Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

Wyndham resort hotels reopened after closing due to COVID-19 pandemic

One is owned by hotelier and philanthropist Dr. Kiran Patel

WYNDHAM GRAND CLEARWATER Beach hotel in Clearwater Beach, Florida, owned by doctor turned hotelier Dr. Kiran Patel, has reopened after temporarily closing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Another Wyndham Hotel & Resorts property, Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, also is reopening.

Both hotels have undergone deep cleaning and are implementing new health and safety procedures to protect guests and employees following the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s “Safe Stay” initiative and Wyndham’s “Count on UsSM” recovery plan.


The measures include:

  • Hand sanitizer dispensers placed at key entrances and contact areas, including lobby reception areas, restaurant entrances, meeting spaces, pools, exercise areas and more.
  • COVID-19 safety sanitation protocol training for all employees who will follow personal protective equipment recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Public spaces and communal areas will be cleaned and disinfected multiple times per day, with an emphasis on hard non-porous surfaces such as guest elevator button panels.
  • Traditional room service shall be replaced with a no-contact delivery method.
  • Pool seating will be reconfigured to allow for at least six feet of separation between groups of guests.
  • Meeting and banquet arrangements shall allow for physical distancing between guests.

“We have always had incredibly rigorous cleaning standards, and we are fully committed to enhancing these further to help provide a safe and enjoyable stay for all guests,” says Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach General Manager David Yamada. “We look forward to welcoming guests back to the resort for sun and sand along our beautiful, wide strip of the Gulf shore.”

Patel of Tampa, Florida, is well-known in Florida and other parts of the world for his business success and philanthropy. He has invested in hotels in such states as Florida, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Colorado, and he and his wife, also a physician, established the Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel Family Foundation.

“Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach Resort is now open, and our team remains focused on providing a healthy and truly enjoyable experience for our guests," Patel said. "Our first weekend after reopening was strong, and we are optimistic that it’s a positive indication of the months ahead. We’re looking forward to welcoming our guests back for a relaxing retreat this summer.”

The 343-room Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach is 90 minutes from Orlando on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It contains a restaurant and two bars, the largest ballroom in Pinellas County and more than 22,000 square feet of meeting space.

The reopened Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek is located just outside of Disney World.

“Since opening in 2011, our hotel has always done an outstanding job providing our guests with an upscale, clean and comfortable stay,” said the hotel’s General Manager Robert Fohr. “Team members look forward to showing our guests that we are ready to welcome them back to our resort.”

More for you

G6 Hospitality Launches 24/7 Guest Support From August 1
Photo credit: G6 Hospitality

G6 launching 24x7 guest support on Aug. 1

Summary:

  • G6 Hospitality will launch 24x7 guest support on Aug. 1, expanding the current 18-hour window.
  • Escalations from phone, email and social media will be handled promptly by trained staff.
  • The service supports G6’s tech and service investments, including the AI-powered My6 app.

G6 HOSPITALITY, PARENT of Motel 6 and Studio 6, will launch a 24x7 customer support service for guests starting Aug. 1. The service extends the previous 18-hour window to full-day availability via phone, email and social media.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chart showing decline in U.S. extended-stay hotel occupancy and RevPAR in May 2025

Report: May fifth month for drop in extended-stay occupancy

Summary:

  • Extended-stay occupancy fell 2.2 percent in May, the fifth straight monthly decline; ADR and RevPAR also dropped for a second consecutive month.
  • May marked 44 straight months of supply growth for the segment at 4 percent or less, with annual growth below the 4.9 percent long-term average.
  • Extended-stay room revenues rose 0.5 percent, while total industry revenue grew 0.9 percent, led by segments with little extended-stay supply.

EXTENDED-STAY HOTEL occupancy fell 2.2 percent in May, the fifth consecutive monthly decline, exceeding the 0.7 percent drop reported for all hotels by STR/CoStar, according to The Highland Group. Extended-stay occupancy was 10.5 percentage points above the total hotel industry, at the lower end of the long-term average premium range.

Keep ReadingShow less
Auro Hotels Showcases India Culture at TCMU Exhibit

Auro unveils 'India Cultural Corner' for children

Summary:

  • Auro Hotels opened the India Cultural Corner, where children can check in and explore Indian culture at The Children's Museum of the Upstate.
  • Families can engage with community art, activities and storytelling about daily life in India.
  • The exhibit runs through May 2026, offering interactive learning on Indian culture.

AURO HOTELS RECENTLY opened the India Cultural Corner at The Children's Museum of the Upstate in Greenville, South Carolina, offering a look into Indian stories for American families. The exhibition, held at The Grand Geo Hotel and running through May 2026, includes a hotel desk where children can check in and explore Indian culture through interactive activities.

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S. Firms Lose $2.4 Trillion by Skimping on Business Travel

Report: Business travel gaps cost U.S. firms $2.4T

Summary:

  • U.S. companies risk losing more than $2.4 trillion in sales due to underinvestment in business travel, says GBTA.
  • An 8.3 percent T&E increase could drive a 6 percent sales gain, despite post-COVID virtual meeting tools.
  • Current T&E spending is $294 billion—$24 billion short of the $319.1 billion needed for peak profitability.

U.S. COMPANIES ARE missing more than $2.4 trillion in potential sales due to underinvestment in business travel, according to a Global Business Travel Association report. Despite a post-pandemic rebound, travel and entertainment spending remains $66 billion below 2019 levels.

Keep ReadingShow less
AI threats in hospitality

Study: Cyberattacks on hotels to surge

Summary:

  • Around 66 percent of hotel IT and security executives expect more cyberattacks this summer, and 50 percent anticipate greater severity, according to VikingCloud.
  • Guest-facing systems most at risk include POS and payment technology at 72 percent, guest WiFi at 56 percent and front desk systems at 34 percent.
  • About 48 percent of executives lack confidence in their staff’s ability to detect and respond to AI-driven attacks and deepfakes.

APPROXIMATELY 66 PERCENT of hotel IT and security executives expect an increase in cyberattack frequency and 50 percent anticipate greater severity during the summer travel season, according to cybersecurity firm VikingCloud. In summer 2024, 82 percent of North American hotels experienced a cyberattack and 58 percent were targeted five or more times.

Keep ReadingShow less