Carlson Hotels has signed an agreement to develop the first U.S. location for its upper upscale Radisson Blu brand: a Chicago hotel to open in the fall of 2011.
The company late last year announced plans to develop and revitalize the Radisson brand under two sub-brand distinctions: the upscale "green" Radisson and the upper upscale Radisson Blu, which the company began rolling out in early 2009 from rebranded Radisson SAS properties
(BTNonline, Nov. 9). Carlson is investing $1.5 billion to boost Radisson's standing in the United States over the next five years and plans to open upper upscale hotels in major cities across the county.
Currently, 155 Radisson Blu hotels are open in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, having been reflagged from the Radisson SAS brand.
"The venture is part of the moves we are making to align our U.S. brand with our global standards," Carlson executive vice president and COO for the Americas Thorsten Kirschke said in a statement.
The $125 million Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago will occupy 18 floors of the city's 81-story Aqua at Lakeshore East skyscraper, a mixed-use development. The hotel is a joint venture between Carlson and the skyscraper's owner and developer, Magellan Development Group.