Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Reaches Major Milestone in its Women Own the RoomSM Initiative
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced that its Women Own the RoomSM endeavor has hit a major milestone. The Parsippany, New Jersey-based hotel chain has surpassed 15 hotel openings and signed more than 50 hotels since it first launched the initiative just over two years ago. Its network of female hotel owners has grown to more than 550 and has broken down the barriers faced by women in terms of hotel ownership. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Castell Project, women comprise almost 60% of the hospitality workforce. However, only one in 10 women make up hotel leadership.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Vice President of Strategic Franchise Initiatives, Galen Barrett, commented about Wyndham’s role in promoting women to leadership roles in the hotel business, stating, “For decades, the hotel industry has been complacent in allowing women to remain on the sidelines of hotel ownership and, in turn, has missed out on the opportunity to strengthen itself through greater diversity. Women Own the Room, and the subsequent programs it has inspired throughout the industry are finally changing the narrative, and Wyndham is proud to lead the way.”
The Women Own the Room initiative provides a suite of resources, including marketing and distribution training, personalized operational support, revenue management, and a networking community to support women seeking hotel ownership. One of the program’s founding members is Christina Lambert, a former television and film producer. Lambert entered the hotel business in 2020 after buying two hotels in Colorado, but only after facing common obstacles women face, including getting approved for financing. Shortly after buying the hotels, Lambert partnered with Wyndham, and she has seen revenues for her hotels climb by 29% and 26% year-over-year.
“Wyndham has played a pivotal role in my success as a first-time hotelier, which I credit not just to the accessibility and responsiveness of leadership but their willingness to work with me on an individual basis to help my hotels thrive. Through Women Own the Room, Wyndham is actively investing in women, and in doing so, they’re changing the face of the hotel industry,” Lambert said.
Learn more about Wyndham’s Women Own the Room here:
https://development.wyndhamhotels.com/women-own-the-room/
Panera Bread Raising Unlimited Sip Club Subscription Price
Panera Bread’s subscription drinks program, Unlimited Sip Club, recently increased costs by 25%. The new monthly subscription is priced at $14.99 plus tax, three dollars more than its previous price of $11.99. However, its annual subscription rate will remain the same at $119.99 plus tax.
Panera’s Unlimited Sip Club offers consumers more than 20 beverage choices in any size, including its lemonade, fountain drinks, hot and iced teas and coffees, and Charged Sips. The chain’s espresso and cold drinks are excluded from the subscription. During regular hours, members can receive one drink every two hours, along with free refills.
Panera Bread recently announced that it was overhauling its menu in April, adding nine new offerings while upgrading 12 current ones. The Fenton, Missouri-based chain also plans to cut some items from its menu, including some of its specialty drinks and flatbread pizzas.
Panera first experimented with a subscription program in 2020 when the company introduced a coffee subscription. The coffee program was successful, with more than 600,000 paid subscribers by the end of the first year. Later, Panera expanded the program’s offerings, including more beverages, and launched its Unlimited Sip Club in spring 2022. The program’s perks have helped grow Panera’s primary loyalty program to almost 48 million members.
Watch this Panera Bread Unlimited Sip Club promotional video on TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@panerabread/video/7195989277405121838
Hilton Grand Vacations Matching American Red Cross Contributions During Annual Early Giving Day Campaign
Timeshare and vacation ownership brand Hilton Grand Vacations announced that it is partnering for a third year to support disaster relief efforts with the American Red Cross. On March 19, during the company’s “Early Giving Day” fundraising campaign and to celebrate Red Cross Month, the hospitality giant pledged to match Red Cross donations dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000.
“At Hilton Grand Vacations, we’re committed to stepping up to support the communities in which we live, work, and vacation,” said Mark Wang, CEO and President of Hilton Grand Vacations. “The Red Cross is always ready to mobilize a team in crisis situations. It’s an honor to support our long-term partner and help them continue to create positive change and resilience in communities across our nation.”
“The Red Cross is responding to nearly twice as many large disasters as we did a decade ago to help families and communities struggling with more frequent and intense disasters. Last year’s onslaught of extreme weather events is an example of why it’s so critical for us to have the resources and support in place to meet emerging needs — which is only possible with the generous support of donors like Hilton Grand Vacations,” said Michael D. Brown, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross of Central Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In 2023, a staggering $92 billion in weather-related disaster damage was recorded, with economic impacts extending beyond injuries and illnesses. Many lost homes and possessions as well. The Red Cross mobilizes a team every eight minutes to respond to emergencies so disaster victims have the necessary resources. The nonprofit humanitarian organization also provides support to 1,500 military members, veterans, and their families each day and collects 40% of the blood supply for patients in need within the United States.
Learn more about how you can contribute to the American Red Cross here:
https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/
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Original Article Links:
Wyndham’s Women Own the Room Initiative Drives Over One Dozen Hotel Openings
Panera Bread increases Unlimited Sip Club price
Hilton Grand Vacations Partners with American Red Cross to Support Urgent Disaster Relief for “Early Giving Day” Campaign