Wyndham Rolls out Its Own TV Channel

What’s a hotel company to do with the movie-rental channel on in-room TVs now that no one rents movies any more? Wyndham has come up with an idea: create your own programming to drive recognition of your rewards program.

Beginning tomorrow, the new Wyndham Rewards TV will debut in 7,500 hotels, featuring a scripted TV show “that’s like Amazing Race meets Modern Family.” In this first of what the company hopes will be many episodes, a young couple wins a million Rewards points and heads off the spend them at Wyndham hotels.

“Have Points, Will Travel” is “a hysterical, a mockumentary-style, travel-challenge TV series and a first for the hotel industry,” Wyndham says.

“Great brands don’t just put out ads, they speak to their customers in ways that are memorable and that resonate. Great brands are creative, take chances and add value. That’s what we’re doing with Wyndham Rewards and ‘Have Points, Will Travel.’ We have an opportunity through Dean and Traci to not only educate and entertain our guests, but inspire them to travel and create adventures of their own,” said Noah Brodsky, Wyndham Hotel Group’s senior vice president of worldwide loyalty and engagement.

–Cheryl Rosen