RWANDA: Rezidor Opens A Four-star Park Inn In Kigali

The Rezidor Hotel Group, which operates Radisson Blu and Park Inn, will create 160 jobs in the country as it plans to open its second hotel in Kigali.

The country’s local supply chain, which ranges from coffee roasters to vegetable growers will also benefit as the hotel contracts their services.

The four-star Park Inn, which is operated by Radisson Blu, will open next week. It will serve the mid-level traveller in Rwanda. Radisson Blu has become associated with meetings and conventions, especially given that it is linked to the Kigali Convention Centre.

“Guests need more choices and that is what we are providing with the opening of Park Inn,” Thomas Stene, the general manager of Park Inn Kigali told Rwanda Today.

The hotel is located in Kigali’s upscale Kiyovu neighbourhood and initially it was supposed to be operated by Holiday Inn. It was developed by Rwandan construction entrepreneur Joseph Mugisha.

The new Park Inn facility adds 161 rooms to hotel accommodation in Kigali. It joins a competitive market where besides its sister property the Radisson Blu, other big brands such as the Serena and Marriot are already established.

Park Inn will also expand opportunities for local producers such as Question Coffee and the Akilah Institute of Women. Mr Stene said wherever possible, the Park Inn will buy local produce.

“It is to our benefit to buy local supplies of eggs, fruits, meat and vegetables because we want to support local farmers,” he said.
There has been an increase in investment in Rwanda’s hospitality sector in recent years, which has seen the number of beds rise from just 680 beds in 2003, to an estimated 10,000 beds currently.

Mr Stene, who has been with the Rezidor Group for 25 years, said Rwanda is fast becoming a hub for international conferences especially with the new RwandAir flight routes.

“I think there is a need for more international hotels in Kigali because the Rwanda Development Board is doing a fantastic job of attracting large conventions and the new RwandAir flights to Guangzhou in China, Mumbai in India and London in the United Kingdom will also attract more business,” he said .

More than 30 regional and international conferences including the second edition of the African Hotel Investment Forum and the congress of the Africa Travel Association ATA, are scheduled to take place in Kigali over the next seven months.

The number of conference visitors has grown from 15,441 people in 2013, to 25,932 people in 2015 while 1.3 million tourists visited in 2015 bringing in $318 million.

Rwanda’s tourism sector has been bullish, thanks to high-level meetings held in Kigali in 2016.

About 20,000 visitors attended events in Kigali, giving the sector a much-needed boost. It also helped new international hotel brands and the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) get a foothold in the market.

While the global hotel brands Marriott, Radisson Blu and Park Inn opened their doors to the public, the game-changer was the KCC.

Between June and November, the country hosted 16 big conferences.

They included the World Economic Forum, the African Union Summit, Transform Africa, the Global Africa Investment Summit and the African Nations Championship.

According to data from the Rwanda Development Board, (RDB), the 27th African Union Summit pumped an estimated $4.2 million into the economy while some $2.4 million was received from the WEF.

The government aims to earn $150 million per year from meetings, incentives, conferences and events (Mice). As such, Kigali targets to increase the number of hotel rooms from 8,000 currently to 13,800 in 2017.

The Mice concept is geared towards boosting tourism earnings. In 2013, the country earned $49 million from hosting international meetings. Tourism on the other hand, earned the economy some $340 million in 2015, an increase of 10 per cent from 2014.

The boom in conference tourism comes at a time the country’s export receipts are falling while imports are burgeoning due to massive capital investments in construction coupled with a depreciating Rwandan franc.

The government has invested heavily in infrastructure including building inter-city roads, renovating the airport, facilitating the construction of five-star hotels and inking a deal to build Bugesera Airport, 25km outside Kigali. The airport is expected to handle 4.5 million passengers a year, which is seven times the current traffic.

The aviation industry is critical to the growth of tourism and hospitality. The government has been investing in the national carrier RwandAir, and still continues to do so. In 2016, RwandAir acquired two airbuses and a Boeing 737-800NG, bringing its fleet to 11 aircraft.

As all eyes are on Nairobi for the July 24-26 Global Entrepreneurs Summit that will be graced by US President Barack Obama, Kigali, Rwanda is quietly but steadily building its reputation as a choice destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE).

