Take Your Vacation to Heart: Unwind With Wyndham: Financial News

Take Your Vacation to Heart: Unwind With Wyndham
Wednesday July 23, 2008 9:20 am ET

21 Percent of Vacation Time Goes Unused in America; Shorter Stays Become the Norm

PARSIPPANY, NJ--(MARKET WIRE)--Jul 23, 2008 -- Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE:WYN - News), one of the world's largest hospitality companies, is encouraging Americans to take their "heart-earned" vacation time off and reclaim their unused vacation days with the limited-time 'UNWIND WITH WYNDHAM' special deals.

Source: Wyndham Worldwide

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· Wyndham Worldwide

"When compared to Europe, Americans work more hours, earn far fewer vacation days and, to top it off, leave three days, or a whopping 21% of available time, on the table. We need to reclaim our lost time off. Too many of us are stressed out, over-worked, and time-deprived, and it's high time to rebalance our lives," said Betsy O'Rourke, senior vice president of marketing and communications for Wyndham Worldwide. "Today's travelers are taking shorter vacations and staying closer to home to save time and money. No one wants to pay more at the pump, but let's remember Americans still pay less than half as much as Europeans do for gas."

Vacation time, even just three to four days, is proven to have innumerable benefits on stress-related health problems, family connection, rekindling romance, and an overall sense of well-being.(i)(ii)(iii) A recent Travelhorizons(TM) survey, co-authored by the Travel Industry Association (TIA) and Ypartnership, shows many Americans continue to travel while making smarter and more streamlined vacation choices. Six out of ten (59 percent) Americans planning a trip with their car, truck or SUV this summer will not change their travel plans even with increases in the price of gas. The other 41 percent will simply take shorter trips or look at cost-saving options.(iv)

Yet Expedia.com's 2008 Vacation Deprivation(TM) Survey finds Americans not only receive the least amount of vacation time of all industrialized countries, they also leave three of those days unused.(v) That translates into a surprising 21 percent of their total vacation time: substantially more than any other country. Where do those lost days go? Wyndham would like to know. Consumers are invited to send emails to lostdays@wyndhamworldwide.com with their stories.

This summer, travelers are reminded to refuel, recharge and reclaim those lost days by taking a 'heart-earned' vacation. Wyndham introduces new 'UNWIND WITH WYNDHAM,' offers, available now through Sept. 1, 2008, at participating hotels, resorts and vacation rental properties in 100 countries. With thousands of hotels, resorts and rental properties to choose from, ranging from low budget to high-end luxury, Wyndham has an accommodation. For every kind of traveler. For every kind of trip.(SM) Guests can book a quick getaway, rediscover a place closer to home, explore shops and museums, or attend a nearby festival, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Guests booking online at www.wyndhamworldwide.com may use the promotion code UNWIND. Certain restrictions apply.

"Turn off that Blackberry®, pack a weekend bag and leave for a few important days away with family or friends," concludes O'Rourke. "We owe it to ourselves, and when we return, we'll not only have shared a great experience and reconnected with our personal lives, but we'll likely be even more productive at work."

For those who plan a vacation every year, investing in a vacation ownership lifestyle offers good value. And, better still for America's depressed vacation situation, over 68 percent of timeshare owners report that ownership increased the amount of time they spend on vacation.(vi) For these travelers, Wyndham's vacation ownership resorts are an attractive option.

Everyone benefits from vacation, and the majority of those trips are planned and booked by women.

In recognition of the important role of women in planning and booking travel, Wyndham Worldwide became the first hotel brand to dedicate an entire program and department to women travelers. The Women on Their Way program has delivered a better hotel experience for travelers since it launched in 1995. In May 2008, the Web site www.womenontheirway.com was expanded to offer travel and safety tips, articles on destinations and events, travel deals and promotions, and advice columns.

Take Your Vacation to Heart: Top 10 Reasons for a Little R&R

10. Rest. Life is busy, and you deserve a break!

9. Relax. Hunching over a computer and long commutes by car create lingering muscle tension. Enjoy a good book, take a nap, lounge by the pool; whatever you choose to do on your vacation, plan some time for relaxation.

8. Reconnect. At home, your family is going in a million different directions. Take the time to come together. Fifty-three percent of adults come back from vacation feeling reconnected with their families. *

7. Recharge. Work is busy and it's easy to reach "burn-out." Thirty-nine percent of Americans say they come back from vacation feeling better about their jobs and are even more productive. *

6. Refuel. Yes, the price of airline tickets is increasing, as are fuel prices. However, that's no reason to give up your vacation. Refuel your car and hit the open road! There are lots of great trips you can take within a gas tank's distance of your home; just get creative!

5. Romance. Dining while looking out on the ocean, relaxing during a couple's massage, or enjoying a picnic with your partner on a secluded beach... take the time to reconnect with your partner or spouse.

4. Rejuvenate. With all that you have on your "To Do" list, it's no wonder you feel drained. Allow yourself some down time and get back to your life feeling refreshed and ready to go.

3. Recoup. Daily stress takes a toll on your heart, your mind and your body. Studies have shown that taking vacations decreases stress levels and even decreases the risk of heart attacks.+

2. Reclaim those lost vacation days! Americans are giving up their hard-earned vacation days. It's time to take them back.

1. Recognize that you are worth it. You need a vacation. You deserve a vacation.

Unwind with Wyndham.

It's not too late to take a few days and unwind. Visit www.WyndhamWorldwide.com for special offers and packages and plan your next trip today. Take advantage of Wyndham's UNWIND summer specials at any of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands, including hotels and vacation rentals.

About Wyndham Worldwide Corporation

As one of the world's largest hospitality companies, Wyndham Worldwide offers individual consumers and business-to-business customers a broad suite of hospitality products and services across various accommodation alternatives and price ranges through its premier portfolio of world-renowned brands. Wyndham Hotel Group encompasses more than 6,550 franchised hotels and approximately 551,000 hotel rooms worldwide. Group RCI offers its more than 3.6 million members access to more than 67,000 vacation properties located in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its network of approximately 145 vacation ownership resorts serving over 800,000 owners throughout North America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific.

Wyndham Worldwide, headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., employs more than 33,000 employees globally. For more information about Wyndham Worldwide, please visit the company's web site at www.WyndhamWorldwide.com.

(i)TIA's Benefits of Travel. 2008. Travel Industry Association. 15 July 2008 (http://www.tia.org/pressmedia/Benefits/index.html).

(ii) Manage Long-Term Stress to Avoid Ill Health Effects. 3 Oct. 2007. Mayo Clinic. 15 July 2008 (http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2007-mchi/4288.html).

(iii) Gump, Brooks B., and Karen A. Mathews. "Are Vacations Good for Your Health? The 9-Year Mortality Experience After the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial." Psychosomatic Medicine 62 (2000): 608-12.

(iv) Gas Prices Not Likely to Affect Travel Plans of Most American Travelers. 7 May 2008. Travel Industry Association. 15 July 2008 (http://www.tia.org/pressmedia/pressrec.asp?Item=890).

(v)Vacation Deprivation Survey Facts and Vacation Ideas at Expedia.com. May 2008. Expedia.com. 15 July 2008 (http://www.expedia.com/daily/promos/vacations/vacation_deprivation/default.asp).

(vi) Timeshare Improves the Vacation Experience for Owners, According to National Study. 11 Sept. 2006. American Resort Development Association. 15 July 2008 (http://www.arda.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=September_11_2006).

* Vacation Deprivation Survey Facts and Vacation Ideas at Expedia.com. May 2008. Expedia.com. 15 July 2008 (http://www.expedia.com/daily/promos/vacations/vacation_deprivation/default.asp).

+ Eaker, Elaine D., Joan Pinsky and William P. Castelli. "Myocardial Infarction and Coronary Death among Women: Psychosocial Predictors from a 20-Year Follow-up of Women in the Framingham Study." American Journal of Epidemiology 135.8 (1992): 854-64.

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