BRUSSELS, November 9, 2011 -- Rezidor has welcomed the first ever guests to stay at the new GBP22m luxury Radisson Blu hotel at East Midlands Airport. The hotel's first guests were presented with a bottle of champagne by the hotel's General Manager, Daniel Keane.

A family from Staffordshire were the first to check into the hotel's luxury presidential suite, which includes a separate lounge and seating area, a complimentary mini bar, bathrobes, slippers, newspapers and breakfast.

Paul Rose, of JPR Group, brought his wife Anna and daughter Roxie Marandi to experience the hotel's offer in advance of their company's motor racing championships awards dinner.

Paul said: "The last time I saw the presidential suite I was in a hard hat and wellies. The hotel looks fantastic today and all the staff have been very welcoming and friendly.

"I have never used the East Midlands Airport Hotels [http://www.radissonblu.co.uk/hotel-eastmidlandsairport ] before for my company but now we have this standard of hotel available, it makes perfect sense for my customers as it's very easy to reach by road and by air."

Of all the hotels near East Midlands Airport [http://www.radissonblu.co.uk/hotel-eastmidlandsairport/location ], this Radisson Blu hotel offers a unique experience. The four-star standard hotel includes luxury leisure and spa facilities, free high-speed wireless and a gourmet restaurant which uses the best of local produce. A feature wine room is available for wine tasting led by the hotel's in-house experts. A regular shuttle bus provides passenger transfers to East Midlands Airport.

In addition, Radisson Blu Hotel East Midlands Airport is setting environmental standards for new hotel builds across Europe. With an Energy Performance Certification rating of 2, the hotel is the most efficient in Rezidor's European portfolio of over 400 hotels. Designed to the highest green credentials, its carbon neutral build supports East Midlands Airport's aspiration for its ground operations to be carbon neutral by 2012.

The 218-roomed hotel includes:

• 9 executive suites
• Full service restaurant and bar with wine cellar
• Conferencing facilities with function suite
• Full leisure and health facilities including swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms.

The hotel's 195 standard rooms feature a flat-panel television, individual climate control and free high-speed Internet access.

Fourteen business class rooms include extra amenities designed for corporate guests and discerning leisure travellers. Added touches include the Super Breakfast Buffet, espresso coffee machine, free pay-per-view movies, daily newspaper and free high-speed Internet access.

The hotel also has six junior suites, two senior suites and one presidential suite.

About The Rezidor Hotel Group:
The Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the world. The group features a portfolio of more than 400 hotels in operation and under development with 88,800 rooms in over 60 countries. Its portfolio features East Midlands Airport Accommodation, including Hotels near Derby which can act as an East Midlands Conference centre .

Rezidor operates the brands Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts and Park Inn by Radisson in Europe, Middle East and Africa, along with the Club Carlson loyalty programme for frequent hotel guests. Under a worldwide licence agreement with the iconic Italian fashion house Missoni, Rezidor also operates and develops the new lifestyle brand

In November 2006, Rezidor was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Carlson, a privately held, global hospitality and travel company, based in Minneapolis (USA), is the majority shareholder.

The Corporate office of the Rezidor Hotel Group is based in Brussels, Belgium.