Great partnerships in hospitality technology don’t just happen—they are built over time through trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to innovation. No brand knows this better than Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. What began as a simple effort to replace outdated credit card authorization forms has grown into one of the most impactful collaborations in hospitality. By working as one team, Wyndham and Canary Technologies launched an AI-powered guest experience that drives both revenue and operational efficiency. That’s why Hospitality Technology was thrilled to recognize both companies with a 2024 Hotel Visionary Award in the Partnership category. This year’s Visionary Awards were sponsored by Encora.
A Grassroots Beginning
The foundation of this partnership began at the property level, with individual Wyndham franchisees recognizing the value of Canary’s Digital Authorizations product: a significant reduction in chargebacks and fraud. As word spread, more properties independently adopted the solution, setting the stage for a broader conversation between Wyndham’s corporate leadership and Canary.
Recognizing the potential impact at scale, Wyndham engaged its franchise advisory and brand councils to launch a pilot program aimed at unifying the digital guest journey. Properties participating in the program benefitted from Canary’s AI-powered Guest Messaging, Mobile Check-In, Mobile Checkout and Dynamic Upsell solutions, streamlining hotel operations while enhancing the guest experience. The results exceeded expectations—hotels participating in the pilot reported thousands of dollars in incremental upsell revenue per month and a noticeable increase in positive post-stay reviews.
Simplifying Implementation Through Strong Integrations
In 2023, their partnership expanded with the introduction of Wyndham Connect℠, one of the largest rollouts of guest-facing AI technology in the hospitality industry ever. By 2024, thousands of Wyndham properties had successfully deployed Wyndham Connect, which today also integrates Canary Digital Tipping.
One of the key factors that made this partnership so effective was the seamless integration of Canary’s solutions with Wyndham’s ecosystem. Wyndham’s consistent investment in its technology ecosystem—including a single global CRS, AWS-powered data warehouse, and API-driven digital footprint—as well as Canary’s own deep integrations across major hospitality tech vendors, ensured a natural fit.
The results speak for themselves:
- AI Guest Messaging has automated responses to 80% of common guest inquiries, freeing up staff to focus on high-value interactions.
- Dynamic Upsells have generated millions in incremental revenue for franchisees.
- Digital Tipping has facilitated higher gratuities for staff, with the average tip exceeding $10.
Beyond these tangible results, Wyndham and Canary are setting the stage for the future of guest-facing AI in hospitality. Thousands of Wyndham hotels are now leveraging Canary AI, an advanced generative AI designed to enhance guest interactions. From breaking down language barriers with multilingual capabilities to automating routine tasks, this technology is reshaping hotel operations and improving the overall guest experience.
“With this partnership, Canary and Wyndham have set the standard for guest-facing AI technology,” said SJ Sawhney, President and co-founder of Canary Technologies. “Canary AI is already the most advanced in the hospitality sector, and as we continue to work with Wyndham and innovate alongside their team, its positive impact on their franchisees will only grow.”
A Partnership Built on Collaboration
What sets this partnership apart is not just the technology itself but the collaborative spirit that drives it. From the outset, Wyndham and Canary worked together to define the “Golden Path” for an ideal guest experience. Rather than retrofitting technology into existing systems, the two teams started with Wyndham’s vision and built a tailored solution to match.
To be successful, however, required extensive dialogue, problem-solving, and a willingness to adapt. Thus, both teams recognized the need for a close working relationship. Each company, therefore, provided industry veterans to collaborate on a team. This proximity fosters an environment of ongoing innovation and collaboration. By working alongside Canary’s product, engineering, and project management teams, Wyndham is able to implement changes with minimal friction, often implementing changes within days rather than months.
“Wyndham’s decision to partner with Canary and leverage our AI capability illustrates their commitment to their franchisees,” said Bryan Michalis, VP of Marketing at Canary Technologies. “Our two teams have worked in tandem from the beginning to create solutions to streamline operations, increase revenue and deliver personalized guest interactions. We’re grateful for this partnership and look forward to how we can continue to collaborate in the future.”
A Partnership That Elevates Hospitality
The collaboration between Wyndham and Canary is more than just a successful vendor relationship—it’s a true partnership built on shared goals, continuous innovation, and a deep commitment to enhancing the guest experience. By working together as a unified team, Wyndham and Canary have created a technology ecosystem that not only benefits franchisees but also sets a precedent for the entire hospitality industry.
As the digital transformation of hospitality continues, partnerships like this one serve as a blueprint for how hotels and technology providers can work together to drive meaningful change. Wyndham and Canary’s journey is proof that when two organizations align on vision, execution, and adaptability, the possibilities are limitless.
