Wyndham Worldwide appointed Michael D. Brown as president and CEO of Wyndham Vacation Ownership, effective immediately. Most recently serving as COO of Hilton Grand Vacations, Brown brings more than 25 years of experience leading a range of asset-management and vacation-ownership sales functions.
Brown will report to Wyndham Worldwide chairman and CEO Stephen P. Holmes, who has been serving as interim leader of the business since the start of the year. Orlando-based Wyndham Vacation Ownership is the world leader in timeshare development, sales and management with 219 resorts and over 887,000 owners globally.
Prior to serving as HGV’s COO, Brown led its domestic sales organization, which nearly doubled its sales revenue under his leadership. Brown joined HGV in 2008 after serving in a series of sales, development, operations and finance leadership roles across the U.S., Europe and the Caribbean for more than 16 years at Marriott International and Marriott Vacation Club International.
“Mike brings a combination of strategic vision, people-centric focus and industry savvy that is ideal to successfully lead this powerhouse organization,” Holmes said in a statement. “A well-known and highly regarded industry leader, Mike values the long term relationship we have with our owners, knows how to leverage a hotel-based loyalty program, and understands how to best support the vibrant and successful sales and service culture at Wyndham.”
Vacation ownership at Wyndham includes membership in the industry’s top-rated loyalty program—Wyndham Rewards—which allows owners to earn points that can be redeemed for everything from stays across the Wyndham portfolio to club maintenance fees. This past year, Wyndham Rewards became the first major loyalty program to include vacation ownership and vacation rental properties, adding more than 20,000 options to its redemption portfolio.
“Mike has proven success in effectively connecting hotel customers and loyalty program members with the vacation ownership experience – a strategic priority here at Wyndham as we continue weaving Wyndham Rewards as the ‘blue thread’ tying our hospitality portfolio together,” Holmes said.