MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (August 18, 2003) --- Carlson Hotels Worldwide, parent company of Radisson Hotels & Resorts, today announced that it has acquired full ownership of the company-managed Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino from its investment partner Dutchco, a company owned by the Aruban government.   Together, the partners completed a two-year, $55 million transformation of the island's first full-service resort into a flagship four-star resort for the Radisson brand. 
    

The acquisition brings Carlson Hotels Worldwide, and its parent company Carlson Companies, total investment in the resort to over $75 million since 1998   "The investment in this flagship four-star resort supports Radisson's overall strategy for growth in the Americas with key properties in key destinations and increasing control of the brand product for our guests through increased ownership and management," said Jay S. Witzel, president and chief executive officer of Carlson Hotels Worldwide.  "This year alone we forecast that we will strategically invest over $70 million for

Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino J.E. Irausquin Boulevard 81 Palm Beach, Aruba

According to Rautio, the resort's design and grounds captures the beauty of the Caribbean and the scenic surroundings.  The property's other great natural asset is the resort's employees who showcase Aruban charm and hospitality for which the hotel has long been known.   The hotel will continue under the leadership of General Manager Jeffrey Lesker, a 25-year veteran of the global hospitality industry, who oversaw the resort's transformation and has extensive experience in the hospitality industry in Aruba, the Caribbean and key destinations in the United States.    
 
Radisson is actively seeking additional investments in existing full-service hotel and resort properties in the top 25-30 major domestic and Caribbean markets that can be repositioned within the Radisson brand. 
 
The Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino features 358 guest accommodations with Colonial West Indian furnishings and rich Caribbean touches, exotic lush tropical landscaping including waterfalls and lagoons, four restaurants and lounges (including Sunset Grille � one of the island's hottest restaurants, and one of only two AAA 4-Diamond award winners in the Netherlands Antilles), a star-lit domed casino, and a 15,000-square-foot state-of-the-art purpose-built meetings and banquet facility.  The guest rooms feature regal four-poster beds, spacious balconies, with teakwood patio furniture, waffled-cotton bathrobes, 27-inch remote-controlled satellite-linked televisions, marble bathrooms with custom-designed ASiRA natural body care amenities, 24-hour room service. 

Radisson Hotels & Resorts currently has more than 450 locations in 61 countries. Radisson is a division of Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, a global leader in hospitality services encompassing more than 1,690 hotel, resort, restaurant and cruise ship operations in 82 countries.