Carlson Details Plans for Radisson Revamp, Country Inns Expansion

During the second day of Carlson Hotels’ Global Business Conference, taking place at the Gaylord Palms Hotels & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Fla., Carlson unveiled plans to expand its Radisson brand and make it a globally-consistent product.

A major component to the Radisson strategy will be an investment of up to $1.5 billion to establish flagship hotels in key U.S. cities and upgrading the existing portfolio in the States.

In a general session, Thorsten Kirschke, executive vice president and COO of the Americas for Carlson Hotels, said these flagship properties will be located in five “mega cities” across the U.S. and in fact, the first of the five is to be announced in about two weeks when contracts are formally signed. In the meantime, he said the hotel, a new-build development for which the exterior is complete, will debut in the summer of 2011.

The interior build-out is still taking place, but once it is complete it will feature 332 rooms, several thousand square feet of meeting space and Filini Restaurant and Lounge, an “almost 100 percent Italian restaurant” that is one of Radisson’s two new hotel dining concepts. While Filini will offer a contemporary dining experience with a strong focus on coffee and wine culture, RBG Grill, the other restaurant concept that will be featured in Radisson properties where Filini is not, will offer an all-day menu of gourmet burgers, shakes and smoothies.

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