Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is entering the upscale extended-stay segment through a strategic relationship with extended-stay brand WaterWalk.
Through the deal, WaterWalk will rebrand under the newly created WaterWalk Extended Stay by Wyndham brand in the upscale segment. The deal adds 11 hotels with more than 1,500 rooms to Wyndham's portfolio.
WaterWalk Extended Stay by Wyndham marks Wyndham's 25th brand and its third extended-stay brand alongside the economy Echo Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham launched in 2022, and midscale Hawthorn Extended Stay by Wyndham acquired in 2008.
"Collectively, the three brands give the company a robust and growing portfolio of offerings designed for the needs of today's extended-stay guests — be that construction workers hitting the road for weeks at a time or digital nomads looking to mix business and leisure travel," a news release states.
WaterWalk was founded in 2014 by Jack DeBoer, who was an integral part of creating legacy brands Residence Inn and Candlewood Suites. DeBoer died in 2021. The brand lived on through his granddaughter, Mimi Oliver, who became WaterWalk CEO.
“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," Oliver said in the news release.
The 11 hotels in WaterWalk's portfolio are located in markets including Tuscon, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Wichita, Kansas.
“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. 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," said Chip Ohlsson, chief development officer at Wyndham, in the news release.