Carlson Hotels Worldwide, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, today confirmed details of its expansion plans in India over the next three years.

These plans, which are well underway, will see the group add 50 properties by the end of 2012 across four brands – Radisson® Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites, Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts and Park Inn®. This growth strengthens Carlson’s position as the largest and fastest-growing international hotel operator in India by number of hotels.

“We are optimistic about India and its growth prospects as a leading emerging economy,” said Hubert Joly, president and CEO of Carlson, speaking at the Hotel Investment Forum India, in Mumbai today. “To be the number one international hotel operator here is particularly pleasing,” he added.

Radisson, Carlson’s contemporary upscale and upper upscale brand, which delivers vibrant, contemporary and engaging hospitality defined by the Yes, I Can!, service philosophy, currently has 10 properties in India, with another 25 scheduled to open within the next 36 months.

Country Inns & Suites, Carlson’s mid market brand known for its homey, caring, consistent and comfortable service philosophy, currently has nine hotels in operation with another 15 scheduled to open within the same time frame.

Park Plaza, the company’s upper midscale brand dedicated to serving guests with individuality and passion, currently has six properties open, with another eight under development and these are also scheduled to open within the next 36 months.

Carlson has recently launched in India its new bright, bold and fresh mid market brand Park Inn. There are now three Park Inns in operation in India – Park Inn Gurgaon, Park Inn Jaipur Singh Highway and Park Inn Phoenix Resort in Goa. Another two are under development, one in Delhi CBD Shahdara and another in Bangalore.

The group also announced this week that it will introduce its luxury Regent brand to India in 2013 with the unveiling of the development for The Regent Gurgaon. Carlson Hotels has won a number of prestigious awards in India over the last year and most recently scored a hat-trick at the Hospitality India Awards. It was voted ‘Fastest Growing Hotel Chain in South Asia’, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson won ‘Best midmarket hotel brand in India’ and Radisson Hotel Noida was awarded ‘Best business hotel in the National Capital region.’

“We are very proud of what we have achieved in India to date,” continued Mr. Joly. “I want to acknowledge the leadership of K.B. Kachru, executive vice president of Carlson Hotels for South Asia, as well as the collaboration with our partners in India, especially RHW Hotel Management Services, Country Development and Management Services, and Sarovar. Without them this level of success would not have been possible. Looking ahead, we will continue to push the development of our brands and the standards that we deliver to our guests.”

About Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group | Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group – born in early 2012 – is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups. The portfolio of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group includes more than 1,300 hotels, a global footprint spanning 81 countries and territories, a powerful set of global brands (Radisson Blu, Radisson®, Park Plaza®, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM and Hotel Missoni). In most of the group’s hotels, guests can benefit from the loyalty program Club CarlsonSM, one of the most rewarding loyalty programs in the world. Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and its brands employ more than 80,000 people. Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., and Brussels, Belgium. www.carlsonrezidor.com