The unprecedented offer is being made to current and new members of Wyndham's ByRequest guest recognition program, a business model that drives growth by attracting new customers and by building brand loyalty among existing clients to enhance repeat business. Created with the input of travelers, Wyndham ByRequest rewards guests with meaningful and immediate perks during their stay, instead of offering points towards future stays that are rarely redeemed, do not build customer loyalty and fail to attract repeat customers.(b)

"We surveyed our customers and based on their response, we are confident this program will be a resounding success with business travelers," said Fred J. Kleisner, chairman and chief executive officer of Wyndham International. "Nine of ten guests defined the value of free long distance and local calls as important. And an informal survey of front desk managers also revealed the number one complaint from hotel guests upon checkout is the cost of long distance calls. We're happy to tell our guests they won't have to pay for those anymore." 

"In short, Wyndham is setting a new standard in the hotel guest experience," Kleisner said. 

"Our ByRequest members - who stay more often and generate more revenue than other customers - are driving growth for Wyndham, and the new benefits are expected to accelerate membership, especially among business travelers who are on the brink of a comeback, according to industry projections." 

Consumers and business travelers can expect to benefit enormously from the new standard that Wyndham is setting. One of Wyndham's corporate clients books approximately 300,000 transient room nights per year, and estimates it spends about $40 per person during the course of a two-night stay, on hotel phone charges alone. The savings for this corporation are in the region of $6.75 million over a year, or $67 million over ten years. 

"In our view, Wyndham's unprecedented elimination of phone, Internet and fax charges is just another example of how Chairman and CEO Fred Kleisner and his management team continue to think outside the box when it comes to delivering the lodging experience that business travelers are looking for," said Bryan Maher, director and senior lodging, gaming & leisure analyst of Credit Lyonnais Securities USA Inc. 

HOW IT WORKS

As the first guest recognition program in the industry to focus on personalization instead of points, Wyndham ByRequest encourages consumers to ask for items that enhance their hotel stay. There are no pre-qualifications to register; guests simply fill out a personal profile on www.wyndham.com where they can choose from more than 300 options when selecting their food, beverage and leisure activity options, whether it may be a favorite bottle of wine or fruit plate in their room upon arrival. 

Current Wyndham ByRequest members automatically receive the benefits of free local and long distance phone calls, free high-speed Internet access, free faxes and free copies. Non-members may sign-up for Wyndham ByRequest at www.wyndham.com, regardless of whether they have stayed at a Wyndham property before, and they will receive their personal preferences when they stay at a Wyndham property in the future. To activate the free long distance phone calls, local phone calls, high-speed Internet access, faxing and copying, however, new members must sign-up as a ByRequest member prior to September 30th, and must also stay at any Wyndham Hotel, Wyndham Resort, Wyndham Luxury Resort, or Summerfield Suites by Wyndham prior to September 30, 2002. 

WHAT IT INCLUDES(a)

--  Free unlimited, domestic long distance phone calls(a)
--  Free local phone calls
--  Free high-speed Internet access
--  Free faxes
--  Free copies

SPECIAL PROMOTIONS 

Consumers can benefit from a series of events designed to promote Wyndham's program across the country from June 5 through June 14. At various locations and on various dates, Wyndham is inviting the public to make a free long-distance phone call at designated telephone booths. All locations will feature opportunities for participants to win free Wyndham vacations, getaways and room night vouchers. Please see attached grid for itinerary. 

(a) Free in-room domestic long distance calling is limited to ordinary personal and business requirements. This benefit is not available for purposes of telemarketing, political solicitation, or other improper uses--as determined by Wyndham at its sole discretion. Wyndham reserves the right to suspend or terminate membership on some or all Wyndham ByRequest benefits at any time without notice. Free local and long distance calls, faxes and copies in the 48 contiguous states; does not include charges to Alaska or Hawaii. 
Not applicable to off-shore properties or international calls. Not applicable to groups or conventions. No auto-dial. 

(b) 58% of travelers said frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs do not affect their decisions concerning hotel and airline carriers, according to research conducted by Accenture and reported by The Daily Lodging Report on May 16, 2002; in other research, 92 percent of travel related points go unredeemed in any given year - source: US Travel Data Center, 1996. 

Wyndham International, Inc. offers upscale and luxury hotel and resort accommodations through proprietary lodging brands and a management services division. Based in Dallas, Wyndham International owns, leases, manages and franchises hotels and resorts in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe.