MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 13, 2011) – Carlson, a privately held, global hospitality and travel company, today announced two key leadership appointments for the new Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel currently under construction in Chicago.
 
The key appointments include Pierre-Louis Giacotto as general manager and Fred Khoury as director of sales and marketing.
 
This upper-upscale hotel is part Carlson Hotels’ Ambition 2015 growth strategy to establish flagship Radisson hotels in major cities in the United States.  It is the first Radisson Blu hotel in the U.S. and is scheduled to open in the fall of this year in the city’s distinctive Aqua skyscraper.
 
“Both Pierre and Fred have extensive experience at leading upscale, full-service hotels in major markets, including Chicago, which will be a great asset in managing this important flagship hotel,” said Thorsten Kirschke, president, Carlson Hotels, Americas. “I am confident they will lead the hotel’s employees in achieving operational success and guest satisfaction reflecting the brand’s commitment to deliver vibrant, contemporary and engaging hospitality characterized by the Yes I Can! service philosophy.”
 
Pierre-Louis Giacotto brings 25 years of hotel experience, including 20 years with Sofitel. He most recently served as general manager of the Rosemont Hotel, formerly the Sofitel Chicago O’Hare, and oversaw operations of the 300-room full service property. Giacotto successfully led the transition between Sofitel and the hotel’s current management company. Prior to that, he was hotel manager for Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, a full-service luxury property in downtown Chicago. In addition to completing his hotel management degree in Grenoble and Paris, France, his education includes courses in property asset management, leadership and hotel management at Cornell University.
 
Fred Khoury joins Carlson from the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago, where he previously served as the director of sales overseeing a sales team including group, individual sales, and catering and marketing. Khoury has also served as the director of sales and marketing for the Park Hyatt Chicago. He has a Bachelors of Arts degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management from LaSalle College in Montreal, Quebec.
 
About Carlson
Carlson is a privately held, global hospitality and travel company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. Carlson encompasses more than 1,085 hotels, including Radisson®, Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM, Park Inn® and Park Plaza®; more than 900 T.G.I. Friday’s® restaurants; 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