<H1> Radisson Plans Growth</H1>By Barbara Cook
<I>Alexandria, Va. </I>- Radisson Hospitality Worldwide expects to nearly double in size by the year 2000 as a result of partnering with franchisees, technology vendors and others.
That's the prediction of John Norlander, president of Radisson parent Carlson Hospitality, who addressed the company's annual business conference here.
In an upbeat assessment of the potential for growth in the hotel industry-and Radisson in particular-Norlander fleshed out the conference theme, "The Power of Partnership," by saying Radisson intends to stay on the leading edge of the partnering trend.
Before an audience of several hundred Radisson officials and key suppliers a few weeks ago, Norlander said Radisson plans to grow to about 2,000 hotels, resorts, restaurants and cruise ship operations. "We intend to enter the next millennium as the global leader in the travel industry," he said.
This growth is dependent, in part, on the synergy that exists with another Carlson company, Carlson Wagonlit Travel. "One of the trends predicted for the travel industry is that mega agencies will dominate the field," Norlander told the audience. "Carlson Wagonlit is such a mega agency."
That partnership with Carlson Wagonlit "is one of the factors which is driving the success of our lodging operations worldwide," Norlander said, noting that the travel company books 7 million hotel room nights each year.
Other company strategies that will guide future growth include "our obsession with reservations delivery and finding new distribution channels," and a focus on technology, which will aid the firm's global expansion. Carlson wants to provide "the most powerful hotel reservations delivery machine in the world," he said. "We are already married to the world, but we feel like we are still on the first date."
The company offers electronic reservations capabilities in 125 countries through GDSs, as well as toll-free numbers in 36 countries. It is now in the process of launching initiatives in cyberspace to capture reservations through the Internet and various online programs.