Carlson Hotels Worldwide

MINNEAPOLIS, Carlson Hotels Worldwide today announced that 78 hotels and resorts were added to its five-brand, global portfolio in 2006. The company ended the year with 938 hotels operating in 70 countries. The company's hotel brands include: Regent Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotels & Resorts(R), Park Plaza(sm) Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(sm) and Park Inn(R).

In November 2006, Carlson Hotels Worldwide signed a shareholder agreement with Rezidor SAS, increasing its ownership of Rezidor Hotel Group as Rezidor became a publicly traded company. Rezidor manages four of the Carlson Hotel brands in the EMEA region: Regent, Radisson, Park Inn and Country Inns & Suites.

"During 2006, we made exciting and significant progress in the global expansion of our hotel company, highlighted by a major new investment in Rezidor Hotel Group, our primary partner in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA)," said Jay Witzel, President and CEO of Carlson Hotels Worldwide and CEO of Regent. "Our ownership of Rezidor was increased by ten percent to a total of 35 percent during the year, providing a long-range, strategic foundation for our brands in this important economic region of EMEA."

"As the hotel industry continues to enjoy a strong environment for growth, we are anticipating accelerating momentum in 2007 as we grow toward 1,000 locations worldwide," Witzel said.

Following are highlights of Carlson Hotels Worldwide growth in 2006:

Regent Hotels & Resorts

In late 2006, Regent Hotels & Resorts opened two new hotels – the spectacular 500-room The Regent Beijing, strategically located near the Forbidden City and The Regent South Beach in Miami, with 80 oversized guestrooms and the first-ever hotel personal assistant cell phone service – The Pocket Butler – assisting guests even when they are out of the hotel.

In the second quarter of 2007, Regent will re-flag The Palms in Turks and Caicos to The Regent Palms, Turks and Caicos, making the property the first tropical resort location for the brand, and open The Regent Bal Harbour, a 124-suite property being built on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and Baker's Haulover Inlet in Bal Harbour, Fla. In late 2007, The Regent Boston Hotel at Battery Wharf, with 150 rooms, will open near the historic Bunker Hill monument and Charlestown.

During the next three years, Regent Hotels & Resorts will nearly double its portfolio, adding seven new hotels throughout the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Developments are planned in the cities of Papagayo, Costa Rica; Bangkok, Thailand; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Regent's existing portfolio has eight properties in the cities of Beijing, Berlin, Kuala Lumpur, Miami Beach, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei and Zagreb.

Radisson Hotels & Resorts

Radisson Hotels & Resorts continues to make significant strides in North America with its brand repositioning efforts focusing on product quality and consistency. A truly global brand, Radisson has expanded its presence to key cities and emerging markets, adding 25 new properties and 5,133 guestrooms in 2006. Significant growth occurred in all regions of the world resulting in year-end totals of 400 hotels and 86,990 guestrooms in 65 countries.

In the Americas, the Radisson Hotel Chicago O'Hare opened in April after completing a renovation of all 246 guestrooms and public spaces, and in July, the midtown Manhattan hotel historically known as The Martinique reopened as the new Radisson Hotel Martinique following a $10 million renovation. The 532- room hotel, located on the corner of Broadway and 32nd Street, is within minutes of the Empire State Building, Herald Square, Madison Square Garden and Penn Station.

Also in New York City, the Radisson Lexington Hotel, located on the corner of Lexington Avenue and 48th Street, completed a major renovation in 2006. All 705 guestrooms and suites were upgraded with new furnishings. Additional improvements included a new fitness center and business center; and three newly designed restaurants.

In October 2006, the $5.2 million, 13,000 square-foot, oceanfront Larimar Spa was opened at the Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino, the brand's flagship resort in the Caribbean.

Radisson SAS added nine Radisson hotels in the EMEA region in 2006, including three hotels in January: the 246-room Radisson SAS Hotel Dubai Media City; the Radisson SAS Style Hotel Vienna in Austria, which was named to Conde Nast Traveler's 10th Annual "Hot List" of the best new hotels in the May 2006 issue; and the 211-room Radisson SAS Hotel Birmingham in the U.K.

In August, Radisson SAS welcomed the elegant Radisson SAS Farnham Estate Hotel-Cavan in County Cavan, Ireland. Approximately a 90-minute drive from Dublin, the hotel's 158 guestrooms are designed to reflect the 13th Century estate's heritage.

In 2007, the Radisson SAS Grand Hotel Bordeaux in France will open in the heart of the world's wine capital. The hotel is ideally located for vineyard visits and is close to luxurious shopping within the Golden Triangle.

Three Radisson hotels were added in the Asia-Pacific region in 2006, including the Radisson Hotel Pudong Century Park in China. This 361-room hotel is managed by Carlson Hotels Worldwide-Asia Pacific, and features spacious guestrooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts

Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts expanded its global presence in 2006 by adding six properties. These additions bring the total number of Park Plaza properties operating worldwide to 39 with 15,765 guestrooms in 12 countries.

One new hotel joined the Park Plaza brand in January: the new Park Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre Toronto-Oakville in Ontario. The hotel features 122 guestrooms and is serviced by two major airports: Toronto International and John C. Munro-Hamilton International Airport.

March marked the addition of two global properties. The first was the 117- room Park Plaza Vancouver Downtown in British Columbia; the other was the new 167-room Park Plaza Wallstreet in Berlin, Germany, in the heart of the city's historical center.

The 45-room Park Plaza Sylverton Mussoorie in India was welcomed in September. It is conveniently located at Picture Palace and within close proximity to the renowned Kulri Market.

Country Inns & Suites By Carlson

During 2006, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson opened 38 properties in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, bringing the brand's global portfolio to 412 properties with 32,906 guestrooms in 10 countries.

In July, the brand celebrated a company milestone – the opening of its 400th hotel. This landmark property, the 100-room Country Inn & Suites By Carlson in Portage, Ind., is owned by Holladay Properties and managed by Swift Hospitality Group. This hotel is the 11th Country Inns & Suites location in the state, and is located about 35 minutes east of Chicago.

Other notable brand additions in 2006 include the 149-room Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Atlanta-Northwest at Windy Hill Road in Georgia, and the 82- room Country Inn & Suites By Carlson-Tampa/Brandon in Florida. Both of these properties are in key leisure and business travel markets, and feature the brand's signature traditional architecture and sophisticated residential interior design with hardwood flooring.

Park Inn

A highlight of Park Inn development in 2006 was the opening of the Park Inn Pribaltiskaya in St. Petersburg, Russia, in May. This property is managed by Rezidor Hotel Group and offers 840 guestrooms.

The Park Inn Toledo was added to the Park Inn portfolio near the end of 2006, and has 400 spacious guest rooms overlooking the Maumee River. The hotel, which is located near the heart of downtown Toledo, is close to both corporate offices and sports venues and is connected to the Seagate Convention Center.

In 2006, Park Inn added nine properties in the EMEA region and the U.S. The brand's portfolio now totals 81 hotels and 12,349 guestrooms in 15 countries.

Carlson Hotels Worldwide is one of the major operating groups of Carlson Companies, a global leader in providing corporate solutions and consumer services in the marketing, travel and hospitality industries. Other names among the Carlson family of brands and services are: Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Carlson Marketing Group, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Results Travel, Cruise Holidays, T.G.I. Friday's and Pick Up Stix restaurants. The company has been recognized by both Fortune and Working Mother magazines as one of the "100 best places to work for in America," Carlson Companies' corporate headquarters are in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Joan M. Cronson
Director of Public Relations
763-212-1418
Radisson Hotel Group