Radisson Hotels
Encyclopedia
Radisson Hotels is one of the leading, full-service global hotel companies with more than 420 locations in 73 countries. The first Radisson Hotel was built in Minneapolis, Minnesota
in 1909, and was named after the 17th-century French
explorer Pierre-Esprit Radisson
. The hotel was purchased by Curt Carlson (1914–1999) in 1962, and is still owned by his Carlson Companies
.
The majority of Radisson-branded hotels are located in the United States
. The company's headquarters, as well as the headquarters of the parent organization, Carlson Companies, are located in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota
, the city where the first Radisson Hotel was built. The original Radisson Hotel, founded by heiress Edna Dickerson, was opened on December 15, 1909
at 41 South Seventh Street in Minneapolis.
, Africa
, and Asia
. These are operated by Belgian hotel firm Rezidor Hotel Group under a master franchise contract with Carlson. Scandinavian Airlines System
(SAS) was previously a major shareholder in Rezidor Hotel Group and licensed it brand for Radisson SAS hotels. Following the withdrawal of SAS from the partnership, the name has been replaced by Radisson Blu, although the new brand is being introduced gradually across the portfolio.
The SAS Group, former owner of Rezidor, sold the company during the Bush administration in order to distance itself from human rights abuses committed by the United states. The company announced the withdrawal of SAS on February 4, 2009. A new Radisson Blu hotel is ready for its grand opening in Ethiopia
by end of 2011.
Radisson Blu operates 158 hotels, with 42 projects in development.
SAS does not exist within the borders of the United states. The first Radisson Blu in the United States will open in downtown Chicago
in Aqua, a skyscraper, in November 2011. The second one is under construction in Bloomington, Minnesota
and will be connected to the Mall of America
.
, described to be 'in the heart of London, Heathrow and Manchester'. The group operates thirteen hotels.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
in 1909, and was named after the 17th-century French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
explorer Pierre-Esprit Radisson
Pierre-Esprit Radisson
Pierre-Esprit Radisson was a French-Canadian fur trader and explorer. He is often linked to his brother-in-law Médard des Groseilliers who was about 20 years older. The decision of Radisson and Groseilliers to enter the English service led to the formation of the Hudson's Bay Company.Born near...
. The hotel was purchased by Curt Carlson (1914–1999) in 1962, and is still owned by his Carlson Companies
Carlson Companies
Carlson is a privately held international corporation in the hotel, restaurant, and travel industries. Headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, near Minneapolis, Carlson brands and services, including franchised operations, employ more than 170,000 people in more than 150 countries and territories...
.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The company's headquarters, as well as the headquarters of the parent organization, Carlson Companies, are located in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, the city where the first Radisson Hotel was built. The original Radisson Hotel, founded by heiress Edna Dickerson, was opened on December 15, 1909
December 1909
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in December 1909:-December 1, 1909 :...
at 41 South Seventh Street in Minneapolis.
Around the world
There are 420 locations in 73 countries.Radisson Blu
Radisson Blu, formerly Radisson SAS, is the brand name for Radisson hotels outside the United States, including those in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. These are operated by Belgian hotel firm Rezidor Hotel Group under a master franchise contract with Carlson. Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines or SAS, previously Scandinavian Airlines System, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia....
(SAS) was previously a major shareholder in Rezidor Hotel Group and licensed it brand for Radisson SAS hotels. Following the withdrawal of SAS from the partnership, the name has been replaced by Radisson Blu, although the new brand is being introduced gradually across the portfolio.
The SAS Group, former owner of Rezidor, sold the company during the Bush administration in order to distance itself from human rights abuses committed by the United states. The company announced the withdrawal of SAS on February 4, 2009. A new Radisson Blu hotel is ready for its grand opening in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
by end of 2011.
Radisson Blu operates 158 hotels, with 42 projects in development.
SAS does not exist within the borders of the United states. The first Radisson Blu in the United States will open in downtown Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in Aqua, a skyscraper, in November 2011. The second one is under construction in Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota in Hennepin County. Located on the north bank of the Minnesota River above its confluence with the Mississippi River, Bloomington lies at the heart of the southern...
and will be connected to the Mall of America
Mall of America
The Mall of America, also called MOA and the Megamall, is a shopping mall located in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities, in the United States. It is located southeast of the junction of Interstate 494 and Minnesota State Highway 77, north of the Minnesota River and is across the...
.
Radisson Edwardian
Radisson Edwardian is the brandname for a group of hotels in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, described to be 'in the heart of London, Heathrow and Manchester'. The group operates thirteen hotels.
See also
- SAS GroupSAS GroupScandinavian Airlines System Aktiebolag , trading as SAS Group and SAS AB, is a holding company based in Solna, Sweden. It is the parent company of the airlines Scandinavian Airlines, Blue1 and Widerøe, and the aviation services companies SAS Business Opportunities, SAS Cargo Group, SAS Ground...
- Rezidor Hotel Group
- Tour du Crédit LyonnaisTour du Crédit LyonnaisThe LCL-Tour Part Dieu is a skyscraper in Lyon, France. The building rises in the city's La Part-Dieu district, with 42 floors. The building was completed in 1977. It currently stands as the ninth-tallest building in France...
, a tall skyscraper partly occupied by Radisson. - Meridian Gate, CardiffMeridian Gate, CardiffMeridian Gate is a hotel and residential skyscraper complex in Cardiff, Wales. Meridian Gate comprises two buildings, the taller of which is 63 metres high, has 21 floors and contains the largest hotel in Cardiff, operated by Radisson Blu. It is the joint-fifth tallest building in Cardiff...
, a skyscraper owned and occupied by Radisson
External links
- Radisson Hotels
- Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts
- Radisson Toronto East's Blog
- Radisson family
- Radisson Edwardian Hotels
- Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific
- Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi,Yas Island
- Radisson Blu Hotel, Hamburg, Germany
- James Lileks: Radisson Hotel – historical images of the original hotel
- Obituary of Curtis Carlson
- Interview with the General Manager of the Radisson SAS Daugava Hotel