Kurt Ritter, President & CEO, Radisson SAS comments: �I work with a vision without compromise.  During the last five years we have committed ourselves to becoming the leading full-service, upscale hotel chain in Europe and the Middle East.  Over and above Radisson SAS�s extensive expansion programme, it is vital to look back at existing properties and ensure that they maintain the high standard they had when they first joined the brand.�

�We are continuously looking carefully at hotels that need investment most to ensure that guests receive the same quality throughout any if our 100 hotels in Europe and the Middle East.  The 50 million Euro that is currently being invested is only a fraction and many more hotels in our portfolio will benefit from this vision�, he added.

Turkey - Istanbul
The 246-room Radisson SAS Conference & Airport Hotel in Istanbul, located on the airport grounds, provides easy access to the terminals. In addition, the hotel is conveniently situated as a venue for conferences and meetings. The property has undergone an extensive renovation programme, including a substantial upgrade of all guestrooms, full renovation of the hotel�s 13 conference and meeting rooms, the ballroom and the restaurant and lobby bar. The total investment is 6.2 Million Euro.

France - Cannes
Renovations at the Radisson SAS Montfleury Hotel in Cannes started in November �99 and are expected to be completed by the end of this year. With a 10 million Euro investment, the 181-room hotel has obtained the four-star rating amongst the luxurious hotels of the French Rivera, the highest ranking in France. 
 

Radisson SAS Montfleury Hotel 25 Avenue Beausejour Cannes

Works already completed include the renovation of all guest rooms, decorated in a Maritime and Mediterranean style, public areas, the lobby with satellite reception desks, nearly all conference & meeting rooms, plus and extension of the conference & meeting capacity. In addition, one of its restaurants, l�Olivier, with its open kitchen concept and Provençal style cooking has been given a new and fresh look. The Pool Bar �Blue Lagoon�, the other hotel restaurant �La Cascade� and the kitchen will be completed in early 2001.  Architect of the project is Mr. Thierry Gonard from Marseille, France.

UK - London
The Radisson SAS Portman Hotel in London has been allocated over 7.8 million Euro for an extensive renovation and refurbishment programme for 123 out of the hotel�s 271 bedrooms.  The work is being carried out in two phases; the first will be completed by July this year with the upgrade of 66 rooms. The second phase will begin in January 2001 until the end of May, with the completion of the remaining. 

Radisson SAS is renowned for its Room Styles and the Portman Hotel will feature, besides the already existing British, Scandinavian and Oriental room decors, 28 Business Class rooms, lushly decorated in classic style and 95 Italian style rooms.  All rooms will feature the Radisson SAS Power Tower, incorporating the television, minibar, trouserpress and iron and ironing board designed to maximise guestroom space. 

Austria - Vienna
The Radisson SAS Palais Hotel in Vienna has recently completed the renovation of 152 of its 246 guestrooms and its 180 square metres presidential suite with four bedrooms. All rooms have been decorated in a classic style.  The 8.1 million Euro renovation works started on the 10th of January this year and were completed in May.  Interior designer is Ms. Maria Katsarou-Vafiadis who was also responsible for the award-winning design at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Prague.   
          
Denmark - Copenhagen
As the first Radisson SAS hotel over 40 years ago, the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel has a special status in the chain.  Designed throughout by the world-renowned Danish architect Arne Jacobsen, the hotel has set the precedent for Radisson SAS properties throughout Europe. 
 

The German-Iranian architect and interior designer, Ms. Yasmine Mahmoudieh has been entrusted with the task of renovating the heritage left by Jacobsen.  With a budget of 12.8 million Euro, the hotel will see re-styling and refurbishment of its guestrooms and bathrooms.  The renovations will be carried out in three phases of which stage two is expected to be completed by the end of June this year.

Radisson SAS Royal Hotel Copenhagen Hammerichsgade 1 Copenhagen

The German-Iranian architect and interior designer, Ms. Yasmine Mahmoudieh has been entrusted with the task of renovating the heritage left by Jacobsen.  With a budget of 12.8 million Euro, the hotel will see re-styling and refurbishment of its guestrooms and bathrooms.  The renovations will be carried out in three phases of which stage two is expected to be completed by the end of June this year. 

The design by Mahmoudieh features aluminium, glass, maple and marble, while the bathrooms offer striking glass mosaics and green granite floors. All guestrooms will continue to feature design elements of Arne Jacobsen, such as the original chairs. In addition, Arne Jacobsen's design will still be omnipresent at the hotel, as the lobby will remain unchanged and still be furnished with the famous swan chairs, specifically designed for the hotel in 1959. 

Norway - Stavanger
The 351-room Radisson SAS Atlantic Hotel, Stavanger is currently undergoing the second stage of its guestroom renovations. The first phase included the upgrade of 152 rooms in Maritime design, featuring Mahogany, leather and brass lamps for an elegant atmosphere.  The remaining 199 rooms will be completed by August this year with a Scandinavian design, totalling over 5.7 million Euro. 

Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, currently includes 100 hotels in operation and 26 hotels under development in 37 countries and is the sole franchisor in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Radisson Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.