MINNEAPOLIS, SHANGHAI AND SINGAPORE (Oct. 07, 2010) - Carlson, a privately held, global hospitality and travel company, has appointed Lyle Lewis as area vice president for China, for its hotel business. Lewis will be responsible for leading the growth and operating performance of Carlson Hotels in Greater China.
 
This newly created leadership role reinforces Carlson’s plans to expand its hotel business in Asia Pacific. In China, Carlson today has 10 hotels in operation and 11 hotels in development that include the Radisson® and Park Plaza® brands. Radisson is also the number one, fastest growing upscale brand in Asia Pacific with over 40 hotels in development.
 
Lewis will report directly to Jean-Marc Busato, managing director, Carlson Hotels, Asia Pacific. Besides taking the leadership helm in China, Lewis has also been promoted from vice president to executive vice president of operations for Carlson Hotels, Asia Pacific. Assuming his new dual role this October, Lewis will relocate to Shanghai, China from Singapore.
 
“We are pleased to have appointed Lyle in this important leadership role. Lyle’s impeccable operating experience, combined with his knowledge of the China market makes him the right candidate to drive our China business to new heights of growth and operating performance,” said Busato.
 
“A seasoned hotelier with almost three decades of international hospitality expertise, Lyle has contributed extensively to the improved operating and financial performance, as well as increased guest satisfaction at the many Radisson hotels that he led, prior to assuming his corporate role, added Busato.
 
Lewis’ appointment supports Carlson Hotels’ Ambition 2015 growth strategy to increase its global portfolio by at least 50 percent to more than 1,500 hotels in operation by 2015. Busato noted that 76 percent of Carlson’s hotels in development are outside North America, and that China and India are key drivers of Carlson Hotels’ growth in Asia Pacific.
   
About Carlson
Carlson is a privately held, global hospitality and travel company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. Carlson encompasses more than 1,075 hotels, including Radisson®, Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM, Park Inn® and Park Plaza®; more than 1,000 restaurants, including T.G.I. Friday’s® and Pick Up Stix®; and a majority stake in Carlson Wagonlit Travel®, the global leader in business travel management. Carlson operates in more than 150 countries and its brands employ about 150,000 people.  http://www.carlson.com