Tag Archives: Dimitris Manikis

A new research report by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts reveals that Saudi Arabia’s Generation Z is driving the country’s tourism landscape—fueling a surge in domestic travel rooted in cultural exploration, digital engagement, and sustainability. Conducted in partnership with YouGov, the study shows that over half (54%) of Gen Z Saudis have taken a domestic leisure trip in the past six months, with 29% of respondents planning to continue travelling locally in the future. The emerging trends from the research underscore how travel has become a meaningful part of everyday life for young Saudis, not a luxury, but a lifestyle, a result which is driven by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals to increase domestic tourism to 55 million trips annually by 2030 and raise tourism’s GDP contribution to 10%. “What we’re witnessing is a generational shift,” said Dimitris Manikis, President EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “Gen Z travellers in Saudi Arabia are increasingly choosing to explore their own backyard, not just out of convenience, but because they’re proud of what the Kingdom has to offer. They’re driven by a desire to connect with local culture, contribute to the economy, and travel more sustainably. At Wyndham, we’re proud to support this transformation by offering stays that meet their expectations for value, comfort, and digital ease, while helping them engage more deeply with Saudi Arabia’s nature, heritage, and communities.”

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company by a number of properties with over 8,900 hotels across nearly 95 countries, today announced the debut of its La Quinta by Wyndham brand in the Middle East with a new 100-room property in Dubai. Expected to open in March 2021, La Quinta by Wyndham Dubai Bur Dubai will be centrally located in the historic Bur Dubai district. Dimitris Manikis, President Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA), Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said, “We are on a strong growth trajectory for La Quinta by Wyndham, and this latest addition further highlights our commitment to expand the brand in EMEA and around the world. Dubai is one of the most sought out destinations for travellers from all corners of the globe, making it the ideal location to launch La Quinta in the market. This property perfectly complements our portfolio of over 60 hotels in the Middle East and Africa and we look forward to continuing to grow our robust pipeline in the region.”

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced the debut of La Quinta by Wyndham in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa) market with the opening of the 404-room La Quinta by Wyndham Istanbul Gunesli, bringing the brand to travellers outside of the Americas for the first time.  La Quinta by Wyndham is a leading upper-midscale brand at over 900 hotels across North and Latin America, offering contemporary design, thoughtful amenities and friendly service. Wyndham acquired La Quinta’s hotel franchise and hotel management businesses in 2018, further building upon the company’s diverse family of hotel brands and offerings around the world. La Quinta by Wyndham Istanbul Gunesli is one of the latest additions to Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ presence in Turkey, where the company is the largest international hotel group with over 80 hotels all across the country. Dimitris Manikis, President & Managing Director for EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said, “We are thrilled to welcome La Quinta and its long-standing reputation for delivering quality, reliability and a great guest experience to the EMEA region, further expanding our offering of brands in such an important market like Turkey. With a record of over 13 million international visitors in 2018 alone and an incredible variety of historical, cultural and business sites, Istanbul is one of the world’s most attractive cities for travel, making it the perfect fit for La Quinta’s European debut.”