Radisson Blu
{{Short description|Hotel chain}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Radisson Blu
| logo = Radisson Blu logo.svg
| founded = {{start date and age|1960}}
| location = {{ubl|
- Minneapolis, United States{{efn|Americas region}}
- Brussels, Belgium{{efn|Rest of the world}}
}}
| key_people = Wolfgang M. Neumann (President & CEO)
| type = Subsidiary
| industry = Hospitality
| owner = {{unbulleted list|
- Choice Hotels{{efn|
Americas region (United States, Canada,
Caribbean, and Latin America){{cite web|url=https://media.choicehotels.com/Radisson-blu-press-kit |title=Radisson Blu }} since 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/corporate/about-us/our-company|title=Our company history|publisher=Radisson Hotel Group}}
}}
- Jinjiang International{{efn|
China, and co-branded Radisson Blu in Frankfurt, Germany, with Radisson Hotel Group, since 2018.{{cite web |title=Jin Jiang Radisson Hotels |url=http://www.jinjianghotels.sh.cn/htmls/Main%20Business/index.html}}{{cite web|url=https://bwhotelier.com/article/-jin-jiang-international-holdings-co-to-buy-radisson-hospitality-inc-157606 |title=Jin Jiang International Holdings Co. to Buy Radisson Hospitality Inc. |date=August 10, 2018}}
}}
- Radisson Hotel Group{{efn|
}}
}}
| parent =
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/brand/radisson-blu}}
| area_served = Worldwide
| alt = Radisson Blu Logo
| locations = 324 (2022)
}}
Radisson Blu is an international hotel brand managed and operated by Radisson Hotels, and owned by Choice Hotels, Jinjiang International and the Radisson Hotel Group. Founded as the SAS Hotels in 1960, the Radisson Blu brand name came into existence in 2006 with a rebranding of Radisson SAS. It operates in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region with 324 operating worldwide {{As of|2022|lc=y}}.{{cite press release |title=Radisson Blu Fact Sheet 2022 |date=2022 |url=https://media.radissonhotels.net/asset/corporate--media/miscellaneous/16256-140837-m22168348.pdf |access-date=2024-10-08 }}
History
File:Radisson Blu Room 606.jpg in Copenhagen, designed by Arne Jacobsen.]]
=Foundation as SAS Hotels=
{{Main|Rezidor Hotel Group}}
SAS Hotels has roots dating to the opening of the then named SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1960. Architect Arne Jacobsen designed every aspect of the hotel for the SAS Group, from the building, to the now-iconic furniture (including the Egg chair), to the tableware.{{cite journal|title=Rezidor Hotel Group AB|date=2010|volume=118|editor-first=Jay P.|editor-last=Pederson|journal=International Directory of Company History|publisher=St. James Press (Gale, Cengage Learning group)|first=M. L.|last=Cohen|isbn=978-1-4144-4729-2|publication-place=Farmington Hills, Michigan}}{{rp|378–379}} The hotel was initially operated by the catering division of the group, but merged with the hospitality division to become SAS Catering and Hotels.{{rp|379}} In 1982, the hotels were spun off as a separate division, operating under the name SAS International Hotels.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/12/business/company-news-radisson-and-sas-form-hotel-pact.html|title=Radisson and SAS Form Hotel Pact|date=August 12, 1994|access-date=January 17, 2019|orig-year=digitalized on n.d.|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Edwin|last=McDowell}}{{rp|379}}
In 1994, Radisson SAS Hotels was created, as a partnership between Radisson Hotels International and SAS International Hotels, for operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. By the year 2000, the brand was operating 100 hotels.
=Rebranding to Radisson Blu since 2009=
File:Trondheim Radisson Blu, Southeast view 20150605 1.jpg]]
In 2009, the partnership with SAS ended and the Radisson SAS properties were rebranded as Radisson Blu.{{Cite web |url=https://www.franchising.com/news/20090205_radisson_sas_hotels_amp_resorts_in_europe_the_midd.html| title=Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts In Europe, the Middle East and Africa to Change Their Name to Radisson Blu | website=Franchising.com|access-date=2019-09-18}} The name ‘Blu’ was chosen as part of a research project to find a new visual identity as the company sought to replace the familiar SAS blue box.{{Cite press release | url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2009/02/04/17716/0/en/RADISSON-SAS-HOTELS-AND-RESORTS-TO-CHANGE-THEIR-NAME-TO-RADISSON-BLU.html |title=RADISSON SAS HOTELS AND RESORTS TO CHANGE THEIR NAME TO RADISSON BLU | publisher=Globe Newswire | date=February 4, 2009}}
Radisson Blu entered the United States market with the opening of its first hotel in Chicago, Illinois in 2011. The hotel occupies part of the Aqua skyscraper developed by Studio Gang Architects.{{cite web |title=Aqua Tower Tour |publisher=Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat |date=17 December 2008 |archive-date=19 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219011450/http://www.ctbuh.org/Events/ToursVisits/2008TourArchive/AquaTowerTour/tabid/779/language/en-GB/Default.aspx |url-status=dead |url=http://www.ctbuh.org/Events/ToursVisits/2008TourArchive/AquaTowerTour/tabid/779/language/en-GB/Default.aspx}} In 2013, it opened its second location. It was connected to the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/radisson-blu-mall-of-america_n_2877357|title=LOOK: The Surprising Location Of This New Hotel|date=2013-03-14|website=HuffPost|access-date=2019-09-18}} In 2010, Radisson Blu was named the largest upper upscale hotel chain in Europe.{{Cite news | url=https://www.travelpulse.com/news/hotels-and-resorts/radisson-blu-is-europe-s-largest-upper-upscale-hotel-brand.html | title=Radisson Blu is Europe's Largest Upper-Upscale Hotel Brand | first=MIA | last=TAYLOR | work=TravelPulse | date=April 9, 2018}}
Concept
Radisson Blu hotels are mainly located in major cities, key airport gateways and leisure destinations. It is described as an "upper upscale" hotel brand.{{cite web |title=Radisson Blu Hotel, Kyiv |url=https://www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41003825/radisson-blu-hotel-kyiv.html |website=Hospitality Net |date=22 February 2020}}
See also
{{portal|Hotels}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category inline}}
{{Radisson Hotel Group}}
{{Carlson}}
{{Hotel chains}}
{{Authority control}}