MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Jan. 21, 2003) ---- Park Hospitality, parent organization of Park Inn hotels, today announced that the brand has added the first Park Inn property in Europe.  The 982-room Park Inn Berlin - Alexanderplatz, formerly the Forum Hotel, is located on the historic Alexanderplatz and within short walking distance to well-known landmarks such as the Dome, "Under the Linden Trees Boulevard", the

Park Inn Berlin - Alexanderplatz formerly the Forum Hotel  Alexanderplatz 10178  Berlin, Germany

Jetse Pottinga, executive vice president of Park Hospitality, said the addition of this hotel is a major milestone in the global growth of Park Inn hotels. 

"We are excited to welcome our first Park Inn hotel in Europe--especially in this key location in Berlin.  Introducing Park Inn hotels in Berlin by adding a landmark hotel, is a great advancement of our strategy to grow the brand in Europe and around the globe," he added. 

The new Berlin hotel is the first Park Inn development in Europe which has resulted from a new expanded partnership between Minneapolis-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide and Rezidor SAS Hospitality which was announced in late 2002.  Under the new partnership, Rezidor has been given rights to grow the Park Inn brand in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. 

"This hotel in the new capital of Germany is a great beginning for this international mid-tier hospitality brand in Europe, which currently has over 50 hotels in North America and Asia Pacific," said Kurt Ritter, president and CEO of Rezidor SAS Hospitality, master franchisor for Park Inn hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  "I am pleased to announce this first Park Inn hotel just three months after concluding our master franchise agreement for this brand with Carlson Hotels Worldwide." 

Noted as the tallest hotel in Berlin, the 37-story Park Inn Berlin Alexanderplatz offers superior rooms, including 12 suites, with  magnificent views over the entire city.  Amenities include two restaurants, a bar, a Casino on the top floor, eight meeting rooms for up to 320 people, a wellness center and business center. 

Park Hospitality is part of Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, a global leader in hospitality services, encompassing more than 1,590 hotel, resort, restaurant and cruise ship operations in 81 countries.  In addition to Park Plaza and Park Inn hotels, specific brands include: Regent International Hotels; Radisson Hotels & Resorts; Country Inns & Suites By Carlson; Radisson Seven Seas Cruises; T.G.I. Friday's and other restaurant brands; and Provisions, a worldwide procurement division.