Carlson Rezidor announces the Radisson Blu Hotel, Birmingham Airport in the United Kingdom

Carlson Rezidor, one of the largest and most dynamic hotel groups worldwide, further strengthens its network in the United Kingdom by announcing the Radisson Blu Hotel, Birmingham Airport. The property, featuring 220 guest rooms, is scheduled to open in early 2017, and is Carlson Rezidor's 15th Radisson Blu in the country. Radisson Blu – Europe's largest upper upscale hotel brand – is known for stylish and sophisticated design and personalized services following the philosophy "Yes I Can!"

"Birmingham is one of the UK's most important markets and a key travel hub in the country. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Birmingham Airport will ideally complement the existing Radisson Blu hotel in the city centre, create potential for operational and marketing synergies, and enforce our presence in town", said Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO of Rezidor. The signing also strengthens Carlson Rezidor's position as one of the leading airport hotel operators in Europe, being present at core airports such as London Heathrow, Manchester, Zurich, Frankfurt, Stockholm, and Oslo.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Birmingham Airport will be an iconic building located at the main entrance to the airport. The terminals are just 600m away, and the distances to the airport's railway station, LG Arena, and National Exhibition Centre (NEC) are equally short. The NEC is the largest exhibition centre in the UK, welcoming more than three million visitors per year.

Birmingham Airport itself is undergoing a series of land and airside upgrades including a significant runway extension as a result of which passenger numbers are expected to increase to 15 million per year. Besides 220 guest rooms and suites with Radisson Blu signature services such as free high speed internet access, the property will offer a main restaurant, a café/lounge and a bar; a total of 1,300sqm meetings & events space including a ballroom; a health club; and 200 dedicated parking spaces. Shuttle busses will connect the hotel to the terminals, the railway station, and the NEC.

The creation and development of this exciting hotel is in conjunction with Walnut Hotel Holdings Ltd, a UK based investment & development group which will develop and own the property. Group Managing Director Robert Hancocks commented: "I am delighted to be able to undertake what will be a landmark hotel with such well known and credible operator as the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. The growth of the airport as an international hub and the ongoing success of the NEC makes for a very exciting future together!"