Increasing Diverse Supply Chain Leads to Impressive Results for Wyndham Worldwide

PARSIPPANY, N.J - Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE:WYN), one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, achieved significant growth in its spend with diverse suppliers in 2010, adding value to its global supply chain while delivering on its core values.

From linen supply, to equipment purchases, to general contractor and architectural services, Wyndham Worldwide spent 10.3% of its total purchases with diverse suppliers, a 51% increase over the previous year, placing the Company among the top performers in its industry.

With a wide and growing range of businesses, Wyndham Worldwide includes Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company based on number of properties; Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, the world’s largest member-based vacation exchange network and marketer of serviced vacation rentals; and Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the world’s largest vacation ownership business.

“With over 100,000 locations in nearly 100 countries, Wyndham Worldwide works to be a responsible and collaborative corporate citizen both in the United States and around the globe,” said Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and CEO of Wyndham Worldwide. “Partnering with diverse business owners and investing in the communities where we live and work around the world strengthens our workplace, our performance, and the experience we provide to our guests, customers, and associates.”

During the past year, Wyndham Worldwide continued to formalize its supplier diversity program; by including diverse suppliers when possible in each request for proposal and bid notice; increasing internal and external awareness of its supplier diversity program; and expanding its supply diversity reach around the globe. The program focuses on nine groups: African-American; Hispanic-American; Asian-American; Native-American; gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered; women; veteran and disabled-veteran; and disabled-owned businesses.

“Partnering with diverse suppliers brings great value to our supply chain, and helps ensure the products and services we provide meet the equally diverse needs of our customers around the world,” said Paul Davis, senior vice president, Strategic Sourcing at Wyndham Worldwide. “Internationally, developing relationships with diverse business owners and organizations also supports our growth in emerging markets, generating new ideas and opportunities for business in local communities, and supports the overall strength of the global travel and tourism economy.”

Wyndham Worldwide diverse partnerships include:
• Sobel Linen, a Hispanic-owned business based in Las Vegas that is the sole provider for terry cloth and linen throughout Wyndham Worldwide
• Zero Chaos, an African American-owned contingent staffing business based in Orlando
• Software House International, a New Jersey-based Asian American woman-owned supplier of software, hardware, and related services

“Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the Wyndham Worldwide culture, so it is no surprise that our corporate diversity strategy extends to the suppliers in which we choose to partner,” said Jose Nido, vice president of Global Supplier Diversity at Wyndham Worldwide. “Our approach is to seamlessly integrate supplier diversity as part of how we do business, and achieving results that add value by reducing costs, improving quality and increasing revenue through cultivating positive relationships within the diverse business community.”

The supplier diversity initiative at Wyndham Worldwide has received numerous accolades, including awards from the U.S. Minority Business Development Agency, Florida Minority Supplier Diversity Council, the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce, and the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce in New Jersey.

In addition to requiring third-party or government certification of their diversity status, companies requesting diversity supplier status with Wyndham Worldwide must have been in business at least three years, offer competitive pricing, have proven financial viability and meet the Company’s stringent service and quality standards, among other criteria. Vendors interested in becoming a part of the Wyndham Worldwide supply chain, can begin the registration process online at suppliers.wyndhamworldwide.com.


About Wyndham Worldwide Corporation
One of the world’s largest hospitality companies, Wyndham Worldwide offers a wide range of hospitality products and services for leisure and business travelers through its premier global portfolio of world-renowned brands. The world’s largest hotel franchisor based on the number of properties, Wyndham Hotel Group is home to many of the world’s best-known hotel brands, with approximately 7,190 franchised hotels and 609,600 hotel rooms worldwide. Wyndham Exchange & Rentals is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the world’s largest serviced vacation rentals business, with approximately 97,000 vacation properties located in nearly 100 countries. The industry and timeshare ownership market leader, Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets, and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its network of over 160 vacation ownership resorts serving more than 800,000 owners throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific.

For more information about Wyndham Worldwide, please visit the Company’s web site at www.wyndhamworldwide.com.