“Representation matters,” said Lisa Checchio, chief marketing officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
“Opening doors for traditionally underrepresented owners unlocks potential and possibility, and paves the way for others to follow. Women play a critical role in the hotel industry, and Women Own the Room is breaking down barriers to actively change the face of hotel ownership.”Nearly 50% of the hotels affiliated with Women Own the Room are new-construction projects. Among them is the upcoming Microtel by Wyndham in New Castle, CO. Located between the ski towns of Vail and Aspen, the hotel is owned by Wyndham franchisee Elizabeth Avery and is on track to break ground later this year.
Growing up as a child of Polish immigrants, Avery witnessed her parents pursue their dream of hospitality when they opened their first hotel in New Castle. The experience created childhood aspirations that one day she could do the same. Following a successful career in the gas and oil industry, she’s now getting that chance. Avery was drawn to Wyndham due to its long-standing reputation and expertise in the space and has since been able to leverage the company’s scale and resources to navigate the hurdles that come with new construction.
“I know the hospitality industry because I grew up in it, but this is my first time spearheading the construction of a new hotel,” said Avery. “New construction is not straightforward, and costs, timelines and securing financing are not black and white. I know Wyndham is dedicated to my success because of the resources they continue to provide, along with the one-on-one, collaborative approach they take as I work through my custom build. Wyndham has helped make what is a complicated process more seamless—and that support goes a long way.”
Avery added this opportunity is a natural step for her, and she doesn’t see her journey in hospitality ending here. With Wyndham’s Women Own the Room program, she sees the value in elevating the skillsets women bring to the table and looks forward to being part of a robust community of entrepreneurs.
Since launching in January 2022, Women Own the Room has led to the opening of 10 hotels across the U.S., including new locations for brands like Days Inn by Wyndham, Baymont by Wyndham and AmericInn by Wyndham. Among them is the Travelodge by Wyndham in Macon, GA, owned by Preeti Singh.
Singh came to the U.S. in 2007 on a student visa, and while earning her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Findlay, she volunteered and learned from a local family in their Travelodge by Wyndham hotel in Freemont, OH. It was there that she fell in love with the hotel industry, and following her graduation, she began to pursue her dream of ownership.
Singh worked every job she could to get experience in hotels, and was hired as a general manager at a Microtel by Wyndham in Tifton, GA, in 2009. In that role, she helped double the hotel’s revenue In 2016, she bought her first hotel, and based on her history with Wyndham, and in response to the launch of Women Own the Room, she converted it to a Travelodge by Wyndham last year. The 45-room hotel underwent a full renovation prior to opening and features hardwood floors throughout, updated bathrooms and new bedding, among other improvements.
“I was a young immigrant when I started my journey, and Wyndham has been a reliable and consistent partner for me from the beginning with a commitment to elevating me and other women like me,” Singh said. “I hope that by sharing my story, and sharing my experience with Women Own the Room, I can inspire other women to join the industry and follow their dreams of entrepreneurship.”
Tags: Elizabeth Avery, Lisa Checchio, Preeti Singh, Women Own the Room, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
