Press Release: Wyndham International
August 16, 2002
DALLAS, TX -- Wyndham International, Inc. (NYSE:WYN), who leads the hotel industry in technology innovation, has
been named a recipient of the 2002 CIO-100 Award. This prestigious honor is a result of Wyndham's ongoing commitment
to demonstrating positive business performance through integrated technologies and processes.
Wyndham has long pursued an information architecture that fosters improved guest services. Most recently, Wyndham
announced a revolutionary offer to members of its guest recognition program, Wyndham ByRequest®, who now receive
free local and long distance phone calls(1) and free high-speed Internet access.
"In 2000, we embarked on an aggressive initiative to bring together key business systems to allow guests easier
access to our services, enable the delivery of a more personalized guest experience for our more frequent customers,
and to create an integrated framework to support a more complete profile of our customer," said Mark Hedley,
senior vice president and chief technology officer, Wyndham International. "This is our second consecutive
year to receive the CIO-100 award, which is one of the most coveted awards for customer relationship management
systems, innovation and value chain excellence. This honor reaffirms our commitment to technology innovation and
Wyndham's position as a pioneer in the hotel industry."
This year, CIO magazine identified companies who exemplify the integrated enterprise, which is defined by having
the capability to move and use data from any point within the value chain at any time; demonstrates an enterprise-wide
level of technological and procedural integration; an infrastructure consisting of groups of applications that
work together and are able to freely share information; and front-end, customer-facing applications that seamlessly
deliver and use data from back-end systems.
Wyndham has been honored with several prestigious business and technology awards. Most recently, Wyndham was named
as one of Fortune's 2002 "Most Admired" companies in America. Wyndham also was awarded the 2001 Hospitality
Technology Lodging Award for IT Operator of the Year, the celebrated InformationWeek 500, and Lodging Hospitality's
first annual Chain Leadership Awards for technology and e-business. The honors were a result of Wyndham's ongoing
commitment to several IT initiatives, including wireless reservations, curbside wireless check-in and the Wyndham
ByRequest program.
Additionally, Wyndham has received two awards for its innovative guest recognition program, Wyndham ByRequest,
which serves as the core of the company's brand philosophy of personalized service. Smart Money magazine recognized
Wyndham for the program's customer-centric approach with the 2001 Customer Service Award, and the Hospitality Sales
& Marketing Association International (HSMAI) awarded Wyndham the 2001 Best of Show award for the success of
its integrated marketing and advertising campaign showcasing Wyndham ByRequest.
Wyndham International, Inc. offers upscale and luxury hotel and resort accommodations through proprietary lodging
brands and a management services division. Based in Dallas, Wyndham owns, leases, manages and franchises hotels
and resorts in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. For more information, visit www.wyndham.com.
For reservations, call 800-WYNDHAM.
(1) Free in-room domestic long distance calling is limited to ordinary personal and business requirements. This
benefit is not available for purposes of telemarketing, political solicitation, or other improper uses -- as determined
by Wyndham at its sole discretion. Wyndham reserves the right to suspend or terminate membership on some or all
Wyndham ByRequest benefits at any time without notice. Free local and long distance calls, faxes and copies in
the 48 contiguous states; does not include charges to Alaska or Hawaii. Not applicable to offshore properties or
international calls. Not applicable to groups or conventions. No auto-dial.
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Contact:
Wyndham International
Darcie M. Brossart, 214/863-1335
dbrossart@wyndham.com
or
Edelman
Emily Callahan/Ariana Hajibashi, 214/520-3555
emily.callahan@edelman.com
ariana.hajibashi@edelman.com