Carlson Hotels Reports Milestones Achieved in Growth Plan

Carlson Hotels said it has made significant progress in the first 100 days of its long-term Ambition 2015 growth plan. Most notably, the company reported that investments committed to the Radisson strategy in North America already exceed $350 million.

This includes the introduction of the upper upscale Radisson Blu international brand to the U.S. as well as property improvements to align the current U.S. portfolio with global upscale standards. Fifty percent of the existing U.S. Radisson portfolio has committed to the new standards, just 100 days after they were announced.

As part of Ambition 2015, Carlson aims to make Radisson a powerful, globally consistent, first-class brand. The milestones achieved in 100 days include committed investment in North America totaling $350 million to align the brand in the U.S. to global upscale standards.

This includes the development of the first flagship hotel in a top U.S. city with the $125 million investment in the Radisson Blu Aqua in Chicago. It also includes the commitments made by 50 percent of the existing Radisson portfolio in North American to align with the global upscale standards.

The establishment of Radisson Blu as a global upper upscale brand includes new hotels announced recently in Asia with the Radisson Blu Cebu in the Philippines; the Caribbean with the Radisson Blu in St. Martin; and the U.S., with the Radisson Blu Aqua in Chicago. The milestones also include the designation by MKG Magazine and STR’s HTR in April 2010 of Radisson as Europe’s largest upscale brand with 170 hotels in operation, and the recognition of Radisson as the fastest-growing upscale brand in Asia Pacific with a pipeline of 43 properties.

With Ambition 2015, Carlson Hotels aims to increase its hotel portfolio by at least 50 percent to at least 1,500 properties by 2015, and is already off to a strong start. So far this year, Carlson Hotels has opened 40 new hotels and signed 37 new contracts. Carlson Hotels expects to open a total of 90 new hotels in 2010 and sign over 100 new contracts.

On May 19, 2010, Carlson Hotels became the majority shareholder in The Rezidor Hotel Group, with a 50.1 percent share. The Rezidor portfolio now stands at more than 400 hotels open or under development with more than 84,000 rooms in more than 60 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.