And things seem to be looking up for Rwanda’s MICE sector. Later this year, the country will host the Interpol General Assembly and next year the annual Africa Hotel Investment Forum, the World Economic Forum on Africa and the African Union Summit.

Since 2007, tourism has been Rwanda’s top foreign-exchange earner, generating up to $303 million in 2014 for the exchequer.

Rwanda is currently world famous for its gorillas tracking tours and over the past decade, growing number of tourists have been visiting on the Volcanoes National Park in the Northern Province to see the primates.

In the region, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have established tourism sectors but this has not deterred Rwanda from developing its hotels and conference centres to competitive standards.

Itching to grab a slice of the regional conferencing pie, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is now moving to make meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions the base of its tourism sector as the country looks to events as one way of diversifying its tourism products and economy.

“We have recently noticed a growing trend of interest in holding international meetings in Rwanda. So, we now have a strategy to promote meetings, conferences and exhibitions in the country,” said Francis Gatare, the chief executive of RDB.

Today, Rwanda can proudly say that it has successfully hosted top international meetings and conferences, including the Transform Africa Summit in October 2013 (which was attended by 1,500 delegates), the African Development Bank Annual General Assembly in May 2014 (2,500 delegates), the Africa Insurance Summit in June 2014 (800 delegates), and the ICTs World Export Development Forum in September 2014 (800 delegates).

“MICE is not only a very powerful marketing tool for the country but also a big revenue generator,” said Yamina Karitanyi, the chief tourism officer at RDB, at a press briefing on July 8 to announce the annual Africa Hotel Investment Forum to be held next year.

Karitanyi’s remarks were based on RDB’s statistics, which show that the MICE sector has become a big boost for Rwanda’s tourism industry in the recent past. In 2014, Rwanda received 1.17 million tourists, of which 19,085 were conference visitors, accounting for 1.6 per cent of the total figure.

And even though leisure remains a vital part of Rwanda’s tourism industry, statistics show that conference visitors spend many times more than leisure tourists. Last year alone, the MICE sector earned Rwanda $50 million, accounting for 16.5 per cent of the total revenues generated from tourism, according to Karitanyi.

Today, Rwanda is ranked 13th most sought after MICE destination on the continent by the International Congress and Convention Association and, according to Frank Murangwa, head of the MICE division at RDB, the country’s MICE sector is growing at a rate of 12 per cent per year.

Rwanda’s MICE appeal lies in the country’s “good security and its record of getting things done,” said Mathew Weihs, managing director of Bench Events, the United Kingdom-based events company that is organising next year’s Africa Hotel Investment Forum.

“Security and the ability to get things done are key issues event organisers consider when choosing a conference venue,” Mr Weihs said. “Now all Rwanda has to do is to make sure that it paints the picture that this is for the long term.”

Increased air connectivity over the years is also one of the factors that have boosted Rwanda’s MICE sector by making the country easily accessible.

The number of international airlines operating in the country has increased from five in 2010 to nine in 2015. South African Airways, Qatar Airways, KLM, Turkish Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Kenya Airways, flydubai, Emirates Cargo and Ethiopian Airlines are all currently operating in Rwanda.

And with the steady revival of RwandAir, the national carrier, things are looking up for the country’s aviation industry. RwandAir is currently connecting up to 18 hubs in East Africa, West Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

Moreover, Africans coming to or transiting through Rwanda don’t need visas prior to travel; they can get them on arrival in the country.

Last year, in a bid to fuel the growth of the sector, the government upgraded the Kigali International Airport, increasing its annual capacity to 1.6 million passengers, up from 600,000 before last year’s expansion works, according to Tonny Barigye, Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority’s communications manager.

The upgrade, which included building new terminals, gates and a VIP lounge, earned the airport the number seven spot in Africa and number one in East Africa in UK-based consultancy firm Skytrax’s airports rankings.

But the government embarked on the expansion of Kigali International Airport only as a short-term solution to the problem of insufficient aviation infrastructure as passenger numbers increased.

For a long-term solution, there are plans to construct a new international airport in Bugesera — 20 kilometres south of Kigali — which is expected to provide both extra capacity for passenger transport and also develop the cargo freight business.

