Carlson Brings Fast-Growing Radisson Brand to Pattaya, Thailand

By: Radisson Blu® | 1,022 Shares 111 Reads

September 15, 2010 // Franchising.com // SINGAPORE - Carlson, a privately held, global hospitality and travel company, today announced the further expansion of its vibrant Radisson® brand in one of the world's top beach resort destinations, Pattaya, Thailand. A hotel management agreement has been signed for the conversion of the Garden Cliff Resort & Spa to the upscale, full-service Radisson Resort & Spa Pattaya Bay property. The hotel will undergo a meaningful renovation and repositioning, and is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2011. The resort located in North Pattaya is within a short drive to downtown Pattaya and about 90 minutes from Bangkok.

"Carlson currently has two Radisson hotels in Thailand - one in Bangkok, the Thai capital, and another in Phuket, the country's largest island destination. Radisson properties are renowned for offering vibrant, contemporary and engaging hospitality, and we are delighted to be introducing the Radisson brand to a third Thai city, Pattaya," said Jean-Marc Busato, managing director, Carlson, Hotels, Asia Pacific. "The addition of this property is also in line with our Ambition 2015 growth strategy to expand our portfolio by at least 50 percent by 2015 to more than 1,500 hotels in key international gateway cities and major resort locations," he added.

Radisson Resort & Spa Pattaya Bay is owned by Garden Cliff Park Company Limited, a leading tour operator for inbound and outbound tourism between Thailand and China. Garden Cliff Park Company Limited, which has been managing the Garden Cliff Resort & Spa property for the past two years, will continue to operate the property until early 2011 when it converts into the Radisson Resort & Spa Pattaya Bay.

"Pattaya ranks as one of the world's most popular beach resorts attracting nearly five million tourists annually. We are confident that with the upgrade and repositioning of this property to a Carlson managed resort, combined with the strength of the Radisson brand, this property will reach new heights and expand business with an increasing number of international visitors from Asia, Russia and Scandinavia," said Vichit Prakobgosol, president, Garden Cliff Park Company Limited.

The Radisson Resort & Spa Pattaya Bay will undergo a comprehensive renovation that will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, from now until the resort converts to a Radisson-branded property in the first quarter of next year, includes an overhaul of key public areas comprising the lobby, the restaurants, the conference and banquet facilities, the fitness centre and the guest rooms. Blending traditional Thai hospitality with a host of upscale, modern amenities, each of the 27 suites and 203 rooms at the resort will also feature Thai-inspired decor extended across two buildings. The initial renovation phase also includes revamping some of the back-end facilities such as housekeeping and enhancement of information technology systems.

The second phase will include the refurbishment of general area corridors, elevator lobbies and final touches to the guestrooms and back of the house areas.

Radisson Resort & Spa Pattaya Bay is close to several tourist attractions, including the popular Sanctuary of Truth hand carved wooden temple.

About Carlson

Carlson is a privately held, global hospitality and travel company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. Carlson encompasses more than 1,075 hotels, including Radisson®, Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM, Park Inn® and Park Plaza®; more than 1,000 restaurants, including T.G.I. Friday's® and Pick Up Stix®; and a majority stake in Carlson Wagonlit Travel®, the global leader in business travel management. Carlson operates in more than 150 countries and its brands employ about 150,000 people.

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