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Carlson Hotels Worldwide Opens 87 New Locations in 2004
-- Systemwide Revenues for the Company's Five Hotel Brands Reaches USD$5.1 Billion Revenue Increase of 13.3 Percent from Previous Year --

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (February 2, 2005) -- Carlson Hotels Worldwide today announced that 87 hotels and resorts were added to its global, multi-brand network of locations in 2004, including 45 hotels in the U.S.  The company ended the year with 890 hotels operating in 70 countries, with systemwide revenue figures for 2004 exceeding USD $5.1 billion, an increase of 13.3 percent from 2003.  The company's hotel brands include: Regent International Hotels, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn.

"As the hotel industry continues to gain momentum in its recovery, our overall strategy for global growth in 2004 was to take cautious, yet steady and strategic steps toward building our various portfolios," said Jay Witzel, president and COO, Carlson Hotels Worldwide.  "Our global development partners, as well as our brand development teams here in North America, understood the challenges in our industry during 2004, and yet made tremendous progress and exceeded our worldwide growth goals."

Added Sam Winterbottom, executive vice president of development for Carlson Hotels Worldwide, "This impressive growth is also a reflection of the major strides we have made in re-organizing our company around customer and brand strategy. We anticipate that this strategy will continue to gain momentum in 2005, generating further strong growth of our brands during the coming year. This bolsters our confidence that 2005 and beyond will continue to be very productive for the Carlson Hotels Worldwide family of brands."

Regent International Hotels to Double Portfolio by 2007

During 2004, growth of Regent International Hotels included the signing of numerous new development agreements, the start of construction of several new hotels and two hotel openings in Europe.  Rezidor SAS Hospitality, master franchise partner for the luxury brand in that region, opened two new hotels:  The Regent Esplanade Zagreb in Croatia, and The Regent Berlin in Germany.

The Regent Esplanade Zagreb, which opened in May, is a magnificent landmark building that offers all modern comforts, while retaining the charm of its original 1925 Art Nouveau architecture.  The hotel has 207 individually designed guest rooms, a grand restaurant in a modern style, a classic contemporary cocktail bar and a simple but elegant French bistro, complete with glazed conservatory and outdoor terrace extending on to one of Zagreb's elegant piazzas.  A grand ballroom, well-equipped conference
rooms, business facilities and parking, complete the hotel's impressive list of facilities.  The hotel is superbly situated in the city center, a five-minute walk from the main business and shopping area.

The Regent Berlin joined The Regent portfolio in September.  The hotel is located in the heart of the city in Gendarmenmarkt, within a short walk to keycommercial, financial, cultural and leisure destinations, such as the Brandenburg Tor, the Reichstag, the State Opera, the Concert Hall and the famous luxury shopping of the Friedrichstrasse.  The property features 204 luxurious guestrooms including 42 of the most spacious and well-appointed suites in Berlin and a unique rooftop Presidential Suite.  The hotel also offers elegant meeting and banqueting facilities accommodating up to 150 guests, as well as an exclusive fitness and wellness center.  Future plans call for the addition of an exciting new restaurant and bar by award-winning Chef Yves Mattagne of the Sea Grill in Brussels, one of the world's finest seafood restaurants.

Regent, one of the most respected brands in the global travel industry, is currently on track to double its portfolio in the next two years when it opensfour new hotels in the U.S. between 2005 and 2007.  The hotels will be in Florida on Miami's famous South Beach, in Bal Harbour and in Winter Park near Orlando; and in Boston, Mass., on Battery Wharf.  Global expansion includes a hotel under development in Bangkok; and three hotels being developed in China: Shanghai, Ningbo and Beijing.

Radisson Hotels & Resorts Adds European Flagship Hotels

Radisson Hotels & Resorts continued its global expansion to key cities and emerging markets, adding 29 new properties in 2004.  Significant growth occurred in Europe, including the additions of major flagship properties in Berlin, Germany and Manchester, England.

The 427-room Radisson SAS Hotel Berlin features the world's largest cylindrical aquarium, a focal point with vividly colored reef landscapes and 2,500 exotic tropical fish in the hotel lobby.  The hotel is located in the "old" and now "new" heart of Berlin opposite the Berlin Dome and directly on the bank of the River Spree.  Each of the spacious guest rooms and suites is tastefully decorated and contain all of the amenities travelers expected to find at a fine European hotel.

In June, London-based partner Radisson Edwardian Hotels opened the 263- room, five-star Radisson Edwardian Manchester in the United Kingdom.  The hotel was built around the facade of Manchester's historic Free Trade Hall, and is Radisson Edwardian's first hotel outside of London, and the only five-
star hotel in Manchester's city center.

Radisson also celebrated its first location in French Polynesia in July -- the first upscale hotel to open in Tahiti since 1997.  The Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti is the only hotel adjacent to Lafayette Beach, a black sand beach spanning 2,600 feet.  The 165-room resort features 86 ocean-view rooms, 53 suites and 26 duplex suites.  All rooms overlook the water with scenic views and large balconies.  The resort features an all-day dining restaurant, a pool bar, a terrace bar, large conference and function facilities, a
state-of-the-art spa and health club and also offers an array of water sports.

Among the 10 new Radisson properties to open in the U.S. in 2004, is the Radisson Hotel Jacksonville Butler Boulevard in Florida.  This hotel was completely renovated in the fall, and is located just minutes from downtown Jacksonville, in the midst of South Point Corporate Park.  Each of the 167 guestrooms feature the new Sleep Number Bed, high-speed Internet, microwave, refrigerator, hairdryer, coffeemaker and in-room safe. Also noteworthy in 2004, Radisson expanded its relationships with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation in Arizona, with both the tribal nation's acquisition of the existing Radisson Poco Diablo Resort in Sedona, and a new franchise agreement for a new-build 250-room Radisson resort in Fort McDowell.  The new resort will be located next to the Fort McDowell Casino, about 25 miles northeast of Phoenix, and is scheduled to open in late 2005.

Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts Experiences Global Growth

Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts expanded its global presence in 2004 by adding seven properties.  These additions bring the total number of Park Plaza hotels operating worldwide to 35 in 11 countries.

This past November, Park Plaza welcomed a former Radisson hotel in New Orleans, La., to the full-service hotel chain, renaming it the Park Plaza NewOrleans.  The 759-room hotel is located downtown on Canal Street just four blocks from the French Quarter, and offers two restaurants, room service, concierge services, gift shop and outdoor rooftop pool.  The hotel has undergone a USD $12 million renovation.

London-based partner, Park Plaza Hotels Europe, opened its first hotel in Northern Ireland, the Park Plaza Belfast, which is ideally located adjacent toBelfast International Airport and 20 minutes from the city center.  The four-star hotel boasts 106 luxury guestrooms, each equipped with state-of-the- art technology including CD player, two direct telephone lines, multi-media televisions and games consoles. 

Other facilities include Circles restaurant, a lobby bar, 10 fully equipped conference rooms for up to 250 guests, 24-hour room service, designer toiletries, refreshment tray and in-room laptop safe, plus complimentary parking and use of the local health and leisure facilities.

Looking forward, Park Plaza Hotels Europe is preparing for the second
quarter 2005 opening of the new Riverbank Park Plaza in London, which is set to be the largest new-build hotel to open in the city in 30 years.  The Park Plaza Cardiff (Wales) is scheduled to open in February 2005.  The 308-room Park Suites ITC São Paulo (Brazil), a conversion project made possible through a strategic relationship with Brazil-based Atlantica Hotels International, is also scheduled to open in early 2005.

Country Inns & Suites By Carlson Growth Spurred with 29 U.S. Locations

During 2004, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson opened 29 properties in the United States.  As part of the strong U.S. growth, the brand opened its doors for business in the nation's oldest city -- St. Augustine, Fla.  This 54-room hotel features an exercise room, outdoor pool and whirlpool, business center and guest laundry; all units feature high-speed Internet service. This property is located near many local activities, including golf, tennis, parasailing, jet skiing and deep-sea fishing.

One of the newest properties to join the brand's portfolio is the new Country Inn & Suites-Denver International Airport, featuring a relaxing atmosphere suitable for business and leisure travelers alike.  Each of the 193 rooms and suites are pleasantly appointed with complimentary high-speed Internet access, cable TV featuring HBO and ESPN, coffee makers and coffee, as well as hair dryers and iron/ironing board.

The brand also expanded globally with an exciting location in Paradeep, India.  The Country Inns & Suites By Carlson-Paradeep is located near India's famous fine-grained, white beaches, and features 49 beautifully appointed rooms, plus a heath club with massage service, steam room and whirlpool. The hotel also has an outdoor pool and sauna, as well as two restaurants and a lounge.

Strong European Expansion Sparks Park Inn Growth

In 2004, Park Inn added 19 properties, primarily in Germany and France, bringing the total number of hotels to 72 in 11 countries. Rezidor SAS Hospitality, the master franchisor for the Park Inn brand throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, had great success in 2004. Most notably is the addition of the brand's European flagship property, Park Inn Heathrow, the brand's first foray into the United Kingdom.  This hotel, formerly Le Meridien Heathrow, features 880 rooms and nine suites, and recently completed a renovation in 415 rooms that typify the Park Inn concept and offer guests the essential in-transit business facilities.  The hotel's well-equipped conference center hosts up to 220 people and is a key focus for the hotel's operations.

Additionally, the brand welcomed four new hotels in Germany, including the 167-room Park Inn Munich-East, and the 81-room Park Inn Munich, located near the renowned Munich trade fair and about 30 minutes from Munich International Airport.  The Park Inn Erfurt-Apfelstadt features 97 guest rooms, a full-service restaurant and a fitness center; and in north Chemnitz, the Park Inn Chemnitz-Hartmannsdorf is within a short drive to the Erzgebirge Mountains, as well as the cities of Dresden and Leipzig.

Also added to the Park Inn portfolio in 2004 was the 160-room Park Inn Highland in Geilo, Norway, as well as two other Scandinavian hotels, the 200-room Park Inn Tott in Are, Sweden, and the Park Inn Vejle in Denmark, a modern business, conference, and family hotel offering 137 guestrooms surrounded by scenic countryside.

Rezidor SAS also opened five additional Park Inn hotels in France in June in the cities of Orange, Arcachon, La Tour de Salvagny, Macon and Nancy. The brand is starting 2005 strong with the recent openings of seven new hotels in the German cities of Bochum, Dortmund, Düsseldorf Kaarst, Hannover, Kamen/Unna, Cologne Belfortstrasse and Cologne City-West.






Contact:

Kristi Arndt
Telephone: 763-212-5626
Email: [email protected]


Also See:
Carlson Hotels Adds Nine New Properties to Global Portfolio / December 2004

Carlson Hotels Worldwide is First Hotel Company to Meet Two Top Data Privacy Frameworks / January 2005

Carlson Hotels Worldwide Expands Relationship with the Yavapai Nation in Arizona with New Franchise Agreement for the Radisson Poco Diablo Resort in Sedona, Arizona / September 2004


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