Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is expanding into the upscale extended stay segment, launching a strategic relationship with industry innovator WaterWalk. The deal adds 11 hotels and over 1,500 rooms to the Wyndham ecosystem, rebranding them under the newly created WaterWalk Extended Stay by Wyndham brand, the 25th in Wyndham’s portfolio.
Located in key US markets such as Tucson, Jacksonville and Wichita, WaterWalk compliments Wyndham’s existing economy and midscale extended stay brands and caters to guests seeking a local, yet elevated stay with the comforts of home.
“In the last year, guest demand for the extended stay segment reached record highs,” says Chip Ohlsson, Chief Development Officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “Our vision is to offer the industry’s most robust portfolio of extended stay brands and the addition of WaterWalk marks an important step in that direction – helping ensure we have an offering in every segment, for every owner and for every guest.”
Innovative approach
WaterWalk was founded by the late Jack DeBoer, an extended-stay trailblazer who not only pioneered the segment but created some of its most well-known and successful brands, including among others, Residence Inn and Candlewood Suites. A successful entrepreneur and industry visionary, he created WaterWalk in 2014, leveraging the learnings of his past successes while also reimagining what an extended stay hotel could be.
Positioned squarely in the upscale segment, WaterWalk brings a fresh take to the traditional extended stay experience with its unique LIVE|STAY model. STAY units are fully furnished and cater to guests looking for a traditional extended-stay, residential-like experience, while LIVE units are unfurnished and allow guests to create a long-term space that truly feels like home.
WaterWalk’s current portfolio consists of 11 hotels throughout the US Newer hotels leverage the brand’s Gen 2.0 prototype, which combines efficient design and low operating costs to help unlock stronger profits and higher returns.
Poised for growth
WaterWalk marks Wyndham’s third extended stay brand, joining ECHO SuitesSM Extended Stay by Wyndham and Hawthorn® Extended Stay by Wyndham. ECHO Suites launched in 2022 and has over 265 economy new construction hotels in its development pipeline, half a dozen of which are nearing completion. Hawthorn in 2023 saw 30% growth in its midscale conversion and new construction development pipeline.
Collectively, the three brands give the Wyndham a robust and growing portfolio designed to meet the needs of today’s extended stay guests, including digital nomads looking to mix business and leisure travel.
In joining the Wyndham family of brands, WaterWalk hotels unlock access to the Wyndham Advantage, whose 106 million-plus enrolled members globally make up nearly half of all US check-ins.