AMID the current surge of hotel group mergers and takeovers, the relationship between Radisson parent company Carlson Hospitality Worldwide and Regent International Hotels is an unlikely arrangement.
Under the terms of the deal agreed in December 1997 with Regent’s former parent Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Carlson acquired the name and trademark of Regent but management of the existing Regent hotels was licensed back to Four Seasons.
Regent International Hotels president Paul Hanley, who was previously executive vice-president of operations for Radisson Hotels Worldwide, admitted that in a perfect world the agreement would have resulted in Carlson taking over Regent as a whole, including management of existing properties.
He said: “We would have loved to manage the hotels but it was never an option because Four Seasons was dedicated to developing Four Seasons and Regent was saying it needed to expand.
“That was the basis of the relationship with Carlson. We have formed a luxury hotel division and will pursue more management contracts for Regent as well as providing sales and marketing effort to the existing nine hotels.”
Hanley claimed that to the travel agent or guest there will be no difference in the service offered by a Regent either managed by Carlson or one run by Four Seasons.
Development has been rapid since the agreement. There are another nine hotels either planned to open in the near future or under construction.
These include the opening of the Regent Wall Street in New York this summer. The 144-room hotel, in what was originally the New York Customs House, will be the brand’s first property in the city
Also set to open this summer are the first two Regent hotels in Las Vegas. According to Hanley, the 253-room Regent Grand Palms and the 287-room Regent Grand Spa will stand apart from the plethora of other chain hotels in the Nevada resort because gambling won’t dominate the property.
There will be a casino but it will be in a separate building.
Aside from the North American openings, Carlson is planning rapid worldwide expansion for Regent. City centre and leading resort locations are being sought for the brand which focuses exclusively on the luxury market.
That is why Carlson wanted it. Though the group has experience in the luxury sector through its ownership of Seven Seas Cruises, it has long felt the need to have a upmarket properties to complement its other brands.
These include Radisson and the economy chain Country Inns and Suites.