Wyndham Raises Its Outlook as AI Helps Owners Catch More Bookings

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts raised its 2026 RevPAR outlook after a better-than-expected first quarter.

Management said AI tools are starting to help franchisees deal with higher costs and weaker pricing power.

Wyndham now expects global RevPAR to finish 2026 between down 1 percent and up 1 percent. That is better than its previous forecast of down 1.5 percent to up 0.5 percent. The company also reported that US RevPAR was flat in the first quarter, which was stronger than it had expected.

Hotel owners are still under cost pressure

Wyndham is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by number of properties. Its portfolio includes value-focused brands such as Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Microtel, La Quinta, Baymont, and Wingate. Most of these hotels are run by independent owners, who pay fees to use Wyndham’s brands and systems.

AI voice agents are helping hotels capture more bookings

Wyndham said more than 1,100 hotels are using its AI voice agent through Wyndham Connect PLUS. The tool answers guest calls and chats, helping hotels avoid missed inquiries when front-desk staff are busy.

According to Wyndham’s earnings commentary, hotels using the AI voice agent have seen a 300-basis-point lift in direct contribution and a 400-basis-point improvement in guest satisfaction. The system also helps handle calls faster, which can turn more guest inquiries into bookings.

First-quarter results were better, but not strong everywhere

Wyndham reported first-quarter revenue of $327 million, up from $316 million a year earlier. System-wide rooms grew 4 percent, and the company’s development pipeline reached more than 259,000 rooms across more than 2,200 hotels. Ancillary revenues increased 21 percent, showing that Wyndham is also earning more from revenue streams beyond the basic room rate.

Wyndham wants more bookings inside its own system

Wyndham is also improving its direct booking tools for groups and meeting planners. Earlier this year, the company upgraded its group booking platform with Groups360’s GroupSync Housing technology. The platform helps planners manage bookings from reservation to check-in, while giving hotels more efficient tools for handling group stays.

This also fits Wyndham’s broader view that AI is already entering hotel operations, but many owners still do not know how to scale it. A recent Wyndham owner trends report found that 98 percent of hotel owners and developers have started using AI in some part of their business, while only 32 percent have embedded it across most operational areas.

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