Carlson, SM sign new hotel development deal

CEBU, Philippines - Carlson Rezidor and SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation signed a new hotel development agreement for Park Inn by Radisson Clark in Pampanga  at  Carlson Rezidor’s annual GM Conference held in Cebu.

Slated to open in 2016, the 150-room Park Inn by Radisson hotel will be adjacent to the existing SM City Clark and within the Clark Freeport Zone.

This latest agreement cements Carlson Rezidor’s longstanding relationship with one of the Philippines’ largest conglomerates. It marks the second Park Inn by Radisson hotel in the Philippines under the same ownership following the opening of Park Inn by Radisson Davao in March 2013 and Radisson Blu Cebu in September 2010.

Under the new development agreement with SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation, five new sites have been identified. An additional five locations are being pursued for Park Inn by Radisson, highlighting the strong mutual intent to grow the presence of the brand over the next five to eight years. The prime locations in the Philippines include Mall of Asia, North EDSA and Iloilo among others. There are currently four Park Inn by Radisson hotels in operation in Asia Pacific and a pipeline of eight by 2016.

“In 2011, we implemented a growth plan focused on forming strategic partnerships across emerging countries in Asia Pacific that would provide multi hotel platforms driving growth of our mid-scale Park Inn by Radisson and Radisson brands. So far 2013 has delivered two strategic partnerships, one in India with Bestech Hospitalities and one in Indonesia with Panorama Group. In addition our strong relationship with partners including SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation in the Philippines, is enabling us to drive incremental growth potential of at least 100 hotels in Asia Pacific,” said Simon C. Barlow, president, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.

In China, a management agreement was signed on Wednesday for the development of Radisson Foshan Nanzhuang, a 300-room hotel situated across from the Foshan International Conference and Exhibition Centre and 53km to Guangzhou International Airport. The new build Radisson hotel will also benefit from business from the country’s ceramics industry, as the Nanzhuang area of Foshan is China’s leading producer of ceramics, accounting for more than one eight of the world’s production. There are currently 12 Radisson hotels in operation in Asia Pacific with a pipeline of seven by 2016.

“We are achieving significant momentum in Asia Pacific with our 37 new hotel management agreements this year, and are on target to achieve more than 170 hotels in operation and under development at the end of 2013,” added Barlow. (FREEMAN)