Travel + Leisure Co. and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts are expanding their partnership to launch traditional hotels under the Sports Illustrated Resorts brand, enhancing their portfolio that already includes vacation ownership and residential options. This agreement, announced on October 5, 2026, allows developers to create standalone Sports Illustrated Resorts hotels or integrate them into larger venues with vacation and residential offerings.
Key Highlights:
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Brand Collaboration: Travel + Leisure Co. will oversee brand management and development while Wyndham provides distribution, marketing, and loyalty infrastructure.
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Focus on Sports Tourism: The initiative targets college towns and major cities, leveraging sports events to draw visitors year-round.
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Flexible Hotel Model: Property developers gain greater flexibility in developing hotel projects branded under Sports Illustrated without needing to include vacation ownership.
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Existing Connections: This agreement builds on the existing relationship between the two companies, linking Wyndham’s networks with various vacation club brands.
Current Developments:
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Nashville: The first fully branded Sports Illustrated Resorts destination is now open, featuring sports-themed amenities.
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Future Destinations:
- Chicago: Scheduled to complete in early 2027.
- Baton Rouge: Phased opening expected in late 2027.
- Tuscaloosa: The first ground-up build, slated to open in 2028.
Overall, this partnership aims to create unique, immersive experiences around sports, capitalizing on the synergy between travel and athletic events.
