Above: the Viva Wyndham Playa del Carmen in Mexico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Wyndham Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Paulo Pena as the company’s new vice president and managing director for Latin America.

Pena will lead the development efforts of Wyndham in the region, which is said was “important” to its international plans.

He will be based out of Wyndham Hotel Group’s offices in Parsippany, New Jersey.

He comes to Wyndham from Starwood Hotels and Resorts, where he worked most recently as vice president of global associations.

“Wyndham Hotel Group continues to focus on Latin America as a region crucial for growth, and Paulo will be an excellent leader for this position,” said Bob Loewen, executive vice president and CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group. “His experience in strategic relationships combined with his vast knowledge of the industry will be critical to our development in the region as we continue working with key development partners to accelerate our expansion in emerging markets of Latin America.”

In a release, Wyndham said it intended to increase its portfolio of brands in cities and markets across the region, with a special interest in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Peru.

Wyndham’s porftolio in the region includes 122 properties comprising more than 15,000 rooms in Central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean.