Wyndham Hotels Prioritizes Contactless Travel with New App

Need to Know

• The massive global hotel franchising company has launched a new iOS and Android app that prioritizes low-contact experiences for travelers.
• New features include mobile check-in and checkout, the ability to text the front desk, and a digital room key.
• Wyndham operates approximately 9,000 hotel properties across 90 countries.

Analysis

As the travel industry looks for ways to ensure a safe return for customers amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, global hotel chain Wyndham has relaunched its mobile app, prioritizing contactless experiences for travelers.

The revamped app, which is now available on iOS and Android, features frictionless options such as mobile check-in and checkout, as well as a digital room key and the ability to text the front desk. Wyndham’s Lightning Book function, also available within the app, allows users to see the nearest Wyndham hotel and book a stay in as few as three taps. The app’s “In-Stay Mode”, which users can access while they’re at a Wyndham property, displays local attractions and personalized stay details, while the “App Passport” allows travelers to track their experience and earn points and rewards.

“More than ever, travelers are seeking drive-to accommodations and Wyndham offers the power of established brands that they know and trust,” Jessica Davidson, SVP of Digital for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said in a press release announcing the new app. “For everyday travelers, especially those traveling during the pandemic, this app is a game-changer, delivering the features guests expect today alongside a robust foundation for the future.”

Additional features include an easy-to-use account management dashboard, where travelers can update their payment methods and check their Wyndham Rewards points balance, and a panel displaying special offers and promotions.

Davidson added that the new Wyndham app “could not have arrived at a more critical time”, as the coronavirus pandemic has led travelers to expect “streamlined, low-contact experiences.”

This app allows our thousands of franchisees to help deliver upon those expectations, while providing the easiest and fastest possible path to booking direct,” she continued. “It’s a win-win both for our guests and for our franchisees.”

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, which is based in New Jersey, currently operates more than 9,000 individual hotel properties in 90 countries; the new app’s features will apply to approximately 6,000 economy and midscale hotels. The chain’s brand includes the La Quinta, Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, Howard Johnson, and Travelodge brand, among others. Nearly 90% of the chain’s hotels are in drive-to locations (rather than large cities), which—in addition to its modest price points—may give Wyndham a leg up on its more urban competitors, as car travel has increased in popularity throughout the pandemic.