- Wyndham, HotelREZ expanding luxury reach.
- Owners retain control of operations, brand identity.
- Separate technology planned for Best Loved Hotels.
WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS is working with HotelREZ Hotels & Resorts to add more than 40 independent luxury hotels to its Registry Collection Hotels brand by early 2027. Integrations are underway, with the first six properties located outside the U.S.
The hotels will join Wyndham Rewards, which has about 129 million enrolled members, and integrate into Registry Collection’s sales, marketing and distribution channels, the companies said in a statement. Owners retain control of ownership, operations and brand identity.
“As Wyndham grows, so do the aspirations of our Wyndham Rewards members,” said Scott Strickland, chief commercial officer of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “Whether it’s a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, a destination wedding, or a milestone celebration, members want their points to take them to places that feel as special as the moments they’re celebrating. By partnering with HotelREZ Hotels & Resorts, we’re expanding those offerings.”
HotelREZ, founded in 2004 by Mark Lewis, is one of the world’s largest hotel representation companies. It operates Elegant Hotels of the World, a collection of more than 300 independent luxury and design-led hotels. Many of the properties joining Registry Collection are boutique hotels averaging 20 to 50 rooms. They will remain members of Elegant Hotels of the World.
Integrations will continue over the coming months, the statement said. Further additions will depend on brand fit, owner participation and onboarding requirements. Wyndham has a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments, and the agreement expands its reach into luxury.
Registry Collection's first six properties are located outside the U.S., across five countries. Pictured is TreeHouse Villas Koh Yao Noi, Thailand.Photo credit: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Registry Collection currently has more than 30 hotels in nine countries, including Bristol Panama in Panama City, Hodges Bay Resort & Spa in Antigua and Balfour Miami Beach in Florida. The more than 40 additions will significantly expand the collection. Wyndham Rewards members will have new opportunities to earn and redeem points at participating hotels.
The initial six properties joining Registry Collection are located in Malta, Greece, Northern Ireland, Thailand and Colombia, reflecting the agreement’s international reach. Wyndham has not identified any U.S. properties among the first group. The only U.S. hotel named in the announcement is Balfour Miami Beach, which is already part of Registry Collection and is not among the new additions.
For U.S. hotel owners and developers, the question is whether the model could offer independent properties access to Wyndham’s distribution, marketing and loyalty infrastructure while allowing them to retain their identities and operational control. Wyndham has not disclosed the locations of the remaining incoming properties, so it remains unclear whether any of the more than 40 additions will be in the U.S.
The value proposition
Independent owners gain broader commercial reach while retaining their hotel identity.Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
For independent owners, the agreement offers access to a larger commercial network without requiring them to replace their hotel’s identity. Cloudbeds, a hotel software provider, reported in its 2026 State of Independent Hotels report that online travel agencies accounted for 63.4 percent of independent hotel bookings in 2025.
The report draws on 90 million bookings across 180 countries and covers independent properties across market segments, not only luxury hotels. The OTA cancellation rate was 21.8 percent, more than double the 10.6 percent rate for direct bookings.
Separately, Wyndham and HotelREZ will introduce a model, launching later this year, that gives properties associated with Best Loved Hotels, HotelREZ’s collection of upscale independent hotels, selective access to Wyndham’s technology and third-party distribution platform. The technology includes Wyndham Connect and Wyndham AI Concierge, formerly Wyndham Connect PLUS.
“At its heart, our partnership with Wyndham is about unlocking commercial opportunities for our member hotels,” said Lewis, HotelREZ’s group CEO. “For more than two decades, we’ve worked hard to earn the trust of independent hoteliers around the world and today, we’re building on those relationships by partnering with one of the world’s largest, most trusted hotel ecosystems.”
