Print Preview : Reas Kondrashow Senior Vice President and Managing Director Cendant Hotel Group International___

Reas Kondrashow Senior Vice President and Managing Director Cendant Hotel Group International___

TravelDailyNews: How did the terrorist attacks impact your brands and in what level? How does the competition with the other hotel chains affect your policy?

Reas Kondraschow: The threat of terrorism is an industry issue, not specific to any brand. The safety and well-being of our guests, our franchisees and their employees is our greatest concern.

TDN: Can you describe your efforts until now regarding markets that Cendant has not still strong presence?

R.K.: Our strategy is to grow deliberately in selected markets, focusing on key brands and developing those brands until they achieve critical mass. In those markets where we have no presence and wish to establish one or more of our brands, we search for potential multiunit operators and mergers.

TDN: How does internet along with your GDS companies contribute to Cendant Hotel Group growth?

R.K.: An increasing percentage of bookings are made via the Internet, both through our brand Web sites directly or through third-party booking engines. We responded to the public’s preference for the Web by introducing a “best rate or free” guarantee and develop direct connections with those third-party sites that contribute the most bookings to our franchisees. Outside of the United States, electronic channels contribute nearly 20 percent of all room nights.

TDN: Can you give us details regarding the company’s new name and how you comment this decision?

Stephen P. Holmes: The Wyndham name represents the elevation of a signature brand with high consumer appeal to serve as our new corporate identity. As the leading provider of hotel, vacation exchange and rental, and timeshare accommodations across six continents, we will leverage a name that provides us with a familiar corporate identity that unquestionably conveys who we are and what we provide to millions of consumers worldwide.

Noting that the Wyndham hotel brand is widely known for its distinctly personalized approach to hospitality, we believe Wyndham Worldwide translates perfectly as the bold new identity for a company that provides consumers with the widest choice in global travel accommodations for virtually any occasion, price point and experience.

Stephen P. Holmes, is Cendant Corporation Vice chairman and he will become the chairman and chief executive officer of the hospitality company that will spin off from Cendant later this year.