Carlson Hotels has signed an 142-room Radisson Hotel located in the heart of downtown Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei’s capital city. The property, which will be converted to the upscale, full-service Radisson brand on 1 May 2010, marks Carlson’s entry into Brunei, a beautiful country located on the north west coast of the island of Borneo.

The property currently operates as the Sheraton Bandar Seri Begawan.

The Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam is owned by Hotel Associates Sdn Bhd., a Bruneian investment holding company. It will be managed by Carlson Hotels.

“We are continuing to grow Radisson as a vibrant and dynamic brand throughout Asia,” said Jean-Marc Busato, managing director, Asia Pacific. “The Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam will allow travellers to experience exceptional hospitality through a range of quality facilities from food and beverage to leisure and recreational options such as the club lounge, health club, outdoor swimming pool and spa, combined with our passion to deliver the distinctive ‘Yes I Can!’ service.”

The hotel will undergo a comprehensive refurbishment that will encompass public areas and guest facilities including 130 standard rooms, 10 junior suites, an executive suite and a presidential suite. The enhancements will include the development of an all-day dining restaurant and a specialty restaurant. Perfect for business meetings, weddings and other events, the hotel’s meeting and banquet facilities feature a variety of venues including two banquet rooms and two board rooms with wireless high speed Internet access available throughout the facilities.

The Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam is within walking distance of some of the city’s famous tourist attractions such as the Jame’ Asr Mosque, Brunei’s largest mosque; Kampong Ayer, the world’s oldest over-water village; and the Ulu Ulu Resort, a national park and home to the near extinct Proboscis monkey.

The hotel is a 10-minute drive from Brunei International Airport.