This week, I was fortunate to attend the Americas Business Conference of Radisson Hotel Group at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida. The executives and leaders of the company, both in the United States and globally spoke on Radisson’s future – and I believe it is shining bright!
New Motto: EVERY MOMENT MATTERS
Every Moment Matters is the overall theme centered around the thought that a successful hotel doesn’t just provide a place to sleep, but also experiences and memorable moments.
Radisson Hotel Group is committed to a 5-year plan to double in growth and a vision to be in the top 3 hotels worldwide. It wants to be the company of choice not only for guests, but also of owners.
Radisson’s 8 Brands
The Radisson Hotel Group portfolio includes Radisson Collection (formerly Quorum), Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson and prizeotel. Radisson Hotel Group plans vertical integration and consistency of it’s brands globally so they can all work as one with the guiding principal of many minds, one mindset. Radisson has redefined and reworked the design and theme for each of the brands. With this strategy, Radisson Hotel Group intends create a consistent experience and set of expectations for their guests on a worldwide basis.
Each brand now has it’s own niche, it’s own design and it’s own tagline, such as enjoy it! for Radisson Red and I love this country for Country Inn & Suites.
Here’s an example of the redesign for Radisson Red hotels. This is an original Radisson Red bedroom design:
This is an example of a new design (I really like this!):
These are new design prototypes for a lobby and a guestroom at a Radisson brand hotel:
Radisson’s BIG Plans in the United States
Radisson Hotel Group sees significant room for growth across all brands and has identified 21 key target markets where it plans to be aggressive with expanding its footprint, particularly in the U.S. with its Radisson Blu brand.
Applying the concept, you are only as good as your worst property, Radisson Hotel Group announced that 10-15% of the current US hotels will be leaving Radisson Group. This eliminate the drag process is not haphazard, but based on a set of quality assurance standards and minimum thresholds that properties must maintain. (This might explain the disappearance of the Country Inn & Suites in Long Island City, NY from Radisson’s portfolio).
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
As part of its strategic 5-year operating plan for the Americas, Radisson Hotel Group announced two new hotels which will elevate it’s position and recognition in the United States: a Radisson in New York City and a Radisson Blu in Anaheim, California.
RADISSON HOTEL NEW YORK CITY– MANHATTAN / TIMES SQUARE
The Radisson Hotel Times Square will be located at 525 8th Ave., in the heart of New York City, walking distance to Times Square and many other notable areas. This new-build hotel by developer and franchisee Sam Chang of McSam Hotel Group, is estimated to open Spring 2019 with 320 guestrooms, a restaurant and a fitness center.
RADISSON BLU ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA
Radisson Blu Anaheim will be located at 1601 S. Anaheim Blvd, only a half-mile from Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. A new-build hotel by developer, Walter Bowen of BPM Real Estate Group of Portland, Oregon, is expected to be open by Summer 2020 with 326 guestrooms and will be the tallest hotel in Anaheim at 12 stories. The amenities will include a ground-level family activity space, rooftop pool and bar, fitness center, and a 6,700 square foot restaurant.
I heard mention of many other new hotel properties in the works, including a Radisson Red in Portland, Oregon and a Radisson in Long Island City, New York.
Loyalty, Loyalty, Loyalty
Radisson Hotel Group announced it’s dedication to developing loyalty among it’s guests, with silver elite after only 6 stays and various other benefits. The hotel group is offering many incentives to encourage guests to sign up for Radisson Rewards (there are currently 19 million members!), by offering promotions and extra points and amenities.
One of the most fascinating programs I attended was on the topic of loyalty, but the focus of the program was from the perspective of the hotel owners and employees. The point was to show how member loyalty was beneficial to hotel business and even to individual hotel employees. We learned that guests who are loyalty members come back more often and spend more overall. AND THEY ARE HAPPIER WITH THE EXPERIENCE TOO!! Radisson group offers a whole arsenal of incentives and rewards to hotels and hotel employees who sign up new members (SO EVERYONE CAN BE HAPPY!).
EMMA Advancements in Technology
Last but certainly not least, Radisson Hotel Group has launched of new comprehensive centralized tech platform called EMMA (Every Moment Matters) covering every aspect of Radisson’s business. It is intended as a one-stop program in the cloud.
With all of these very positive changes in the pipeline, it might be a good time to consider the benefits of the Radisson Rewards credit card.
Angelina of Angelina Travels also attended the conference. Here is her blog post.
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
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