Carlson Hotel Plans to Expand

Plan calls for 50 percent more hotels in five years. Carlson Hotels wants to live larger. The company says it will increase its portfolio of properties by at least 50 percent by 2015, adding 1,500 to 2,000 hotels. The Radisson brand will be revitalized with an injection of $1 billion to $1.5 billion to establish flagship Radisson properties in key U.S. cities, upgrade existing U.S. properties, and enhance sales and marketing support and technology. By 2015, Carlson plans to add 600 to 800 more Radisson hotels; 250 properties in the Country Inns & Suites brand in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and India; and more Park Inns. It will also continue to develop midscale hotels in emerging markets.