The three newly re-flagged hotels are in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, and are owned by the Al-Hassawi Group.  Two more Saudi Arabian hotels, one in Jeddah and one in Riyadh, will join the chain�s Middle East network by January 2003.

Kurt Ritter, president & CEO of Rezidor SAS Hospitality, said, �Our portfolio of hotels in the Middle East may not yet be as large as that of other chains, but our Fresh, Host and Easy approach to hotel management and guest services, combined with our award winning �Yes I Can!� training programs, have made Radisson SAS stand out amongst our competitors. The demand for the Radisson SAS brand is substantial and the fact that we were awarded the management of these three hotels is proof of the market�s confidence in our capabilities.� 
 

The hotel in Sharjah, U.A.E., was formerly known as the Holiday Inn Resort and will now be branded Radisson SAS Resort Sharjah. The hotel has 301 guest rooms and is situated on a white sandy beach close to Sharjah�s business district, appealing to both business and leisure segments. Extensive renovation of the property has already begun to reflect Radisson SAS� quality standards. In Beirut, Lebanon, Radisson SAS will be assuming management of the Martinez Hotel, which opened two years ago and

Radisson SAS Resort Sharjah Beach Road Sharjah,UAE

The 183-room Al-Hayat hotel in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, was one of the first hotels in Yanbu. As of November, it will also fly the Radisson SAS flag. It has been completely renovated and can now be categorized as one of the premier hotels in Yanbu, a city driven by oil and related businesses on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia.  It also has a beach location and offers ample leisure facilities, in addition to newly created meeting rooms.

Rezidor SAS� Middle East portfolio also includes the soon-to-open Radisson SAS Taba Resort in Egypt and the opening of resorts in Hurghada and Al Quseir, Egypt, in 2003.

Kurt Ritter continues, �Three weeks ago we announced a major licensing partnership with U.S.-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide (CHW) whereby we will grow three additional Carlson hotel brands, Regent, Park Inn and Country Inn, in Europe, the Middle East and Africa under a 30-year exclusive master franchise. 

�This is a breakthrough agreement which significantly benefits both Carlson and Rezidor SAS. As the travel industry continues to consolidate, the power of global branding is a key element of future success in serving our customers. Partnership is power, and this agreement is a major advancement of that strategy in the hotel industry. The deal is expected to reach a total of more than 700 hotels in the next 10 years,� said Ritter.

�Our luxury Regent brand has strong potential for growth in the Middle East.  The company is renowned for its total dedication to customer service and enjoys a clearly defined leadership role in the luxury market.  Regent established its reputation with a commitment to exceptional guest service, attention to detail and an uncompromising dedication to quality.  Rezidor SAS expects to have at least three new Regent hotels in the Middle East in the next few years,� continued Ritter.

�Today�s announcement of an additional five Radisson SAS hotels to our already rapidly expanding portfolio is a sign of Rezidor SAS� global commitment to reach the 700 hotel target,� Ritter said.

Rezidor SAS currently operates 117 Radisson SAS hotels and resorts with over 44 hotels under development in 40 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Rezidor SAS Hospitality is a wholly owned subsidiary of the SAS Group. 

Radisson Hotels & Resorts and its parent company Carlson Hospitality Worldwide includes 818 hotel and resort locations representing 137,830 guest rooms in 63 countries plus six luxury cruise ships sailing worldwide.