(Marketwired) - Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN), one of the world's largest hospitality companies, proudly embraces a culture of diversity and inclusion that supports associates of all backgrounds, and offers a variety of programs including leadership training, mentoring opportunities and educational support.

Wyndham Worldwide believes diversity enriches its organization as a global hospitality provider, and views diversity and inclusion as a continuous journey and not something that is simply attained. As part of its ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, the Company celebrated with a week-long Global Diversity Week in October. Throughout the week, associates across the Company were encouraged to do one thing for diversity and share their experiences in an associate blog.

Other Diversity Week activities included:

• educational offerings such as a panel discussion about employing veterans and individuals with disabilities;
• cultural awareness activities including music and dance demonstrations and "Customs and Celebrations" lunch;
• supporting the Foundation "Mujer Flor de Vida, A.C.," which helps low-income single mothers provide for their family. Through the Foundation, Wyndham Worldwide associates in Mexico City purchased Aztec Calendars made by the women. The calendar represents not only Mexico's cultural richness, but also a sample of the interaction of different Latin American cultures;
• presentations by Associate Business Groups (ABGs), which are Company-sponsored groups where associates with common interests share ideas and experiences, and promote professional development, engagement, and inclusion throughout the company. Open to all associates, they include: WYNPride (LGBT), ¡Fuerte! (Hispanic), Spectrum (African American), I-VOW (Veterans), Women on Their Way (Women in the Workplace), AASK (Administrative Assistants) and Generaciones (cross-generational).

Remaining committed to growing its businesses globally, Wyndham Worldwide continues to enrich its workforce diversity and supplier diversity program, which has experienced an increase in diverse spend every year since 2008. In 2012, the total dollars spent with diverse suppliers increased from $153 million in 2011, to $182 million in 2012, representing a 19 percent increase.

"When we launched Wyndham Worldwide seven years ago, we established diversity as a pillar of our strategic priorities, creating a culture that seeks and welcomes a variety of experiences, perspectives and backgrounds to help drive our successful growth in nearly 100 countries across six continents," said Mary Falvey, executive vice president and chief human resources officer. "With a focus on our business performance, our people, and the communities where we operate, we are excited that we continue to see the impact our diversity efforts have in our operating performance and value created for our shareholders."

Recognized as an industry leader, Wyndham Worldwide has been named a Top 50 Company for Diversity by DiversityInc, a Top 50 Company for Latinas by LATINA Style, recognized by the Human Rights Campaign as one of the "Best Places to Work for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Equality" and by the National Association for Female Executives as one of the Top 50 Companies for Executive Women for the past three consecutive years. Additionally, the Company maintains strong partnerships with organizations such as the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, National Society of Hispanic MBAs and National Association of Black, Hispanic, Asian and Women MBAs. 

"Our focus on diversity and inclusion is made possible through our culture of strong values," said Patricia Lee, senior vice president, human resources and chief diversity officer, Wyndham Worldwide. "Our approach goes beyond what we do, but how we do it. We continue to foster a more inclusive work environment, enhance organizational effectiveness and create positive experiences for our associates, as well as our customers, keeping Wyndham Worldwide an exceptional travel partner, a successful company, and a great place to work."

About Wyndham Worldwide
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. The world's largest hotel company based on the number of properties, Wyndham Hotel Group is home to many of the world's best-known hotel brands, with approximately 7,380 franchised hotels and over 631,800 hotel rooms worldwide. Wyndham Exchange & Rentals is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the world's largest professionally managed vacation rentals business, providing more than 5 million leisure-bound families annually with access to over 106,000 vacation properties in 100 countries through its prominent exchange and vacation rental brands. The industry and timeshare ownership market leader, Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets, and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its network of 190 vacation ownership resorts serving approximately 915,000 owners throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific. Based in Parsippany, NJ, Wyndham Worldwide employs approximately 32,500 associates globally.