The Carlson Rezidor Group honored as Hotel Group of the Year at Worldwide Hospitality Awards 2012 — Photo by Radisson Hotel Group
Rezidor

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has been honored as Hotel Group of the Year at the Worldwide Hospitality Awards 2012. At the gala event in Paris, Trudy Rautio, president & chief executive officer, Carlson, and Kurt Ritter, president & chief executive officer, Rezidor, received the prestigious trophy for the group's outstanding achievements in four complementing areas: development, innovation, human resources, and business performance.

"The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group launched earlier this year in January. To be awarded as the world's best hotel company in our first year is a great honor. It is a fantastic compliment to our team-work around the globe. Our dedicated people have proven that our Yes I Can! philosophy resonates around the world – a huge thank you to all our 80,000 employees in 81 countries", said Trudy Rautio and Kurt Ritter.

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is a strategic partnership of Carlson, one of the largest privately held hospitality companies worldwide, and Rezidor, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide. The group's portfolio features more than 1,300 hotels and a powerful set of brands (Radisson Blu, Radisson®, Park Plaza®, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inns & Suites by CarlsonSM, Hotel Missoni, and Regent). Through a number of joint revenue activities, Carlson Rezidor aims to generate more than US$ 400 million in additional revenue and a RevPAR Index increase of more than nine points by 2015.

In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the group's success can be credited to the leadership of Kurt Ritter, Rezidor's president & chief executive officer. Managing the company since 1989, Swiss-born Ritter has created an entrepreneurial, dynamic and innovative group. Throughout the industry, he is admired for his charisma, his genuine belief in hospitality, and his straightforward approach. Ritter will retire at the end of the year – succeeded by Wolfgang M. Neumann – and will serve as a strategic advisor to Carlson during 2013.

The Worldwide Hospitality Awards were created by Georges Panayotis, president & chief executive officer, MKG Group, as an international competition and opportunity for hotel groups to highlight their exemplary achievements. The jury for the "grand prix" for the Hotel Group of the Year consists of the readers of the renowned trade magazine Hospitality-On.

About Radisson Hotel Group

Radisson Hotel Group is one of the world's largest hotel groups with nine distinctive hotel brands, and more than 1,600 hotels in operation and under development in 120 countries. The Group's overarching brand promise is Every Moment Matters with a signature Yes I Can! service ethos.

The Radisson Hotel Group portfolio includes Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and prizeotel brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels.

Radisson Rewards is our international rewards program that delivers unique and personalized ways to create memorable moments that matter to our guests. Radisson Rewards offers an exceptional experience for our guests, meeting planners, and travel agents at over 550 hotels in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.

Radisson Meetings provides tailored solutions for any event or meeting, including hybrid solutions placing guests and their needs at the heart of its offer. Radisson Meetings is built around three strong service commitments: Personal, Professional and Memorable, while delivering on the brilliant basics and being uniquely 100% Carbon Neutral.

The health and safety of guests and team members remain a top priority for Radisson Hotel Group. All properties across the Group's portfolio are subject to stringent health and safety requirements, as outlined in the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol.

More than 100,000 team members work at Radisson Hotel Group and at the hotels licensed to operate in its systems. For more information, visit our corporate website. Or connect with Radisson Hotels on:

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Renu Hanegreefs-Snehi
Vice President, Corporate Communications, PR & Reputation Management
+32 2 702 9241
Radisson Hotel Group