(Marketwire) -- 05/20/10 -- Wyndham Green by Wyndham Worldwide is proud to announce the sponsorship of The Wyndham Green Paddle 2010 featuring ultra-endurance athlete Tom Jones and his quest to raise public awareness about the great risks to the environment and the world's oceans from improper and excessive use of plastic. From May 16th to August 12th, Tom Jones will attempt to create a new world record by paddling from Key West, Florida to New York City on a standup paddleboard.

Wyndham Green is Wyndham's sustainability program that focuses on social responsibility and the environment as a part of the company's overall green strategy. Wyndham Green has partnered with Tom Jones and Plastic Free Ocean a subsidiary of the Tom Jones Foundation, a federally registered 501(c)3 nonprofit incorporated in California, USA, in order to raise funds and public awareness about the harm plastic has on our environment and the resources needed to rid our oceans of these pollutants.

Plastic in the oceans is entirely caused by human action and human inaction. It has as much potential to do harm as the worst climate change scenario and is having greater immediate effects, yet it so far receives comparatively no attention, and very little private or government action or funding.

Some of the harmful effects of plastic in our oceans affect birds and marine species:

• About 44 percent of all seabirds die due to eating floating plastic
• Reproductive systems of over 250 marine species are affected by consuming plastics, including bags and bottles

These harmful effects can be mitigated if consumers reduce the use of, reuse and properly recycle plastics.

Wyndham Worldwide and its business units including Wyndham Vacation Ownership and Wyndham Hotel Group are excited to host Tom Jones and representatives from Plastic Free Ocean Organization as they paddle their way up the East Coast. Wyndham properties will provide hospitality and comfort required to recharge the crew for their 1,500 mile oceanic journey. To view the route and landfall events that will occur throughout the trip, visit www.plasticfreeocean.org.

Wyndham Green's support of Paddle 2010 is just one activity encompassed in the company's global commitment to corporate social responsibility and the environment. "Wyndham Green is not just a program but a way of living and working based on the vision and values of Wyndham Worldwide," stated Faith Taylor, vice president of sustainability for Wyndham Worldwide. "We understand that our business activities impact the earth and people's lives. In an effort to decrease our carbon footprint, we are committed to conserving our natural resources, preserving our habitats and preventing pollution. The foundation of Wyndham Green is education, which grounds us in the realities of what is happening in our environment and inspires us to act on what we know what we can do today."

To help support awareness and research programs to reduce plastic in the environment, and to find ways to clean up the great existing threat of plastic breaking down in the world's oceans, please visit www.plasticfreeocean.org.

To find out more about Wyndham Green, please visit www.wyndhamgreen.com. Or follow Wyndham Green on Twitter (@B1withWyndham) and Facebook (B1 with Wyndham).

About Wyndham Worldwide Corporation
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 7,090 franchised hotels and approximately 593,300 hotel rooms worldwide. Wyndham Exchange & Rentals offers leisure travelers, including its 3.8 million members, access to over 65,000 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 155 vacation ownership resorts serving over 820,000 owners throughout North America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. Wyndham Worldwide, headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., employs approximately 25,000 employees globally.

For more information about Wyndham Worldwide, please visit the Company's web site at www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

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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