DESPITE already having four properties in the pipeline, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and Philippine property giant SM Hotels & Conventions have begun charting further expansion plans, particularly for the mid-scale Park Inn by Radisson brand.
“Four is only the start and we are currently working with SM in identifying additional locations throughout the country (to develop new properties),” said Lyle Lewis, vice president-Philippines and Japan, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.
The Park Inn by Radisson brand is targeted at MICE and domestic travellers, and four are currently in the works, one each in Clark (to open in 2014), Quezon City, Bacolod City and Iloilo.
Carlson Rezidor presently manages the five-star Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu and Park Inn by Radisson Davao. Besides the Park Inn by Radisson brand, the group is also eager to open a second Radisson Blu hotel in the country.
“A priority with Carlson Rezidor is to get the Radisson Blu brand into Manila as we see it as a natural extension to (Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu),” said Lewis, who is also the general manager of the latter.
He said that Carlson’s partnership with SM Hotels & Conventions “positions (Carlson Rezidor) well to meet the demands of the expanding market”.
“The local developer’s strategy is to build hotels near convention centres in areas where there are also SM department stores,” he added.
