Wyndham launches its 25th brand — one that blurs the line of hotel and apartment
The hotel industry’s growing embrace of extended-stay travel isn’t slowing down.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts revealed a new brand — WaterWalk Extended Stay by Wyndham — Tuesday that is actually a mix of furnished hotel-style accommodations and unfurnished apartments for longer-term stays. The brand — which is Wyndham’s 25th — entered the company ecosystem through a partnership with WaterWalk, a Kansas-based operator of 11 hybrid hotel-apartment developments.
Related: The ultimate guide to earning and redeeming Wyndham Rewards
The partnership adds 11 WaterWalk properties to the Wyndham portfolio. The brand is expected to fuel growth in Wyndham’s broader extended-stay offering which also includes brands like Echo Suites and Hawthorn Extended Stay.
"In the last year, guest demand for the extended stay segment reached record highs, which has been underscored by demand from owners and developers looking for new opportunities to partner with Wyndham," Chip Ohlsson, Wyndham’s chief development officer, said in a prepared statement. “Our vision is to offer the industry’s most robust portfolio of extended stay brands, and the addition of WaterWalk marks an important step in that direction — helping ensure we have an offering in every segment, for every owner and for every guest.”
Offerings at WaterWalk properties are divided under the banners of "Live" and "Stay." Depending on which kind of lodging you book, you might have to bring more than a carry-on bag to complete the overnight experience.
Stay units are fully furnished and have the typical residential-style, extended-stay experience with full kitchens and living areas.
Rates for a weeklong trip in a Stay unit at WaterWalk in Atlanta start at $96 per night this month for a studio suite with a full kitchen; they move up to $151 per night for a two-bedroom suite with a loft and full kitchen.
Live units are unfurnished and are designed for longer-term stays meant to feel like an actual residential experience. These units are available for bookings lasting at least 90 days. While rates weren’t provided, renters must have a credit score of at least 550, an income that's 2 1/2 or three times the cost of rent and a good rental history.
The rise of extended-stay hotels
Wyndham’s expansion of its extended-stay hotel brand network comes amid a broader hotel industry embrace of this type of lodging.
Brands like Extended Stay America performed best during the worst months of the pandemic because they cater to a mix of essential workers who must be on the road (even in a global pandemic) and those who use the suites as in-between housing. It appears the world’s largest hotel companies took notice, as Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt each launched new brands in the extended-stay space.
Wyndham is already off to a strong start in the space with Echo’s more-than-265-hotel development pipeline. But WaterWalk is an innovative approach; it has the ability to also tap into the unfortunate reality that demand for housing in the U.S. continues to exceed supply.
While it’s unlikely too many competitors are looking at getting into the business of unfurnished residential units, don’t rule it out.
Nobody thought Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt were kicking the tires on extended-stay brands just a few years ago, and now there's Marriott’s StudioRes, Hilton’s LivSmart Studios and Hyatt Studios.
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- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- A comparison of luxury hotel programs from credit card issuers
- Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
- The best hotel rewards programs in the world
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.