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)