Midsize Hotel Chains Unite

Four midsize upscale and upper upscale hotel companies--Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Kempinski Hotels, Pan Pacific Hotels and Rydges Hotels--today announced they will begin co-marketing their properties to travel buyers in an attempt to counter the growing influence of their much larger, multi-brand competitors. Each of the four has particular strength in a different global region: Wyndham in North America, Kempinski in Europe, Pan Pacific in Asia and Rydges in Australia. Consequently, there's little overlap in their portfolios.

Buyers with global programs can conduct one negotiation for all four suppliers' inventory. The partnership, which is called the Global Hotel Alliance, takes effect next month.

"As smaller and midsize hotel brands continue to compete in a crowded hotel market against the mega brands, it makes sense to align with like-minded brands," said Rydges managing director Paul Lonergan. "We can realize sales and distribution synergies, while each company retains its own brand identity."