Ted Teng, Wyndham International Inc.`s (AMEX:WBR) president and chief operating officer, announced today the appointment of Patricia Smith to senior vice president of human resources. Smith is responsible for leading the entire human resources team, who supports and provides services for Wyndham`s 26,000 employees. Specific human resource functions under Smith`s leadership include human resource operations; staffing and talent acquisition; compensation and benefits; labor and employee relations; organization development; training; and employee communications.

“Patricia`s new position is also responsible for a network of regional human resource offices across North America and the Caribbean, and partners closely with Donna DeBerry, Wyndham`s senior vice president of diversity, on the company`s diversity initiative,” stated Teng. “She will focus on integrating employee initiatives to the business strategy, the alignment of processes, and creating an employee experience based on personalization by expanding Wyndham ByRequest(R), the company`s guest recognition program, to the company`s associates.
Smith joined Wyndham in 2000 as the vice president of organization development and training, responsible for organization development, training, diversity, and employee communications. Prior to Wyndham, she was the director of strategy implementation and a senior consultant with Wilson Learning Corporation in Longwood, Fla., where she designed and implemented cultural evolution strategies, diversity and training solutions for corporations in such industries as pharmaceutical, manufacturing, insurance and lodging. Before that, Smith spent 15 years with The Walt Disney Company in various positions, including Disney University in training and employee communications, and the Disney Employment & Casting Center, where she led a team who designed and implemented innovative recruiting strategies. She also held key leadership roles in human resources and organization development at various Disney theme park, hotel and vacation ownership start-ups. Smith began her career in the medical field as a licensed practical nurse at the Orlando Medical Center.

Smith received her Practical Nursing Certificate from Orange County School of Nursing in Orlando before moving on to receive an A.A. in Journalism from Valencia Community College in Florida, a B.A. in Communications from Rollins College in Florida, a B.S. in Metaphysics from the American Institute of Theology in Ohio, and a M.S. in Career and Human Resource Development from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York.

Wyndham International, Inc. offers upscale and luxury hotel and resort accommodations through proprietary lodging brands and a management services division. Based in Dallas, Wyndham owns, leases, manages and franchises hotels and resorts in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. For more information, visit www.wyndham.com. For reservations, call 800-WYNDHAM.

——-