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Wyndham Hotel Group has expanded senior staff roles as part of a three-pronged strategic initiative to enhance franchisee service delivery, drive revenue growth and commit additional resources to the company's namesake upscale Wyndham brand.

Published: 25 Sep 2008

Wyndham Hotel Group has expanded senior staff roles as part of a three-pronged strategic initiative to enhance franchisee service delivery, drive revenue growth and commit additional resources to the company's namesake upscale Wyndham brand.

The new appointments are as follows:

- Duane Elledge has been promoted to executive vice president, brand services, responsible for strategic direction and leadership oversight for Wyndham Hotel Group's core operational departments and key franchisee-facing services including franchise communications, quality assurance, global training, design, construction and procurement services, group operations, property openings and conversions, brand identity and franchise administration.

Elledge also will be responsible for identifying best practices to help franchisees achieve their business goals through the company's new Count On Me! service culture initiative.

Elledge previously served as senior vice president, group operations, North America.

- Keith Pierce has been promoted to president, brand operations, the Americas, responsible for overall strategy, revenue growth, product quality, global brand standards and customer satisfaction of nine hotel brands. Pierce most recently served as group president.

Reporting to Pierce will be Ken Greene, group president of the Days Inn, Travelodge, Howard Johnson and Ramada brands; John Valletta, president, Super 8; Roy Flora, group president, Microtel Inns and Suites, Hawthorn Suites ® and Baymont Inn & Suites; and Rajiv Bhatia, brand senior vice president, Knights Inn.

- The company also announced consolidation of its distribution, channel management and reservations functions under Jeff Edwards, chief information officer and executive vice president, revenue services.

Edwards is responsible for Wyndham Hotel Group's information technology systems and revenue management services including reservation platforms, property-based systems, enterprise-wide data warehouse, brand web sites and call centers, global distribution systems and sales, third party reservation providers and international systems and services.

Edwards previously served as executive vice president and chief information officer since December 2005.

All three positions report to Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and CEO of Wyndham Worldwide and interim CEO of the Wyndham Hotel Group.

Peter Strebel, president, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, will continue to lead the company's namesake brand with additional marketing and development resources.