October 5, 2026 — Sports Illustrated Resorts is moving beyond vacation ownership into regular hotels. Travel + Leisure Co. and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced the expanded partnership today, and it ties the brand to Wyndham Rewards.
Travel + Leisure Co. runs Sports Illustrated Resorts under license from Authentic Brands Group. Under the new deal, Wyndham will supply loyalty, distribution and marketing for Sports Illustrated hotels. Developers can build a hotel on its own or a larger site that mixes a hotel with vacation ownership and residences.
The companies say hotel guests will be connected to Wyndham Rewards, which has more than 126 million members. Wyndham chief executive Geoff Ballotti said the target is “college towns and major urban markets.”
Where the brand is going
| Location | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville, Tennessee | Open | 185 suites on Music Row; the first fully branded resort |
| Chicago, Illinois | Early 2027 | In a “preseason” phase now; full brand offering due early 2027 |
| Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Late 2027 | First resort with a hotel component; opening in phases |
| Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 2028 | First resort built from the ground up |
Room counts for Chicago, Baton Rouge and Tuscaloosa are TBA. Exact opening dates are also TBA.
The two companies already work together on Club Wyndham and on Margaritaville Vacation Club and Eddie Bauer Adventure Club, which also connect to Wyndham Rewards.
What it means for travelers
- A new way to use Wyndham Rewards. The announcement says Sports Illustrated hotel guests will connect to Wyndham Rewards. Earning and redemption rates for these hotels have not been published.
- Game weekends will be the crunch. Baton Rouge and Tuscaloosa are college football towns. Expect the highest demand on home-game weekends, when flights into smaller airports also fill up.
- Nashville is the only one you can stay at today. The 185-suite Music Row resort is open now. Nashville International is the city’s airport.
- Do not plan trips around the 2027 and 2028 dates yet. Only target windows are published. Wait for firm opening dates before booking nonrefundable travel.
Sources
- Travel + Leisure Co. — Travel + Leisure Co. Partners with Wyndham to Develop Hotels Under the Sports Illustrated Resorts Brand
- LODGING Magazine — Travel + Leisure Co. Expands Partnership with Wyndham to Advance Sports Illustrated Resorts Brand
- Hotel Business — Travel + Leisure Co., Wyndham to develop Sports Illustrated Resorts hotels
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