Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific Expands Luxury Regent Brand to Kuala Lumpur

By: Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group | 1 Shares 109 Reads

April 28, 2008 // Franchising.com // Singapore - Carlson Hotels Worldwide –Asia Pacific, one of the world's largest privately-owned hotel companies, will continue the expansion of its luxury Regent brand into key gateway cities across the region with the opening of The Regent Kuala Lumpur in the third quarter of 2011.

The Regent Kuala Lumpur will be developed by City Properties and joins a growing portfolio of Regent hotels and resorts worldwide, which includes The Regent Beijing and The Regent Shanghai. The 250-room hotel will also feature an additional 102 exclusive luxury apartments which will be branded as 'The Regent Residences, Kuala Lumpur'.

The Regent Kuala Lumpur, together with the The Regent Residences, Kuala Lumpur, will occupy a prime city-centre location in the heart of the city's 'Golden Triangle', with breathtaking views of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and KLCC Park, just 200 metres walking distance away.

"The development of The Regent Kuala Lumpur is an important part of our strategy to establish the flagship brand in the Carlson Hotels portfolio in every major gateway city across Asia", said Martin Rinck, president & managing director, Carlson Hotels Worldwide – Asia Pacific. "We are continuing to evaluate prime locations for more Regent hotels, as well as for our luxury Regent resorts, and we expect to announce further developments in the near future".

Bjorn Gullaksen, president of the Regent Luxury Group, which oversees the Regent brand worldwide, noted that this new property in Kuala Lumpur adds further momentum to the global expansion of Regent Hotels & Resorts. "Offering an iconic heritage of luxury that was born in Asia Pacific, we are pleased to be expanding Regent Hotels & Resorts to key destinations around the world," Gullaksen noted.

In addition to managing Regent hotels in Beijing and Shanghai, Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific has five additional Regent hotels and resorts under development, including The Regent Kuala Lumpur. The Regent Maldives is scheduled to open in late 2008, while another three Regent hotels and resorts will open in 2009: The Regent Bangkok and The Regent Phuket Cape Panwa in Thailand, together with the The Regent Manila Bay in the Philippines.

"This is a signature development that will deliver a unique city experience, and is positioned as one of Kuala Lumpur's most coveted addresses for style and luxury," said Dato' Jeff Yap, the Executive Director of City Properties, part of Duta Equities founded in 1976 by Dato' Yap Yong Seong. The group's investments include listed companies DutaLand and Olympia Industries as well as prime real estate developer, KL Landmark, which pioneered the city's first luxury residences.

Carlson Hotels Worldwide is the world's ninth largest hotel company ranked by the number of properties worldwide. In Asia Pacific, it is the largest international hotel group operating in India, and has more than 9,000 hotel rooms under management in 11 countries across the region.

Singapore-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific is the regional headquarters for Carlson Hotels Worldwide in the Asia-Pacific region and is supported by reservations, sales and development offices in Tokyo, Shanghai, New Delhi and Sydney. Carlson Hotels Worldwide, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, includes five hotel brands: Regent Hotels & Resorts, one of the most respected brands in the luxury segment of the hotel industry; Radisson Hotels & Resorts®, one of the world's leading upscale, full-service hotel brands; Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, positioned in the mid-scale segment of the full-service hotel category and known for its great value and customer-focused service culture; Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM, one of the fastest growing, mid-scale hotel brands; and Park Inn®, a growing global brand offering a fresh and stylish guest experience.

Carlson Hotels Worldwide is one of the major operating groups of Carlson, a global leader in the marketing, travel and hospitality industries. Other names in the Carlson family of brands and services are: T.G.I. Friday's® restaurants, Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, Carlson Wagonlit Travel®, and Carlson Marketing Worldwide®, the largest relationship marketing services company in the United States.

Regent® Hotels & Resorts is one of the most respected brands in the luxury segment of the lodging industry, Regent Hotels & Resorts are world-class landmarks of hospitality excellence offering international luxury standards which reflect and celebrate each individual hotel's location. The iconic Regent brand is expanding to new hotel and resort locations worldwide and is also an industry leader in the luxury cruise market with Regent Seven Seas Cruises. At present, Regent hotels and resorts are located in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific. www.regenthotels.com