I’m fascinated by how hotel chains develop brands. While some of them, like IHG, Hilton and Marriott, are clearly trying to cover the spectrum of hotel types, others have a lane and stick to it. I’m not expecting the Four Seasons to open up a budget hotel any time soon. I’m also not looking for a new luxury property from Motel 6.
However, some hotel chains have branches that extend far from the tree trunk. For instance, we’ve enjoyed stays at quirky Ascend Hotel properties, which fall under the more value-based Choice Hotels umbrella. Undoubtedly, Wyndham Rewards is the champ of having upscale brands under a dollar store umbrella. Most of Wyndham’s hotels are Travelodge, Super 8, Days Inn, Microtel, Baymont, Ramada and LaQuinta. However, they also have upscale brands like the namesake Wyndham Grand and Registry, Dolce, TRYP, and Trademark Hotels.
Wyndham Rewards and Vacation Partnerships
Much has been made of the Wyndham Rewards partnerships with vacation rental company Vacasa, which allows you to use rewards to book vacation homes, cabins and condos. However, Wyndham Rewards also has partnerships with other vacation rental companies.
My Growing Interest in Wyndham Hotels
I’ve become more interested in Wyndham’s hotels after getting a decent number of points with my Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card. I used some of them for our first stay at a Wingate property, but I have enough left to look for other uses.
Not wanting to limit myself to LaQuinta stays, I’ve kept an eye on the program. Therefore, I was intrigued when I heard of a new lifestyle hotel brand affiliated with Wyndham Rewards. Even more interesting is that the hotels aren’t mentioned anywhere on the Wyndham website.
Origin Hotels: A New Boutique Brand
The Origin Hotel Collection is a small group of boutique hotels located around the United States.
Currently, there are hotels in Austin, Baton Rouge, LA, Lexington, KY, Kansas City, MO, Red Rocks, CO, and Westminster, CO, with plans for further expansion in Atlanta. Origin Hotels seeks to capture the boutique hotel vibe by positioning itself in trendy, up-and-coming locations.
At Origin, we strive to provide travelers the best place to venture out, balance a healthy lifestyle, and connect with others. Through experiences that are as different in personality as they are in place, we do just that.
Pet-Friendly and Award-Worthy
One of the standout features of Origin Hotels is their commitment to being pet-friendly at all locations. So, feel free to bring your furry friends along for the trip (size limits apply).
For those collecting Wyndham Rewards points, all Origin Hotel locations are bookable for award stays. A quick search showed that most dates cost 30,000 points per night.
Points Redemption: When to Use Wyndham Rewards
Depending on the cash price for the hotel, it may or may not be a good idea to redeem points for a free night.
A Kimpton Feel with a Splash of Moxy
It’s impossible not to compare a new hotel chain to an existing one, but I can’t help getting a Kimpton vibe from the lobby area with a splash of Moxy and AC Hotels thrown in for good measure.
What’s Next for Origin Hotels?
With only six locations and one more in the pipeline, Origin Hotels has time to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up. Whatever it is, I think it’s a welcome addition to the Wyndham Rewards portfolio. Maybe they’ll even add it to the website when it gets a few more locations.
Cover Photo: Origin Hotel Austin – Credit: Jane Yun
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