India– Executive team members at Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company based on number of hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, are traveling throughout India this month to explore development opportunities in the country.

Already, the Company announced plans to expand its presence in India in 2012 and beyond with a non-exclusive development agreement to launch the iconic Howard Johnson® brand in India with 3,000 rooms across 35 new properties by 2017.

This agreement with Unique Mercantile India Private Limited, a large firm in India with investments in real estate development in Gujarat and Hyderabad, India, also includes the development of a new 120-room Ramada® resort in Udaipur that will feature a spa, swimming pool, game room, a poolside bar and international cuisine. The hotel’s first 72 rooms are due to open in April 2012 with 48 additional rooms completed by December 2014.

These properties will add to Wyndham Hotel Group’s 14 hotels already in operation and the 15 properties that are currently under development in the country.

“Given the rise in tourism, India is full of growth opportunities,” said Eric Danziger, Wyndham Hotel Group president and chief executive officer. “We are happy to start the New Year with such exciting expansion plans and look forward to many more opportunities. We remain committed to developing hotels with distinctive services and offerings while strengthening our global presence in sought after destinations.”

The agreement with Unique Mercantile India Private Limited increases Wyndham Hotel Group’s portfolio in the Asia Pacific region, which currently consists of 466 properties and over 65,453 rooms under the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®, Ramada, Howard Johnson, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Microtel Inns & Suites® and Dream® brands.

“We are excited to be partnering with Wyndham Hotel Group as we expand into the hospitality sector and are proud to help bring the Howard Johnson brand to India,” said Mr. Rajkumar Rai, Chairman and Managing Director at Unique Mercantile India Private Limited. “This is a special partnership that marks a new chapter in Unique Group’s overall strategy of creating a Pan-India presence whilst developing a unique space in the region over the next few years.”

The planned expansion in India follows the recent opening of the luxurious 154-room Wyndham Grand Agra under the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts flag.  The hotel, owned by Shekhar Resorts Limited, is lavishly designed and offers a true feel for the area’s vibrant architecture. Spread over 18 acres of landscaped gardens, Wyndham Grand Agra is a mere five minutes from one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal.

Wyndham Hotel Group, part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies, is the world’s largest hotel company with approximately 7,190 hotels and 611,200 rooms in 65 countries under the hotel brands: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®, Ramada®, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Wingate by Wyndham®, Baymont Inn & Suites®, Microtel Inns & Suites®, Hawthorn Suites® by Wyndham, TRYP by Wyndham™, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge® and Knights Inn®. In addition, the company has a license agreement to franchise the Planet Hollywood Hotels, Dream® and Night® brands and provide management services globally.

All hotels are independently owned and operated excluding certain Wyndham and international Ramada and Days Inn hotels, which may be managed by one of the affiliates of Wyndham Hotel Group or through a joint-venture partner. Wyndham Hotel Group is based in Parsippany; N.J. Additional information is available at www.wyndhamworldwide.com. For more information about hotel franchising opportunities visit www.whgdevelopment.com.