Wyndham International, Inc. (NYSE:WYN) today announced that its Board of Directors has named James D. Carreker to the additional post of Chairman.
Carreker, 52, was named Chief Executive Officer in February 1999, when the Board announced its plan to combine Wyndham and Patriot American Hospitality into a single operating company.

“Jim Carreker is a superb hotel executive whose organizational leadership makes him the right Chairman for Wyndham as it focuses on becoming a leading branded hotel operator,” said Milton Fine, director. “Under Jim`s leadership, Wyndham has grown to one of the world`s premier lodging companies, distinguished by the quality of its service in the upscale and luxury sectors of the hospitality industry. Jim has built one of the strongest operating teams in the industry. We are confident of his ability to maintain the organization`s focus on delivering results and creating shareholder value.”

Carreker, who joined Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in 1988 as President, is credited with growing the Wyndham brand from 18 hotels to 70 hotels at the time of its initial public offering in 1996 and 125 hotels after it merged with Patriot American in 1998. In 1994-5, he also served as President of The Trammell Crow Company, overseeing its vast real estate operations. Earlier in his career, Carreker was President of the Burdines division of Federated Department Stores and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Sanger Harris.

Carreker`s appointment as Chairman is the latest in a series of key appointments at Wyndham. Last month, Wyndham named Fred J. Kleisner President and Chief Operating Officer. Kleisner, 54, joined Wyndham from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., where he was President and Chief Operating Officer of The Americas Hotel Group. In the Spring, Wyndham named Richard Mahoney, 46, Chief Financial Officer. A former CFO of Westin Hotels & Resorts, Mahoney joined Wyndham from Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of its gaming division.

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