Rwanda’s MICE sector has also been boosted by the fact that English and French are two of its three official languages, which makes the country more international than its East African neighbours, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, which have only English as the official international language.

As the country seeks to establish itself as a quality MICE destination, the government has put in place a number of strategies to satisfy international event organisers who seek luxury conference facilities, one of them being the construction of the Kigali Convention Centre.

The multimillion dollar conference facility, which will have 11 conference rooms with a seating capacity of 2,600 people, a hotel and several bars and restaurants, is expected to open in the first half of 2016.

The RDB believes that the new conference facility will position Rwanda as the leading MICE destination in East Africa.

“With the Kigali Convention Centre, we will be able to bid for bigger conferences that we are not able to host right now,” Mr Murangwa said.

The Kigali Convention Centre aside, a good number of international hotel chains have also set up in the country, including Radisson Blu, Serena, Marriot, Park Inn, Sheraton, Zinc, Protea and Golden Tulip.

All these hotels have the capacity accommodate more than 3,000 people, Mr Murangwa said.

Still, according to industry players, there are still some hurdles to be overcome before the country can realise its target of generating at least $150 million annually in MICE revenues by 2017.

While infrastructure is a major concern, the country cannot ignore competition from neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania that have established themselves as MICE destinations long before Rwanda joined the fray.

“There is no doubt Kampala and Nairobi will give Kigali a run for its money because their MICE sectors are well established. Even though I am optimistic the Kigali Convention Centre will add significant value to our MICE tourism, one cannot compare it to, say, Kenya’s Kenyatta International Convention Centre,” said Darius Dossantos, proprietor of Kings Tours and Travel in Kigali.

However, the tour operator believes that to keep up with neighbouring destinations the RDB shouldn’t completely shift focus to MICE tourism and ignore other segments of the tourism industry.

“You don’t invite a visitor to your house to smile at only you; he should smile at your entire family,” he said. “RDB should make sure that when conference visitors come to Rwanda they also visit our tourist attractions. If they are impressed by what they see outside the conference halls, the chances are that they’ll come back.”

If Rwanda is to be ahead in the game, Mr Weihs said that it should avoid comparing itself with its regional neighbours and focus on competing with more established MICE markets in Europe and Asia.

“By competing with established global markets in the MICE sector, Rwanda will be able to get ahead of its neighbours,” he said.

Away from competition, lack of a skilled labour force in the hospitality sector also poses a major challenge to Rwanda’s MICE ambitions, noted Francine Havugimana, the proprietor of Impala Hotels and current deputy chairperson of the tourism chamber at the Private Sector Federation.

RDB’s Murangwa concurred that skilled labour is a challenge, but said the country will be setting up colleges dedicated to hospitality training. “We have some investors who are interested in investing in hospitality training so we are optimistic that this problem will soon be addressed,” he said.

TURKEY: Rezidor Opens Radisson Blu Hotel Diyarbakir

The Rezidor Hotel Group has opened a new property in Turkey. The latest addition is the group’s iconic Radisson Blu hotel brand. The latest Turkish addition to the Radisson Blu family is the Radisson Blu Hotel Diyarbakir, in southeastern Turkey.

The hotel has a first-class location, with easy access by rail or road, and is the closest hotel to the airport. All 167 guest rooms and suites have a warm, contemporary design and include free, high-speed WiFi.

There’s also a choice of rooms to suit every traveler, from Standard, Family and Superior Rooms, or for more spacious accommodation, a range of suites with stunning panoramic views are available.

The signature 155-square-meter Presidential Suite adds a more decadent touch and provides the opportunity to relax in style while at Radisson Blu Hotel Diyarbakir.

Situated on the banks of the Tigris River, the city of Diyarbakir has recently enjoyed significant expansion, thanks to quickly growing industry and business opportunities.

Diyarbakir acts as a regional headquarters for several national companies and is the second most important industrial city in this region of Turkey.

Mustafa Eryilmaz, General Manager of Radisson Blu Hotel, Diyarbakir, says, “The Radisson Blu Hotel, Diyarbakir is delighted to open its doors and we look forward to delivering the greatest of international upper upscale hospitality experience to our guests.

