renovations, development and operations, among others.
Sessions will be led by industry professionals — spanning Wyndham team members, industry experts and owner peers — facilitating strategic, peer-to-peer discussions and providing insights focused on the real-time concerns owners face today.
Earlier this year we reported on the growth of Women Own the Room. According to data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Castell Project, while women make up nearly 60 per cent of the workforce in hospitality, they hold only one leadership spot for every 10 men.
Wyndham’s Women Own the Room programme, which has been running for two years, has helped prospective women hotel owners climb to more than 550. See more below.
Wyndham’s Women Own the Room helps more than 550 women hoteliers
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