The WOW Awards, to be launched online July 15, will give thousands of successful women across the country the opportunity to fulfill one of their wildest dreams.  One of three possible grand prizes will be up for grabs, each tailored to the unique needs of women business travelers:  the opportunity to take a year-long paid �sabbatical� to take a break from the daily grind and refresh mind, body, and soul; the opportunity to hire a personal assistant with full benefits for one year; or funding towards business school tuition.  Each prize option is valued at up to $100,000.

The WOW Awards evolved from Wyndham�s annual WOMEN ON THEIR WAY contest, which awarded women who traveled extensively on business for their innovative ideas to improve the business travel experience for others.  On numerous occasions, Wyndham implemented those ideas chainwide.

�The WOW Awards are our way of acknowledging the career and life achievements of all the women business travelers who have given us their feedback throughout the years,� said Fred J. Kleisner, president and chief executive officer, Wyndham International, Inc.  �Without their guidance, we could never have become the hotel brand of choice for women business travelers, and we want to honor them by providing an opportunity for them to excel even further in their accomplishments and future endeavors.�

To enter, women business travelers must be nominated either by themselves or someone they know, provided they fulfill at least three of the criteria listed below (in addition to fulfilling the travel requirements of 10,000 airline miles and 10 hotel stays for business purposes in the 12 months preceding the date of entry).

The nominee must have:

• demonstrated a distinctive and strong career track record
• achieved outstanding accomplishments
• won career-related or community service-related awards/honors
• established a name for herself in her industry
• overcome a significant obstacle to achieve success
• given back to her community/society-at-large

Five nominees will be selected as finalists by top Wyndham executives as well as members of Wyndham�s Women Business Travelers Advisory Board, a rotating group of high-profile female executives that has been advising Wyndham on issues of concern to women business travelers since 1996.

Each finalist will:

• be asked to write a brief essay on how the WOW Awards can help her further achieve her goals;
• be interviewed by a Wyndham representative;
• be required to attend the WOW Awards ceremony in February 2001 in Manhattan, where the grand prize winner will be announced;
• be flown to New York City courtesy of American Airlines, a WOMEN ON THEIR WAY partner since 1995;
• be awarded a week�s vacation at any Wyndham Hotel or Resort and/or Summerfield Suites by Wyndham in the U.S., Canada, or the Caribbean;
• be awarded a $1,200 wardrobe from long-time program partner Liz Claiborne, Inc.; and
• be awarded 25,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® miles and a year-long membership in the American Airlines Admirals Club.

The grand prize for the overall winner will be equal in value up to $100,000, and due to any circumstances beyond Wyndham�s control, the actual described prizes could be subject to change.  The �sabbatical� prize package will be contingent upon prior approval from the grand prize winner�s employer.  If the grand prize winner selects the personal assistant prize package, the personal assistant will be hired through an employment service to be chosen by Wyndham.

To make a nomination, visit http://www.womenbusinesstravelers.com or http://www.womenontheirway.com, fill out a nomination form, and explain in 500 words or less why the nominee should be chosen as a WOW Awards grand prize winner.  Nominations must be received no later than Dec. 15, 2000.

Wyndham�s WOMEN ON THEIR WAY program is a distinctive, award-winning initiative designed to serve women business travelers by constantly staying in touch with them and evolving to meet their changing needs.  The program is composed of an advisory board and strategic partnerships with associations such as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Business and Professional Women/USA (BPW/USA) and the LPGA Golf Clinics for Women National Program/Series.