Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is a prominent name in the hospitality industry, and is arguably the largest hotel franchise in the world. It is a US-based hospitality conglomerate with its headquarters in Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, United States. The hotel logo has undergone a few changes since its inception in 1981. The evolution of its logo reflects the growth, strategic shifts, and adaptation of the brand to market demands. This article explores the history and evolution of the Wyndham logo. It highlights key milestones and design changes over the years.
The Genesis of the Wyndham Hotel & Resorts Logo (1981-2006)
The original logo for Wyndham Hotel & Resorts featured a simple and elegant design and the wordmark “WYNDHAM HOTELS AND RESORTS” written in a black classic serif font in two levels. The first letters of the wordmark “W,” “H,” and “R” were comparatively bigger than the rest of the letters. The design featured the letter “W,” formed out of a series of strokes in white and placed against an oval in a shade of blue. The contours of the letter have a spinning top-like element at the top. This logo aimed to convey a sense of luxury and sophistication and was perfectly aligned with the initial positioning of the brand as a premium hotel offering.
Expansion and Rebranding (1990s)
As Wyndham expanded its portfolio through acquisitions, including Days Inn and Howard Johnson, the logo underwent modification to reflect the growing brand portfolio. The 1990s saw the introduction of a more modern logo that incorporated a stylised sunburst element in shades of yellow and blue to symbolise warmth and hospitality. This era marked Wyndham’s transition from a single hotel brand to a multi-brand hotel group.
(2006-2010)
In 2006, the logo for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts saw a change with the background of the design element turned into a square. The wordmark forming the brand name in three levels appeared in a sky blue and black colour scheme and in a sans-serif typeface.
(2010-Present)
With the spinoff of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts as a standalone company in 2018, the logo was further refined to create a cohesive brand identity across its various properties. The updated logo featured the word “WYNDHAM” written in a bold, modern sans-serif font. The tagline “HOTELS & RESORTS” was added to emphasise the brand’s diverse offerings below, separated by an inverted arch in blue. This rebranding effort aimed to enhance brand recognition and streamline the customer experience across all Wyndham properties.
The Elements of the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Logo
Font
The font used in the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts logo is a modern sans-serif typeface. This choice reflects a clean and contemporary aesthetic, which aligns with the brand’s focus on providing a seamless guest experience. The sans-serif font ensures the brand name to be easily recognisable across various platforms and marketing materials. The boldness of the font emphasizes strength and reliability, which are essential qualities in the hospitality industry.
Colour
The primary colour of the Wyndham logo is a distinctive shade of blue, often referred to as “Wyndham Blue.” This colour choice is strategic, as blue is commonly associated with trust, reliability, and tranquillity. These are qualities that resonate with travellers who seek comfort and assurance during their stay. The logo also incorporates white elements, which enhance clarity and contrast to ensure the brand stands out in various contexts.
The History of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Wyndham Hotels was founded in 1981 in Dallas, Texas, by Trammell Crow, who was the president of the Trammell Crow Company. The brand aimed to offer upscale accommodations and quickly gained recognition for its quality service. In 1990, the company laid the groundwork for future expansion by establishing Hospitality Franchise Systems (HFS), which was designed to acquire and manage hotel franchises.
By 1995, HFS had acquired several notable hotel brands, including Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Ramada, and Super 8. This expansion marked the beginning of Wyndham’s transformation into a multi-brand hotel group. In 1997, HFS merged with CUC International to form Cendant Corporation, which further enhanced its market presence. The Wyndham brand was acquired in 1998 by Patriot American Hospitality, which later rebranded itself as Wyndham International. In 2005, Wyndham went private after being acquired by the Blackstone Group, a private equity firm. This acquisition allowed Wyndham to focus on its core operations and prepare for future growth.
In 2006, Wyndham’s hotel and timeshare businesses were spun off from Cendant Corporation as Wyndham Worldwide. This separation allowed Wyndham to establish a more focused identity in the hospitality sector. The company continued to grow by acquiring brands such as United States Franchise Systems (2008), TRYP by Wyndham (2010), and Dolce Hotels and Resorts (2015). In 2018, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts was formed as a standalone publicly traded company, thereby cementing its position in the market. The company launched a new loyalty program, Wyndham Rewards, which enhanced customer engagement and brand loyalty.
Since its spin-off, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has continued to expand its portfolio by acquiring the La Quinta brand in 2018 for $1.95 billion. As of 2024, the company boasts a diverse portfolio of 25 hotel brands, including Days Inn by Wyndham, Ramada by Wyndham, and Super 8 by Wyndham, among others. Wyndham has positioned itself as the largest hotel franchisor globally, with approximately 9,200 hotels across over 95 countries. It caters to a wide range of travellers, from budget-conscious to luxury seekers.
Interesting Facts About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
- Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is the largest hotel group in the world in terms of the number of properties it possesses. It has a presence in over 95 countries with about 9,200 hotels.
- The properties of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts comprise urban luxury hotels, roadside hotels, and beachfront resorts.
- Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is known for its matchless attention to detail and offers one-of-a-kind experiences for guests.
- The hotel group is named after a decorated soldier, Sir Henry Wyndham, who had fought gallantly at Waterloo.
- Wyndham Hotels & Resorts boasts of 25 iconic hotel brands. These include Super 8 and Days Inn in the economy category, while Wyndham Grand is in the luxury category.
- Wyndham Hotels & Resorts runs an award-winning loyalty program called Wyndham Rewards.
- Wyndham Hotels & Resorts offers an international cage-free policy. According to this policy, egg-laying hens are to be freed from cages.
- The board of directors in the hotel group is elected by stockholders. The directors are often experts with knowledge in a particular segment or industry connections.
- The New York property of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has a Tick Tock Diner, which was once home to clubs, namely the Brooklyn Dodgers and the famous baseball player, Joe DiMaggio.
Finally
The evolution of the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts logo reflects the journey of the brand from a single hotel in Texas to a global leader in the hospitality industry. Each iteration of the logo has been strategically created to reflect the growth, values, and commitment of the company to quality service. Finally, with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts continuing to innovate and expand, its logo is likely to evolve further to remain relevant in an ever-changing market.