On Monday, the hotel company behind brands like Comfort Inn and the Radisson Americas portfolio finally walked away from its $8 billion attempt at a hostile takeover of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
The deal seemed like a long shot for some time, and not just because Wyndham's leadership team balked at the idea of selling to Choice.
The Asian American Hotel Owners Association — the leading hotel ownership group in the U.S. — conducted a survey during the drawn-out takeover saga, and a majority of Wyndham franchisees polled said the takeover would hurt their business.
Both Choice and Wyndham emphasized stand-alone strategies going forward, and several investor analyst reports touted international growth as an ideal opportunity for Choice.
There is also chatter that takeover attempts in this budget-friendly segment of the hotel industry aren't over. Private buyers could emerge, or even yet another hotel company.
After all, Hilton, Marriott and IHG have all signaled major interest over the last year with brand launches that target a similar customer base as Choice and Wyndham's. This budget brand bonanza is far from over.
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