Shilpan Patel will oversee franchise operations, brand operations, franchise services and managed operations across North America in his new role. He first joined Wyndham in 2007 as Senior Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis. Subsequently, he has progressed through the ranks and held various positions including Director of International Finance and Reporting, Director of Business Development – Relicensing, Vice-President of Business Development – Relicensing and Senior Vice-President of Franchise Services. Prior to the hotel company, Patel worked at Deloitte and Cendant Corporation.

Gustavo Viescas will take over the day-to-day management and success of Wyndham’s Latin American portfolio of approximately 250 hotels. Based in Buenos Aires where he was previously Senior Vice-President, LATAMC, he has already been instrumental in growing the region, including launching two new brands and developing strategic partnerships. Viescas joined Wyndham Worldwide in 2000 as a cashier and has spent the last 22 years making his way up the hierarchy of the hotel company. He has notably held the posts of Financial Planning Manager, Finance and Administration Manager, Financial Planning Director LATAMC and Finance Vice-President.

A Wyndham core tenet is promoting from within thanks to our exceptional bench of leadership talent. Both Shilpan in North America and Gustavo in Latin America, are focussed on delivering for our owners – existing and new – and I’m confident the relationships they’ve built over the years will continue to flourish as they take on these expanded roles.

Geoff Ballotti, President & CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts