Latin America: Wyndham negotiates to join Airbnb

This article was written and published in Spanish and has been translated into English via Google Translate. Click here to read the original article.

The president of Wyndham for Latin America and the Caribbean, Alejandro Moreno, revealed that they are in negotiations with Airbnb to start offering their rooms on the Airbnb platform.

"We are in negotiations with Airbnb because for us, it is a distribution channel where lodging can also be placed. It is a model in which a client sees a photo and makes the decision. It's a negotiation that is happening and we see them as any other operator, where they will put our accommodation, the client can see it and also have the guarantee and support of the brand," said Moreno.

"More than a competition, we are seeing it as a channel where we can also offer our rooms," explained the hotel giant's manager, with 9,200 hotels and 21 brands in the world.

"Unlike the other alternatives that are placed on Airbnb, where the traveler may or may not have a good experience," says Moreno, with Wyndham they already know the standard of services they will receive.

The executive, who hopes that this agreement can be sealed this year with Airbnb, said that the percentage of rooms that they hope to offer, which will depend on the hotel's needs, has not yet been determined.

He explained that only rooms that need it will be offered as there are hotels like the one in New York that always have excess demand and it is not necessary. On the closing date of the operation, he said that they expect this year to be approved.

Moreno explained that in 2018 they reached 230 hotels in Latin America and the Caribbean, so "the goal for 2019 is to reach 260 properties and next year to 300".

Of these 30 new ones this year, Mexico and Argentina have already signed contracts to open six hotels in each country.

The travel dynamics in the region have changed a lot, the evolution of the traveler positively affects the accommodations and our expansion plans, he said.

The travelers of the region plan know that in this way, they save. In addition, Latin America has never been as connected as it is now, explained Moreno, in relation to the company's great focus in Latin America.

In April, the rebranding of the company will culminate, so that all the brands of the group have the surname 'by Wyndham' assured.

This article was written and published in Spanish and has been translated into English via Google Translate. Click here to read the original article.

Join us in Miami Beach, June 5-7 for the Global Online Marketplaces Summit.