Wyndham Hotel Group Appoints Daniel Ruff to Lead EMEA and Indian Ocean Regions
PRESS RELEASE
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (Oct. 21, 2014) – Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company with approximately 7,540 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced the appointment of Daniel Ruff as president and managing director of the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Indian Ocean regions.
In this role, effective November 12, 2014, Ruff will be responsible for Wyndham Hotel Group’s strategic development and operational, marketing, revenue management and sales services to the company’s franchisees and development partners. He will be based in the company’s London offices.
Ruff joins Wyndham Hotel Group from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., in Brussels, Belgium, where he most recently led asset management for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, overseeing franchise services and operations as well as owner relations and portfolio and contract management.
“We are excited to welcome Daniel to the Wyndham Hotel Group family,” said Bob Loewen, Wyndham Hotel Group’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Daniel’s market expertise and experience in development, operations and owner relations will be advantageous as we continue to build strategic partnerships and penetrate new markets throughout both regions.”
Wyndham Hotel Group is pursuing growth for its broad portfolio of brands in key cities and markets throughout the region, with particular focus on India, the U.K., Germany, Turkey, parts of the Middle East and Africa. In addition to optimizing support for existing franchisees and development partners, the company also seeks to establish new partnerships and identify opportunities to continue the expansion of its diverse portfolio of offerings.
The company recently achieved several important milestones in both regions, including the opening of the first Howard Johnson® and Ramada Encore® properties in India and the first Super 8® property in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the company has recently announced the signing of several agreements that will introduce Wyndham Hotel Group brands into new markets, including the first Planet Hollywood® hotel in India, the first Super 8 property in Germany, the first Ramada® property in Ethiopia and the first Wyndham Hotels and Resorts® property in Kenya, which will be managed by Wyndham Hotel Group’s management company.
Ruff held roles in corporate investments and development, brand integration and operations and special projects throughout his eleven-year tenure at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. He began his career as an investment banking analyst with Credit Suisse First Boston in New York, New York.
About Wyndham Hotel Group
Wyndham Hotel Group, part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), is the world’s largest and most diverse hotel company with approximately 7,540 hotels and 650,200 rooms in 71 countries under the hotel brands: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®, Ramada®, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Wingate by Wyndham®, Baymont Inn & Suites®, Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham®, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham®, TRYP by Wyndham®, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge® and Knights Inn®. In addition, the company has a license agreement to franchise the Planet Hollywood Hotels brand and provide management services globally.
All hotels are independently owned and operated excluding certain hotels which are owned or managed by an affiliate of Wyndham Hotel Group.
Wyndham Rewards, the guest loyalty program of Wyndham Hotel Group, is the world’s largest lodging loyalty program as measured by number of participating hotels. It offers over 37 million members the chance to earn and redeem points for stays at over 7,000 hotels throughout more than 50 countries worldwide.
In addition to free stays, members may redeem their points for hundreds of reward options. For more information, visit www.wyndhamrewards.com.
Wyndham Hotel Group is based in Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S. Additional information is available at www.wyndhamworldwide.com. For more information about hotel franchising opportunities visit www.whgdevelopment.com. For Wyndham Hotel Group “@ a Glance”, click here.
