Parsippany, N.J., 2014-10-21 — /Travel PR News/ — Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company with approximately 7,540 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced the appointment of Rui Barros as president and managing director of North America franchise operations.
In this role, Barros will be responsible for Wyndham Hotel Group’s field and brand operations functions, overseeing operational performance, ongoing franchisee support efforts and preferred client services for Wyndham Hotel Group properties in North America. He will be based in the company’s Parsippany, New Jersey offices.
A seasoned hospitality industry veteran, Barros has held a number of high-level operations positions with Wyndham Hotel Group. Most recently, he served as president and managing director, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean, responsible for Wyndham Hotel Group’s development, operations and cross-functional brand initiatives throughout the region.
Previously, Barros was brand senior vice president for the company’s Howard Johnson®, Travelodge® and Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham® hotel brands. He has also served the company as vice president of group operations, in which he played an instrumental role in establishing the company’s field operations efforts; and senior vice president of operations, Latin America, in which he provided oversight for all of Wyndham Hotel Group’s brands and services in that region.
“A proven leader with nearly 25 years of hospitality experience, Rui’s expertise will be extremely valuable as we continue to grow our brands in key markets throughout North America and optimize services to our partners, owners and franchisees,” said Bob Loewen, Wyndham Hotel Group’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Prior to Wyndham Hotel Group, Barros served in a variety of regional and property level management roles with SORA Management, Inc., in Las Vegas, Nev. and the Marquis and the Racquet Club, both in Palm Springs, Calif. He began his career as a front desk associate for a Wyndham® Resort and Conference Center, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Barros was honored with a Rising Star Award in 2001 by Travel Agent magazine, recognizing him as one of the travel industry’s top 100 leaders. He has also been recognized by Hotel Management, which named him an emerging hospitality leader in 2005. In 2009, Lodging magazine recognized Barros as a leader and visionary in brand management.
About Wyndham Hotel Group
Wyndham Hotel Group, part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), is the world’s largest and most diverse hotel company with approximately 7,540 hotels and 650,200 rooms in 71 countries under the hotel brands: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®, Ramada®, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Wingate by Wyndham®, Baymont Inn & Suites®, Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham®, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham®, TRYP by Wyndham®, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge® and Knights Inn®. In addition, the company has a license agreement to franchise the Planet Hollywood Hotels brand and provide management services globally.
All hotels are independently owned and operated excluding certain hotels which are owned or managed by an affiliate of Wyndham Hotel Group.
Wyndham Rewards®, the guest loyalty program of Wyndham Hotel Group, is the world’s largest lodging loyalty program as measured by number of participating hotels. It offers over 37 million members the chance to earn and redeem points for stays at over 7,000 hotels throughout more than 50 countries worldwide.
In addition to free stays, members may redeem their points for hundreds of reward options. For more information, visit www.wyndhamrewards.com.
Wyndham Hotel Group is based in Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S. Additional information is available at www.wyndhamworldwide.com. For more information about hotel franchising opportunities visit www.whgdevelopment.com. For Wyndham Hotel Group “@ a Glance”, click here.
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