Rezidor in new deal for Carlson hotels

Rezidor SAS Hospitality, parent company of Radisson SAS Hotels and Resorts, this week signed another deal with Carlson Hotels Worldwide, making it the master franchisor of three more of its chains.

Under the terms of the 30-year agreement, Rezidor has become the leading franchisor of the Europe, Middle East and Africa region of its Regent, Country Inn and the proposed three-star chain Park Inn hotels.

Eight years ago Rezidor signed its first deal with Carlson when it became the head franchisor of its Radisson hotels.

Radisson has since grown from an eight-strong chain to one with 114 hotels in 38 countries and 40 under development.

In the UK, there are Radissons in London, Leeds, Manchester and Edinburgh, with a fifth opening in Glasgow in November and two in Birmingham and Liverpool next year.

Kurt Ritter, president and chief executive officer of Rezidor, said he had been negotiating this latest deal with Carlson for four or five months.

He said: "We have had eight good years with Radisson and we want to repeat this with Carlson's other brands."

There are five-star Regent hotels in Berlin and Almaty, Kazakhstan, and 12 three-star Country Inns in Europe, including two in London.

The three-star Park Inn chain does not yet exist, but Ritter said he had initial plans for 10 Park Inns across Germany, the UK and Scandinavia.

by Louise Bozec