RHW has been managing Carlson-branded hotels on the subcontinent since 1998. “This acquisition is a natural progression for Carlson as we continue to grow in this key market. We now have a fully integrated India organization which supports our Ambition 2015 growth strategy by strengthening our position as the country’s largest and fastest-growing international hotel operator,” said Hubert Joly, Carlson president and CEO.
Carlson Hotels has 1,080 hotels under the Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Park Inn and Park Plaza brand names. Its Ambition 2015 initiative involves it spending $1.5 billion on upgrades to its Radisson portfolio, renovating existing properties and introducing the upscale Radisson Blu brand.
The RHW Hotel Management Services acquisition also helps the company as it seeks to triple the number of hotels it operates in India, adding 50 properties in the Asian market by the end of 2012. Brands present in India are Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn and Country Inns & Suites By Carlson.
Radisson, Carlson’s contemporary upscale brand, presently has 10 properties in India, with another 25 scheduled to open within the next 36 months
Country Inns & Suites, Carlson’s mid-market brand, presently has nine hotels in operation, with another 15 scheduled to open within 36 months
Carlson also recently launched in India its new mid-market brand Park Inn. There are presently three Park Inns in operation in India. Another two are under development
The group will introduce its luxury Regent brand to India in 2013 with the unveiling of The Regent Gurgaon.
The story had already appeared in teh Financial dailies in December last year; it looks like this is the final closing of the deal widely reported by international media.
It is important to realise that opening new hotels like Regent, Radisson and Park Plaza have a positive impact on wine consumption as these properties provide an opportunity to sell wine to residents and visitors to their restaurants. |