Carlson Hotels Worldwide

Carlson Hotels Worldwide today announced that it has added 24 new hotels and resorts to its worldwide portfolio of brands in the third quarter of 2009. The new properties span 11 countries, including 11 Radisson and Radisson Blu properties; 11 Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(SM) properties; and two Park Inn® locations. The company also announced that it signed agreements for 11 new hotels during the same period, adding future locations in India, Nigeria, Norway, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States. At the end of the third quarter, the Carlson Hotels Worldwide portfolio totaled 1,052 hotels with 157,492 rooms in 77 countries. Carlson hotel brands also include Regent® Hotels & Resorts and Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts.

"These new openings bring the total number of properties added to the Carlson Hotels Worldwide portfolio in the first three quarters to 73 hotels around the world," said Hubert Joly, president and CEO of Carlson. "Despite the economic downturn that continues to impact the hotel industry globally, we have sustained a steady development stream with over 200 hotels signed and now under development.

Radisson Hotels & Resorts

Radisson® Hotels & Resorts opened 11 properties in the third quarter of 2009 and signed four new hotels. The new openings occurred in Croatia, Georgia, Germany, Grand Bahamas, Libya, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and the United States.

In Asia Pacific, the 211-room Radisson Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach opened in July, becoming the first Radisson Plaza in Southeast Asia. Situated on Phuket Island's South-eastern coastline in a secluded cove along the developing Makham Bay, the resort features contemporary Thai-designed guest rooms, ocean villas and pool villas featuring an infinity edge plunge pool. Other resort amenities include three large free-form swimming pools, a spa, a lifestyle fitness centre and a dedicated recreational area for children. Carlson Hotels has six additional properties under development in Thailand.

In North America, the 740-room landmark Radisson Our Lucaya Resort, Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas, joined the brand in July. The oceanfront resort re-established Radisson's presence in the Bahamas and expanded its impressive resort portfolio in the Caribbean to three AAA Four Diamond resorts. The contemporary resort, inspired by an Art-Deco style design, features two 18-hole championship golf courses, a Las Vegas style casino, a 25,000 square-foot Spa & Fitness Center and 90,000 square-feet of meeting space.

The Rezidor Hotel Group, Carlson's primary partner in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, recently celebrated the opening of the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Dubrovnik Sun Gardens. This is Croatia's largest resort hotel and also one of the largest in the Radisson Blu resort portfolio. Located on Croatia's Mediterranean coast, it features 201 contemporary-styled rooms with expansive sea-views and private terraces, along with special suites. The resort also includes 207 deluxe apartments. The resort offers multiple dining venues and one of the area's largest Spa and Wellbeing destinations on the Dalmatian Coast, featuring luxury Anne Semonin treatments, thermal facilities and relaxation zones. Other features include a Sports Center, Kids Club and state-of-the-art meeting facilities.

Situated adjacent to Trondheim Airport Vaernes's terminal building, the new 180-room Radisson Blu Hotel, Trondheim Airport is the closest hotel to the airport. The hotel offers an all day dining restaurant, a Lobby Bar and 11 meetings rooms.

Other openings in the region include the 15-story Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel in Tripoli, which is the first Radisson property in Libya. The 351-room hotel is situated in the city's exclusive diplomatic area and offers expansive views of the Mediterranean. The hotel features a large Executive Lounge, a swimming pool, health club, spa, nine meeting rooms and a large ballroom. The five-star, 307-room Al Muna Kareem Radisson Blu Hotel, Al Madinah in Saudi Arabia is in the center of the Holy City of Madinah, near the Prophet's Mosque, the city's most important attraction. The hotel offers 16 floors of luxurious guest rooms and suites, all-day dining, an attached shopping complex and conference facilities. Radisson SAS Iveria Hotel, Tbilisi in Georgia features 249 modern guest rooms, a city center location and offers expansive views of the city and Mtkvari River. The hotel is located at the Rose Revolution Square on Rustaveli Avenue, in the heart of the business and commercial district of the Georgian capital.

An Additional four Radisson hotel locations were opened during the quarter in Baden-Baden, Germany; Tripoli, Libya; and in Baton Rouge; Orlando, Fla. and Waco, Texas in the United States. Future hotels were signed during the third quarter for Tamilnadu, Indonesia; and Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria.

Country Inns & Suites By Carlson

Country Inns & Suites By Carlson opened 11 new properties in the third quarter of 2009 in the United States.

These include the 133-room Country Inn & Suites By Carlson New York City in Queens which is the brand's first property in New York City. The hotel is located minutes from Manhattan in the heart of Long Island City, an emerging cultural neighborhood with close proximity to New York City's major airports, notable arts, culinary and athletic attractions. All guestrooms and suites feature complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, 32-inch LCD television, microwave and refrigerator. Some accommodations also offer panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline. The 80-room Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Asheville West in North Carolina, near the historic Biltmore Estate, features Biltmore-inspired French decor and beautiful landscaping including waterfalls and a gazebo. The 100 percent non-smoking hotel also offers an outdoor heated pool, whirlpool, fitness center and flexible meeting space. The 65-room Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Goodlettsville, Tenn., near Nashville, is also a 100 percent non-smoking hotel that features an indoor pool, fitness center and a meeting room that can accommodate up to 60 people.

Other new Country Inns & Suites By Carlson openings in the third quarter of 2009 were in Braselton, Conway and LaGrange, Ga.; Covington, La.; Rocky Mount, NC; Tyler, Texas; Emporia, Va.. and Princeton, WV. Future Country Inn & Suites By Carlson locations that were signed in the third quarter will be in Chennai and New Delhi, India; and Carlisle, Penn., in the United States.

Park Inn

Park Inn opened two new properties in the third quarter of 2009 adding locations in Jaipur, India and Klosterneuberg, Austria. The brand also signed four new hotels in the same time frame in the United States, Norway, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.

Opened in late August, the Park Inn Jaipur Jai Singh Highway is the third Park Inn in India. Featuring 71 rooms, the Park Inn Jaipur is located downtown in the city center across from the Crystal Mall and nearby key attractions including Amber Fort, the City Palace of Jaipur, Hawa Mahal and Nahargarh Fort.

The Park Inn Klosterneuburg, Austria, opened in July, offers 130 rooms including seven suites, and is an affordable base to explore the historic city and surrounding countryside of Lower Austria. The hotel is situated near the Danube River and 12 kilometres from the Austrian Capital Vienna. Guest amenities include an ultra-modern fitness room, restaurant and bar with terrace, large ballroom and five meeting rooms.

Future Park Inn locations that were signed in the third quarter are in Abuja, Nigeria; Steinkjer, Norway; the Dubai Airport Free zone, UAE and Orlando, Fla., in the United States.

Carlson Hotels Worldwide is a leading global hotel company with more than 1,050 locations in 77 countries. Its brands include: Regent® Hotels & Resorts, Radisson® Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(SM) and Park Inn®. Carlson Hotels Worldwide is part of Carlson, a global marketing, hotel, restaurant and travel company.

The Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the world. The group features a portfolio of more than 380 hotels in operation and under development with almost 82,000 rooms in nearly 60 countries. Rezidor operates the brands Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Missoni, Regent Hotels & Resorts, Park Inn and Country Inns & Suites in Europe, Middle East and Africa, along with the goldpoints plus(SM) loyalty program in this region for frequent hotel guests. Rezidor is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Carlson is the main shareholder. The Corporate Office of the Rezidor Hotel Group is located in Brussels, Belgium.

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