(Marketwire) - Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN), one of the world's largest hospitality companies, has been once again named among the Top 50 Companies for Executive Women by the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE). The list recognizes organizations whose policies and practices encourage women's advancement and whose numbers at the highest levels of leadership demonstrate that commitment.

A newly released report conducted by Working Mother Research Institute showed that at the NAFE Top Companies, women hold nearly one in four positions overseeing divisions with more than $1 billion in revenue, and hold 23% of all board of director seats compared with 16% across the Fortune 500. At Wyndham Worldwide, women represent 54% of its total U.S. workforce, 35% of all director-level and above positions, and 28% of its board of directors.

"We are proud of this recognition because it speaks to our culture, which appreciates diverse backgrounds and experiences at all levels of our company, and values the ideas and contributions of each associate," says Mary Falvey, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Wyndham Worldwide. "There is an opportunity for the entire business community to continue making strategic decisions to increase diversity in thought, background, and expertise through increased women participation in leadership positions, and champion future women leaders to maintain a strong pipeline of qualified talent."

The NAFE Top Companies also lead corporate America in recruiting, retaining and advancing women. Some findings from this year's research include:

• 22% of executive officers at the NAFE Top Companies are women compared with 3.6% at the Fortune 500
• Women hold 19% of revenue-generating P & L jobs -- the pipeline to the CEO position
• All NAFE Top Companies offer management or leadership training to women
• CEOs at 92% of Top Companies review succession plans for gender equity

"The NAFE Top 50 Companies are major employers that are committed to hiring, retaining and promoting executive women," says Carol Evans, president of Working Mother Media and CEO, NAFE. "They represent a cross-section of companies that go way beyond lip service in helping succeed. Almost seven out of 10 companies require their managers to receive training on how to hire, advance or manage women. Manager accountability is the main ingredient for success."

Methodology: The 2012 NAFE Top 50 Companies application includes more than 250 questions on topics including female representation, hiring, attrition and promotion rates, access and usage of key retention and advancement programs. The application draws particular attention to the number of women at the highest ranks and those with profit-and-loss responsibility. To be considered, companies must have a minimum of two women on their board of directors as well as at least 500 employees in the U.S.

About Wyndham Worldwide

As one of the world's largest hospitality companies, Wyndham Worldwide offers individual consumers and business-to-business customers a broad suite of hospitality products and services across various accommodation alternatives and price ranges through its premier portfolio of world-renowned brands. Wyndham Hotel Group encompasses approximately 7,370 hotels and resorts with approximately 634,000 rooms worldwide. Wyndham Exchange & Rentals offers leisure travelers, including its 3.7 million members, access to approximately 100,000 vacation properties located in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its network of over 160 vacation ownership resorts serving over 813,000 owners throughout North America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. Wyndham Worldwide, headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., employs approximately 27,800 employees globally. For more information about Wyndham Worldwide, please visit www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

About NAFE

 The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), founded in 1972, serves 20,000 members nationwide with networking, tools and solutions to strengthen and grow their careers and businesses. NAFE magazine publishes the annual Top Companies issue and the annual Women of Excellence issue. NAFE.com provides up-to-date information, community for women in business and access to member benefits. NAFE is a division of Working Mother Media and Bonnier Corporation.

Wyndham Worldwide Corporation

Wyndham Worldwide Corporation

One of the world's largest hospitality companies, Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN) provides a wide range of hospitality products and services through its global portfolio of world-renowned brands.

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