The hotel is a welcome addition to the city of Diyarbakir. Its accessibility to Istanbul, Ankara, Kayseri, Sivas and Malatya means we are truly gearing towards building one of the largest footprints in upper upscale hospitality across Turkey.”

UGANDA: The Pearl Of Africa Hotel Kampala Joins Quorvus Collection

The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the world and a member of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, is very pleased to announce the addition of a new member to its luxury Quorvus Collection: The Pearl of Africa Hotel Kampala, Uganda. The 296-room property will welcome its first guests in Q2 2017.

“We are delighted to add our second Quorvus Collection hotel in Africa and thankful to our partners AYA Investment Group for bringing the Pearl of Africa to life with Rezidor,” says Elie Younes,Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer of The Rezidor Hotel Group.

“Uganda is an important hub in Eastern Africa. Its central location in the region, rich natural resources and improved infrastructure will create further economic opportunities. We look forward to a successful journey with our partners and to make our social contributions by creating local employment opportunities and establishing our hotel as the social anchor of Kampala,” ended Younes.


The Pearl of Africa Hotel Kampala hotel will be ideally located in the city center, on top of Nakasero Hill and will offer guests great visibility and views from surrounding areas. The property will feature a spacious 740m2 ballroom, nine meeting rooms, two boardrooms and a business center.

The extensive conference and meeting facilities reflect the hotel's strong focus on the business travel market and event tourism. Guests will have a large choice of food and drink options, including an allday dining restaurant, a sports bar and a pool bar.

Other attractions will include a private membership gym; a wellness spa; two outdoor swimming pools; one indoor swimming pool; a
children’s club; several retail shops; tennis, squash and volleyball courts; and a grill steak house.

Mohammed M. Hamid, Chairman of the AYA Investment Group, commented, “We are extremely pleased to partner with The Rezidor Hotel Group and add this pearl to Uganda’s hospitality scene.

Rezidor has already proven their capacity to successfully operate international hotel brands across Africa and has a very good understanding of the continent’s opportunities and challenges in the travel and tourism industry.

We are keen on benefitting from Rezidor’s knowledge and showcasing an outstanding luxury hotel experience in Kampala.”

Uganda is called the Pearl of Africa as a result of Winston Churchill's reference to the East African country in his 1908 book "My African Journey." Churchill's use of the descriptive metaphor was inspired by his impression of the country as an example of magnificence in its "variety of form and color" and its "profusion of brilliant life."

This was the inspiration behind the Pearl of Africa hotel that will reflect the local culture to its guests and the magnificence of the country – a true Quorvus Collection Hotel.

For further media information, please contact:
Saadiyah Hendricks, Area Communication & PR Manager for Africa & Indian Ocean
saadiyah.hendricks@carlsonrezidor.com +27 21 431 2390
Lucie Cardona, Corporate Communications & PR Leader
lucie.cardona@carlsonrezidor.com +32 2 730 7832

About The Rezidor Hotel Group
The Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the most dynamic hotel companies in the world and a member of the
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.

The group features a portfolio of approximately 475 hotels in operation or under
development with 104,000 rooms in more than 80 countries.

Rezidor operates the core brands Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), along with the Club Carlson loyalty program for frequent hotel guests. In early 2014, and together with Carlson, Rezidor launched the Radisson RED (lifestyle select) and Quorvus Collection (luxury)brands.

Since 2016, Rezidor has owned 49% of prizeotel. Rezidor has an industry-leading Responsible Business Program and was awarded one the World's Most Ethical Companies by the US think-tank Ethisphere.

In November 2006, Rezidor was listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm, Sweden. HNA Tourism Group Co., Ltd.—a
division of HNA Group Co., Ltd., a Fortune Global 500 company with operations across aviation, tourism,
hospitality, finance, and online services among other sectors—became the majority shareholder in December
2016.

The corporate office of The Rezidor Hotel Group is based in Brussels, Belgium.

For more information, visit www.rezidor.com
Twitter @carlsonrezidor
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/2364
Instagram www.instagram.com/rezidor_ourpromise

About Quorvus Collection
Quorvus Collection is a new generation of expertly curated luxury hotels inspired by the lifestyle and
sensibilities of the contemporary global traveler. Individual and inspiring, each property within the collection
offers a distinguished guest experience and an invitation to immerse oneself in the best a location can offer.

