Brussels, Nov. 6, 2001 - Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, with over 110 hotels in 38 countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, has appointed Linda Berardi director of corporate sales, meetings, incentives, conventions and expositions, emphasizing the company�s new direction in targeting the business traveler from the U.S. and Canada.

Based in New Jersey, Berardi will be responsible for boosting revenue from the North American corporate meetings and incentives market segment through aggressive sales activities, hands-on account management and building strong client relationships.

Before joining Radisson SAS, Berardi was international sales director for Manhattan East Suite Hotels.  She has also held sales positions at Thistle Hotels, The Westin-Algonquin Hotel in New York, St. Moritz on the Park in New York, New York Penta Hotels and Hilton International Hotels.

Berardi joins Darin Minghella, director of leisure and government sales, to create Radisson SAS� first dedicated sales team in North America.  Based in Rhode Island, Minghella is responsible for sales to leisure clients, including major tour operators and cruise lines, as well as developing sales to the government segment in the U.S.  

�As Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts has stepped up our marketing of the Radisson SAS brand in North America, we felt that it was of vital importance to have face to face interaction with our key clients in the corporate meetings, incentives, government, travel agency, tour operations and cruise line categories,� said Fredrik Korallus, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts.  �We are pleased to have Linda and Darin as our direct link to these important customers.�

Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, currently includes 111 hotels in operation and 31 hotels under development in 38 countries and is the sole franchiser in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa for Radisson Hotels & Resorts.