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No Vacancy Live is the travel industry’s most exciting podcast. A fun, fast paced genre bending program peeling back the travel business veneer. 


Perfect for road warriors, leisure travelers and industry insiders, we look behind the scenes of the travel business by sharing stories, experiences, and with interviews featuring the industry’s biggest names.

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Apr 13, 2026

Wyndham Rewards pushes beyond hotel nights into experiences, and Michael Shiwdin, Global VP of Loyalty at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, explains why: engagement drives direct bookings, and direct bookings drive owner value.

I talked with Michael at Wyndham Grand Rio Mar in Puerto Rico about how Wyndham Rewards Experiences works and what it means for hotels in the portfolio.

🌿 Members earn points on experiences through Viator, including activities like kayaking
🎟️ Wyndham partners with Ticketmaster and Madison Square Garden for concert opportunities and VIP experiences
📈 Michael says Wyndham saw almost a 5X increase in member engagement after launching Wyndham Rewards Experiences, plus double-digit lifts tied to members booking direct
💰 He frames the owner angle: members book direct at a lower cost channel, then return to the Wyndham portfolio for the next stay

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