The collection currently includes G & V Royal Mile Hotel Edinburgh, Hormuz Grand Hotel, Muscat and Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait. Each hotel is unique and has different architecture, ambiance and design.

Quorvus Collection plans to grow to include an array of historic landmark properties, contemporary
residences, classic boutiques and urban retreats.

Quorvus Collection is a part of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group which also includes Radisson Blu®, Radisson®,
Radisson RED, Park Plaza®, Park Inn® by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM.

For more information visit www.quorvuscollection.com

GEORGIA: Radisson RED Chavchavadze Tbilisi Expected To Open Doors Mid-2019

The Rezidor Hotel Group is proud to announce the signing of the first Radisson RED in Georgia. The new build city center stand-alone hotel will be located in the heart of the city on Chavchavadze Street. The Radisson RED Chavchavadze, Tbilisi is expected to open its doors in mid-2019, and will feature 100 rooms.

Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer of The Rezidor Hotel Group said: “Eastern Europe is a very promising market for travel and tourism, and Georgia has one of the fastest growing tourism rates in the region. We are delighted to further diversify our contemporary offer in Tbilisi and bring our award-winning lifestyle select brand Radisson RED to the city.

Radisson RED appeals to the ageless millennial mindset, is inspired by art, music and fashion, and breaks the traditional hotel model. We strongly believe that the Radisson RED Chavchavadze, Tbilisi will take the Georgian hospitality scene to a new level.”

“We are delighted and confident to partner with The Rezidor Hotel Group and to bring the first Radisson RED to Georgia. Rezidor is one of the strongest and most innovative hospitality leaders in EMEA. With the award-winning launch of Radisson RED in Brussels earlier this year, they have once again proven their capacity to operate successful brands and hotels internationally,” added George Gedevanishvili, Project Manager for LLC Commerce Group.

The Radisson RED Chavchavadze, Tbilisi will cater for business and leisure travelers and will feature a restaurant with an outdoor terrace and rooftop bar. The hotel will be ideally located in the prime city center, on one of the main avenues named after the writer Ilia Chavchavadze.

The Radisson RED Chavchavadze, Tbilisi will be managed and operated by The Rezidor Hotel Group.

TURKEY: Rezidor Introduces Radisson Blu To Trabzon

The Rezidor Hotel Group is proud to announce the signing of the first Radisson RED in Georgia. The new build city center stand-alone hotel will be located in the heart of the city on Chavchavadze Street. The Radisson RED Chavchavadze, Tbilisi is expected to open its doors in mid-2019, and will feature 100 rooms.

The hotel will open in Q2 2018 featuring 162 rooms, meeting rooms and a spa equipped with a swimming pool. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Trabzon will also have a large rooftop bar and café with panoramic views over the city and Boztepe Park, adjacent to the hotel.

Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group said: “This signing is in line with our growth strategy in Turkey where we are a leading player. We are pleased to enter the Trabzon market which is lacking internationally branded hotels and offers great opportunities. We look forward to further supporting travel & tourism in the city and the country together with our experienced partners”.

Karadeniz Orme Sanayi Ve Dis Ticaret A.S, owner of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Trabzon added: “With the successful opening of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ordu, and addition of the new Radisson Blu Hotel, Trabzon, we are pleased to expand our portfolio with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.

As the main city on the coastline of the Black Sea, Trabzon offers enormous potential as a business and leisure destination. The city is a major trade center as well as the capital of the Trabzon province, and thus a perfect fit for a global upper upscale hotel brand like Radisson Blu.”

Trabzon offers a number of cultural highlights including several museums, the famous Trabzon Castle as well as the home of the first Turkish president that are all open for visitors. There are also several monasteries of interest in the local area and the hotel will be located very close to the city center for guests, hosting a hub of shops and restaurants around the main square.

Turkey, the 6th most popular tourist destination in the world, is an increasingly important region to Carlson Rezidor. There are development plans in Trabzon, including building an artificial island to further attract tourism to the Black Sea.

TURKEY: Park Inn by Radisson Opens In Ankara,

Park Inn by Radisson today announced the opening of a new 114-bedroom hotel in Ankara, Cankaya.

