Shanghai (June, 2012) – Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups, today announced that it had signed three new hotels in China. At a press conference held at the Radisson Blu Plaza Xing Guo Shanghai, Carlson Rezidor signed hotel management contracts for Radisson Blu Plaza Wuxi, Radisson Blu Chengdu East and Radisson Blu Wuhan ETD Zone. The addition of these three new deals to Carlson Rezidor’s portfolio is testament to the Group’s growing reach in China. Currently it has 33 hotels in operation and under development in China.
 
“We have steadily grown our presence in China over the past five years and we are now stepping up our momentum in this key market. We currently have a presence in the gateway cities of Beijing and Shanghai and are now venturing into high-potential secondary cities such as Wuhan, Wuxi and Chengdu. These emerging cities are integral to our expansion strategy as they are growing rapidly to become China’s top cities that attract significant foreign investments and tourism receipts,” said Simon Barlow, president, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Asia Pacific.

Radisson Blu Plaza Wuxi is a 300-key hotel in the prime district of Xishan, which is one of Wuxi’s fastest growing districts. Radisson Blu Plaza Wuxi is Carlson Rezidor’s second hotel in Wuxi. The hotel is situated within a 42-storey building, one of the tallest buildings in Wuxi, on a site that is included in the planning scheme for Wuxi’s new central business district. Offering views of the city and of Wuxi Lake, Radisson Blu Plaza Wuxi is close to a high-speed train station and it is only a 45-minute train ride to Shanghai. It is also within easy reach of Shuofang Airport, the New District Economic Development Zone, the Singapore Industrial Park, the High Speed Rail Business District and the Airport Industrial Park. Wuxi is also a major tourist destination in the lower Yangtze delta region, with attractions such as the Taihu Lake, Shishan Ancient Town, Grand Canal and Giant Buddha.

Radisson Blu Plaza Wuxi is owned by Wuxi BTV, one of the largest media companies in Jiangsu province and was recently named “Most Influential Municipal BTV of the Nation”. The hotel is expected to open in the third quarter of 2014.
 
Radisson Blu Chengdu East is a 242-room hotel. It is the first Carlson Rezidor hotel in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, where more than 100 Fortune 500 companies have based their operations. The hotel is located in the Media Plaza, a mixed-use development in the SC Tower. The SC Tower with a height of 339m is the tallest building in western China. Radisson Blu Chengdu East is also close to the famous historical heritage sites such as Sichuan Palace and Daci Temple. Chengdu is also home to the giant pandas and it also houses a world renowned giant panda breeding and search base.
 
Radisson Blu Chengdu East is owned by Sichuan Chuan Ta Hengyuan Company Limited, a joint venture between state-owned Sichuan Broadcasting & TV Bureau and a private company. The hotel is expected to open in April 2014.
 
Radisson Blu Wuhan ETD Zone is a 348-key hotel, with 325 rooms and 23 suites offering views of the Hou Guan Lake. This is the first Carlson Rezidor hotel in Hubei’s capital city of Wuhan, the most populous city and financial hub in central China. With more than 10 per cent of Fortune 500 companies operating in Wuhan, this city is the growth engine of Hubei. Wuhan is also known as the “Detroit of the East” because it has one of the largest steel and car industries in the country. Radisson Blu Wuhan ETD Zone is located in the centre of the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone, a national-level development zone that is home to the auto and high-tech manufacturing industries. The hotel is also within easy reach of China’s largest indoor theme park, which is now under construction.
 
Radisson Blu Wuhan ETD Zone is owned by Wuhan Lian Fa Tou Real Estate Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Hubei United Development Investment Group Co., Ltd, which is a joint venture between the Hubei Province Government and eight other city governments. The hotel is expected to open in June 2014.

Carlson Rezidor first established its presence in China in 2007. To support the Group’s long-term growth and its hotels, it has recently invested in building its operating capability in China. As well as establishing a dedicated Chinese website, Carlson Rezidor has opened a call centre, expanded its Shanghai regional office and established sales offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.

About Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group – born in early 2012 – is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups. The portfolio of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group includes more than 1,300 hotels, a global footprint spanning 81 countries and territories, a powerful set of global brands (Radisson Blu, Radisson®, Park Plaza®, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM and Hotel Missoni). In most of the group’s hotels, guests can benefit from the loyalty program Club CarlsonSM, one of the most rewarding loyalty programs in the world. The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and its brands employ more than 80,000 people.
 
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn, and Brussels, Belgium. http://www.carlsonrezidor.com