WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS and WaterWalk recently launched a new upscale brand, "WaterWalk Extended Stay by Wyndham." This deal will introduce up to 11 hotels with more than 1,500 rooms, initially in markets such as Tucson, Jacksonville, and Wichita. Pictured is the lobby of the WaterWalk by Wyndham – Phoenix.
The new brand is Wyndham's 25th addition to its portfolio and will join the company's existing economy and mid-scale extended-stay brands, Wyndham said in a statement.
“In the last year, guest demand for the extended stay segment reached record highs, which has been underscored by demand from owners and developers looking for new opportunities to partner with Wyndham,” said Chip Ohlsson, Wyndham’s chief development officer. “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.”
WaterWalk, founded by the late Jack DeBoer, currently runs 11 hotels in the U.S., the statement added. Newer hotels adopt the brand’s Gen 2.0 prototype, focusing on efficient design and lower operating costs to increase profitability.
WaterWalk is led by CEO Mimi Oliver, who is the granddaughter of DeBoer.
“WaterWalk’s success is the culmination of decades of experience in extended stay combined with a relentless pursuit for driving innovation and delivering exceptional guest experiences,” said Oliver. “We believe WaterWalk is our best brand yet and our decision to bring it into the Wyndham portfolio is a pivotal moment in its evolution, one we believe will lead to enhanced efficiencies, performance and growth—all thanks to the Wyndham Advantage.”
WaterWalk provides LIVE and STAY models, the statement said. STAY units are fully furnished for extended stays, while LIVE units are unfurnished, allowing guests to personalize their space. This flexibility allows owners and operators to adapt to market needs in real-time.
Wyndham's third extended-stay offering
This is Wyndham’s third extended stay brand, joining ECHO Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham and Hawthorn Extended Stay by Wyndham, the statement said. ECHO Suites, launched in 2022, has over 265 economy new construction hotels in its development pipeline, with half a dozen nearing completion. Hawthorn, introduced in 2023, saw 30 percent growth in its midscale conversion and new construction development pipeline.
In the past five years, Wyndham has invested over $275 million in technology to improve efficiency and support owners' bottom lines, it added. This includes property and revenue management systems, mobile check-in and checkout, and OTA reconciliation, among other initiatives. Wyndham has 9,200 hotels across more than 95 countries on six continents.
Choice recently ceased its bid to acquire Wyndham after its exchange offer expired on March 8, and both companies released statements stating they will now focus on their standalone strategies.