Operated by The Rezidor Hotel Group, this latest addition to the group’s portfolio is conveniently located in the Eymir Lake district, in the diplomatic heart of the city.

The hotel is perfectly located for the area’s main attractions including the Presidential Palace, international embassies and universities as well as shopping malls. Esenboga International Airport is 30 kilometers from the hotel, and public transport makes it easy for guests to get around the city.

The Rezidor Hotel Group, Area Vice President Middle East & Turkey, Mark Willis, said: “We are committed to expanding in Turkey especially in the mid-market segment. The opening of our second Park Inn by Radisson brand in Turkey demonstrates the growth potential and attractiveness of our highly popular brand, that is designed to add color to life.”

The hotel features 114 spacious guest rooms and suites, each offering utmost comfort, privacy and amenities, including free high-speed, wireless Internet access and smart TV. The hotel’s design elements are unique and include a choice of ceiling colors, headboard with mood lighting and colored shower screen.

The main restaurant serves a selection of Italian, American and Turkish cuisine, as well as a buffet breakfast each morning. Wellbeing is essential to the Park Inn by Radisson guest experience philosophy. The hotel features well-equipped spa and gym facilities and a 20-meter heated indoor pool. Also on offer are six modern meeting rooms with a total combined meeting space of over 1360 sqm that can be adapted to accommodate small meetings or large banquet events.

General Manager Park Inn by Radisson Ankara Cankaya, Ahmet Sezici, said: “With the opening of the Park Inn by Radisson, Ankara Cankaya, we are bringing a hotel experience that is vibrant, colorful, cosy and stylish.

“Guests staying with us can expect an accommodation option that harmonizes traditional Turkish hospitality with the needs of the modern traveler whether travelling for business or leisure.”

SWITZERLAND: Rezidor Buys Prizeotel

The Rezidor Hotel Group has announced its entry into the economy segment through the acquisition of a 49% stake of prizeotel for a price of €14.7m and has secured further rights including the acquisition of the remaining 51% in 4 years from now. Prizeotel is a dynamic start-up company – a young hotel chain with currently 3 operating properties in Germany and 1 further hotel under development. The brand was founded by Marco Nussbaum and co-created with New York-based industrial designer Karim Rashid.

“We are delighted to partner with prizeotel, an entrepreneurial and creative economy brand. It ideally complements our compelling brand portfolio currently ranging from mid-scale to luxury, and facilitates our responsiveness to the evolving needs of our guests. With this transaction, we now offer additional choices and opportunities to both our customers and owners”, said Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO of Rezidor at the International Hotel Investment Forum IHIF in Berlin. “The acquisition allows us a fast-paced entry to the economy segment – an increasingly attractive sector due to its rapid development opportunities and resilience to the economic cycles. Prizeotel is a commercial success story and has differentiated itself through innovative urban design, tech-savvy focus, personal touch and unique team culture – a total fit to Rezidor”, added Neumann.

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much. I am glad to partner with Rezidor to transform prizeotel from a local player to an international economy brand. Having started our journey back in 2009, we will now write the next chapter of our unconventional success story. I am happy, proud, chilled and especially thankful for the work and dedication each team member of prizeotel as well as all our partners have put into creating this unique brand”, said Marco Nussbaum, CEO of prizeotel. “The current owners of prizeotel’s real estate will keep the properties and plan to invest in further projects”, ended Nussbaum.

Following the purchase, which will be closed during the next few weeks, Rezidor and prizeotel plan an integrated approach towards the brand’s Business Development as well as Sales, Marketing & Distribution. Prizeotel will continue to be led by Marco Nussbaum, and his team who retain full responsibility for the business. Rezidor will steer key strategic aspects through its shareholding governance represented by Wolfgang M. Neumann. An integrated development and commercial support will be in place to accelerate the pursuit of growth opportunities and optimise business support for prizeotel.

“Combining and cross-fertilizing prizeotel’s market and brand knowledge with Rezidor’s international expertise will unlock value for both organisations. We will initially grow the German network and target key cities in Austria, Switzerland and BeNeLux primarily through leases, but also management agreements. Prizeotel will offer a unique investment proposition with its compelling design, value-engineered development costs, high operating efficiencies and an optional turn-key construction solution”, commented Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer of Rezidor.

