Wyndham Hotel Group Announces First Wyndham Hotel in the U.A.E.

World’s largest hotel company with over 7,000 hotels aligns with British developer The First Group DUBAI (May 5, 2013) – Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company with approximately 7,380 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced plans for the first Wyndham® Hotels and Resorts property in the United Arab Emirates following the signing of an agreement with Sigma III Limited, a subsidiary of British-owned developer The First Group, to manage its impressive 33-storey building in the Dubai Marina.  Currently under development, the Wyndham Dubai Marina is expected to open within the next three years with 497 guest rooms including 251 luxurious suites. The hotel will also comprise nearly 6,800 square feet of food and beverage outlets, including all-day-dining and speciality restaurants, as well as a coffee shop, an executive lounge and a bar.  Alongside meetings and conference space, the hotel will also offer almost 2,500 square feet of spa and leisure facilities including a gym and outdoor pool with a pool bar.  “We’re very excited to be bringing our namesake Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand to Dubai, following its successful introduction to the region through the spectacular Wyndham Grand Regency Doha,” said Rui Barros,  senior vice president and managing director Europe, Middle East and Africa, Wyndham Hotel Group.  “I have no doubt that Wyndham Dubai Marina will be another superb addition to the brand, which we are already growing in key cities throughout the Middle East.” In addition to the Wyndham Grand Regency Doha, which opened in 2011, Wyndham Hotel Group has already announced the development of two Wyndham Hotels and Resorts properties in the Middle East.  The Wyndham Grand Manama and Wyndham Grand Riyadh are both anticipated to open by the end of next summer.  This will further strengthen the hotel group’s diverse portfolio throughout the Middle East which already consists of more than 30 hotels and over 6,100 rooms ranging from economy right through to upper-upscale.  “The First Group is proud to be collaborating with such a renowned name in the global hotel industry on one of our most prestigious hotel developments to date,” commented Danny Lubert, co-founder and joint chairman of The First Group. “We are excited to be partnering with Wyndham Hotel Group on the first Wyndham Hotels and Resorts property in the U.A.E.” “We are delighted to have Wyndham Hotel Group on board and are certain this partnership will be a huge success,” agreed Gary Shepherd, co-founder and joint chairman of The First Group. “Wyndham Dubai Marina adds to our dynamic portfolio of hotel projects across the U.A.E. and Africa and we look forward to watching this stunning project take shape.”  The Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand is also experiencing strong growth outside of the Middle East.  On March 01, 2013 alone, Wyndham Hotel Group added eight hotels under the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts flag in major markets across the U.S. through a deal with FelCor Lodging Trust, Inc. as well as opening 11 Wyndham Hotels and Resorts properties across Germany as part of a strategic partnership with Grand City Hotels, with seven more hotels still set to join the brand.  This partnership will see a total of 43 hotels and more than 5,400 rooms rebranded under Wyndham Hotel Group flags in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands over the next two years.   About Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, LLC, offers upscale hotel and resort accommodation throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East and China. All Wyndham® hotels are either franchised by the company or managed by Wyndham Hotel Management, Inc., one of its affiliates or through a joint-venture partner. Additional information and reservations for all Wyndham hotels are available by visiting www.wyndham.com. About Wyndham Hotel Group 
Wyndham Hotel Group, part of the Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE:WYN) family of companies, is the world’s largest hotel company with approximately 7,380 hotels and 631,800 rooms in 66 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 licence agreements to franchise the Planet Hollywood Hotels, Dream® and Night® brands and provide management services globally. All hotels are independently owned and operated excluding certain Wyndham, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham and TRYP by Wyndham hotels as well as certain international Ramada, Days Inn and Super 8 hotels, which may be managed by one of the affiliates of Wyndham Hotel Group. Wyndham Hotel Group is based in Parsippany, N.J., United States. Additional information is available at www.wyndhamworldwide.com. For more information about hotel franchising opportunities visit www.whgdevelopment.com or email development.EMEA@wyn.com.   About The First Group The First Group is an internationally acclaimed British-owned global property development company based in Dubai, specialising in delivering property solutions to meet the demands of the international property investor market. The group has a proud history of over 25 years’ experience and success and offers innovative and unparalleled hotel and property investment opportunities in the U.A.E. and Africa. With offices spanning Dubai, Moscow, Almaty, Kazan, Astana, Abuja and Lagos, The First Group continues to produce and develop bespoke property investments in some of the world’s most desirable locations. For more information visit www.thefirstgroup.com.   About The First Group Asset Management (TFG Asset Management): The First Group’s Asset Management is dedicated to dealing with every aspect of a completed development, to ensure investors enjoy maximum returns on their property. Once a project is complete, the TFG Asset Management team takes over from Client Services to manage the entire rental process, including marketing, tenant liaison, guaranteed leasing, contracts and finances, whilst also working in partnership with hotel management companies such as Wyndham Hotel Group.   # # # Taylor Scott International