Radisson Sets $1.5b Rebrand, Facelift

Radisson hotels are getting a $1.5 billion luxury rebranding and facelift in the United States, owner Carlson Hotels Worldwide said yesterday, even as the industry struggles with crushing debt and plummeting revenue.

Radisson, forever underperforming in the United States, will be remade into a more stylish and contemporary brand here, with distinctive architecture and flair, president and chief executive Hubert Joly said at a conference in Kissimmee, Fla.

And Carlson will boost its 1,000-hotel portfolio by more than 50 percent, including new luxury Regents, midscale Country Inns & Suites, and Park Inns.

Radisson has several locations in the Boston area, including one in Boston's Theater District.

New Radisson amenities will include 3-hour express laundry, upgraded bathrooms, and free daily newspapers; all the brands already offer free Wi-Fi.

Joly said he intends to split the expansions equally among the brands - except Regent, which will remain small - and roughly one-third will be in the United States, one-third in India, and one-third in other parts of Asia.

Radisson has always been more successful outside the United States, he said, because its properties in many of the world's capitals are stunning, while its US hotels are more pedestrian. So Carlson is spending $700 million to open five "halo'' properties - signature hotels intended to distinguish the brand.

Joly said Carlson probably will build one or two hotels itself, while the others will be existing properties it renovates or rebrands.

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