Wyndham Hotels & Resorts broke ground on its first hotel in its new as-yet-unnamed extended-stay brand, in Plano, Texas. The all new-construction brand, still officially unnamed but operating under the working title "Project ECHO," has 72 hotels in the development pipeline as of the end of the second quarter.
"This is a milestone moment for Wyndham, as we break ground on our first hotel under this innovative, extended-stay hotel brand," Wyndham Hotels & Resorts President and CEO Geoff Ballotti said in a statement. "Demand for extended-stay accommodations continues to surge as interest continues to grow among both guests and developers. As the nation's leader in economy and midscale hotel accommodations, this is the ideal time to introduce a cost-friendly and all new-construction brand, starting with this important and growing Texas market."
Located a few miles from Dallas along the southeast corner of Highway 121 and Rasor Boulevard in Plano, this property will be close to the city's nearby shopping, dining and outdoor activities. The hotel is owned by Gulf Coast Hotel Management and is expected to open in the second half of 2023.
"This new development will offer a modern, extended-stay product with all the conveniences of home for both leisure and business travelers visiting north Texas," said Ian McClure, CEO of Gulf Coast Hotel Management. "We were attracted to Wyndham for this project due to their expertise, and how this new brand is custom-designed with the developer in mind."
The purpose-built, 124-room Project ECHO prototype requires just under two acres of land for each hotel. Coming in at just over 50,000 square feet—nearly 74 percent of which is rentable—individual rooms average 300 square feet. The rooms consist of single- and two-queen studio suites with kitchenettes. Public spaces include a lobby, a fitness center and guest laundry facilities, all designed to help to limit labor needs.