Radisson to expand its business in Asia

Radisson to expand its business in Asia

JAKARTA (JP): Radisson, an Australian-based hotel chain, plans
to establish 75 hotels in the Asia-Pacific region, including
Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, by the year 2000, an executive
said.

The company's managing director for Australia, Asia and South-
West Pacific, David Boward, said in a statement made available
yesterday that the priority of its expansion program is to thrust
into Asia.

Radisson, which has teamed up with strategic partners
throughout the region to develop hotels, will operate five hotels
in Indonesia in 1996.

"We researched a number of countries in Southeast Asia and we
focused our expansion program on Indonesia and Malaysia due to
their political stability and strength of their economies which
would continue to expand in the future," Boward said.

Radisson opened its first hotel in Indonesia 1993.

He said further expansion is targeted for properties in Hong
Kong, Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines.

Despite a rapid growth in Asia, Boward believes it is crucial
to Radisson's future to have a strong presence in Australia.

"At his point we are seeking a significant property in the
Sydney market and to establish a presence in Canberra and the
Gold Coast," he said.

Radisson operates three properties in Sydney and one in each
of Melbourne, Perth, Cairns, Port Douglas, Brisbane and
Newscastle.

Radisson currently operates hotels in over 300 locations in 39
countries.

Radisson is a part of Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, one of
the major operating groups of Carlson Companies, Inc.,
headquartered in Minneapolis, the United States. (31)