Wyndham Celebrates New Extended-Stay Brand

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s biggest hotel franchisor with roughly 9,000 hotels in 95+ countries, celebrates the first ground breaking of its new extended-stay brand in Plano, Texas. The all-new construction brand, known as “Project ECHO,” is gaining traction, with 72 hotels in the development pipeline as of the end of the second quarter.

“This is a milestone moment for Wyndham, as we break ground on our first hotel under this innovative, extended-stay hotel brand,” said Geoff Ballotti, president and chief executive officer, of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “Demand for extended-stay accommodations continues to surge as interest continues to grow among both guests and developers. As the nation’s leader in economy and midscale hotel accommodations, this is the ideal time to introduce a cost-friendly and all-new construction brand, starting with this important and growing Texas market.”

This first groundbreaking for the new extended-stay hotel brand is conveniently located just a few miles from Dallas at the southeast intersection of Highway 121 and Rasor Boulevard in Plano, adjacent to the city’s neighboring shopping, eating, and outdoor amenities. Plano, labeled “one of the happiest locations in the country,” has beautiful environmental preserves as well as a range of arts and cultural events. Gulf Coast Hotel Management owns the hotel, which is set to open in the second half of 2023.

“This new development will offer a modern, extended-stay product with all the conveniences of home for both leisure and business travelers visiting north Texas,” said Ian McClure, chief executive officer, Gulf Coast Hotel Management. “We were attracted to Wyndham for this project due to their expertise, and how this new brand is custom-designed with the developer in mind.”

The 124-room Project ECHO prototype takes just under two acres of land, has a highly competitive cost per key, and offers several features that set it apart from standard budget hotels. Individual rooms average 300 square feet and total slightly over 50,000 square feet, about 74% of which is rentable. The rooms include single- and two-queen studio apartments with kitchenettes, as well as effectively built communal spaces such as a lobby, fitness center, and guest laundry, which assist to decrease labor requirements.