Prizeotel currently operates 3 hotels with a total of 555 rooms in Hamburg, Hannover and Bremen. Exclusively designed by Karim Rashid, these signature hotels feature an appealing, futuristic look and put a focus on technology as well as hassle-free service for business and leisure guests seeking individual experiences at great value for money. An extension of the property in Hamburg and a second hotel in Hamburg-Reeperbahn were also announced today.

ICELAND: Park Inn By Radisson Now In Iceland

Park Inn by Radisson arrives in Iceland close to Keflavik International Airport. This is the group’s third addition to Iceland – complementing the very successful Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel and Radisson Blu Saga Hotel.

“The Rezidor Hotel Group is the only international hotel group with a significant portfolio in the Nordic region. It is also one of Europe’s leading airport hotel operators. We have presence at almost all major gateways and travel hubs across the continent. With a new Park Inn by Radisson in Iceland, we are signaling our commitment to maintaining our leading position in the Nordics and offering a great hospitality experience for all segments, across all markets”, said Tom Flanagan, Area Vice President Nordics of The Rezidor Hotel Group.

Situated in the city center and only 5 kilometers from Keflavik International Airport, Park Inn by Radisson offers 77 colorful rooms and suites with innovations like Free & Fast High-speed Internet. The hotel also offers 470sqm of meeting & event space equipped with top modern conference technology. The hotel is a relaxing haven for business and leisure travelers who can enjoy the hotel’s all-day-dining restaurant, a lobby bar and variety of wellness services, from yoga to beauty treatments and a gym that will be renovated soon.

Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon and the capital city Reykjavik are 20 and 35 minutes away from the hotel. With its unique landscape of mountains, hot springs and glaciers, Iceland is one of the most fascinating countries and islands of the world. The number of international visitors increased by 20% per annum over the past two years to 1.1 million.

“We are looking forward to welcoming global travelers to our latest addition close to Keflavik International Airport. Park Inn by Radisson is set to offer its signature mid-market hospitality experience topped by an unparalleled Yes I Can! service. We are proud to partner with The Rezidor Hotel Group, Nordic’s undisputed hospitality leader, on this project,” commented Bjarni Pálsson, owner of the hotel.

TURKEY: Carlson Rezidor Announces New Radisson Blu Hotel In Istanbul

Carlson Rezidor, one of the most dynamic hotel groups worldwide, announces the Radisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Ataköy. The property featuring 133 rooms is schedule to welcome the first guests in early 2016. It is the 9th Radisson Blu hotel in Istanbul and further strengthens Radisson Blu as the largest upper-upscale brand in the city.

“Istanbul is one of today’s most important markets – strategically located between Europe and Asia, and marked by a rich culture and economic power. With this signing we add a further Radisson Blu to our high-quality portfolio in town and consolidate our leading position in Istanbul”, said Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO of Rezidor.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Ataköy will enjoy a waterfront location in the Ataköy neighbourhood – a residential area between Atatürk International Airport (9km) and the old town (6km). It will be located in a larger building that also hosts residential units. Besides 133 rooms with Radisson Blu signature services such as free high speed internet access, the hotel will offer an all-day-dining restaurant with private dining, a lobby bar and patisserie, and a vitamin bar as part of the 980sqm spa that will include a traditional Turkish Hammam and treatment rooms. Guests will also benefit from an indoor and outdoor pool. For meetings and events, the hotel will comprise 2 board rooms and 2 meeting rooms. 50 parking spaces will complement the facilities.

Carlson Rezidor’s engagement in Turkey goes beyond Istanbul: with the core brands Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson the group is also present in Ankara, Kayseri, Izmir, Cesme, Mersin and Samsun – the total portfolio across the country counts 20 hotels with more than 3,700 rooms in operation and under development. “Turkey is a focus country for us. We closely monitor its development and believe in its long-term potential. Turkey offers considerable potential for all our brands, also for the luxury Quorvus Collection and the lifestyle select offer Radisson Red. We want to capture additional market share in additional market segments together with experienced national partners, and add value to their investment in the Turkish hospitality sector”, commented Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer of Rezidor.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Ataköy will be operated by The Rezidor Hotel Group.