Carlson Hotels Worldwide today announced a new structure that groups its full-service and limited-service hotel brands into new management units. Radisson Hotels & Resorts and Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts will be managed as Carlson Hotels Worldwide full-service hotels and Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn will be managed as Carlson Hotels Worldwide limited-service hotels. New leadership appointments were also announced to support this structure.
The new structure was announced by Jay Witzel, president of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, who said the move creates a more simplified brand leadership and structure that provides enhanced brand support and services. Regent International Hotels, the company`s luxury brand, will continue to be managed using all of the resources of Carlson Hotels Worldwide under Witzel`s leadership. “This new structure strategically aligns our organization and positions our company for future growth and new levels of business success by providing a full-range of resources to support each of our five brands,” said Witzel. “This is especially important as we focus on working effectively in the competitive hospitality environment.”
As part of the new structure, Bj¿rn Gullaksen has been appointed executive vice president, full-service hotels for Carlson Hotels Worldwide which include Radisson Hotels & Resorts and Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts. Formerly brand leader for Radisson, Gullaksen is a hospitality industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience. He is noted for his proven leadership skills and his ability to continually produce results in both domestic and foreign markets. Nancy Johnson, formerly the brand leader for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, will expand her responsibilities to include Park Inn as she assumes the role of executive vice president, limited-service hotels for Carlson Hotels Worldwide. Johnson has been with Carlson for 17 years, most of them in development for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson.
During her tenure, the mid-tier lodging brand has grown to more than 322 global locations and has earned a 98 percent guest return rate for the past 11 years. Jetse Pottinga, former leader for the Park brands, has been named regional vice president of operations, full-service hotels for Carlson Hotels Worldwide. In his newly expanded role he will be responsible for all full-service hotels in Canada, Mexico and the Western United States. Pottinga is a widely respected leader with more than 20 years of senior level management experience in the industry. For the past three years he spearheaded the successful integration of the Park Inn and Park Plaza brands into the Carlson Hotels organization. Pottinga, who joined Carlson in 1996, was previously responsible for supporting the company`s franchised hotels in the Radisson brand. Jay Witzel, president of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, will continue to serve as brand leader for the company`s luxury brand, Regent International Hotels.
During the past year Carlson Hotels Worldwide has completed a number of significant organizational changes to integrate many areas of management and functional services to best support the success of the company`s five hotel brands. These most recent changes further align the organization around customer-focused initiatives. Minneapolis-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide includes five hotel brands, totaling 862 hotels in 66 countries. Hotel brands include: Regent International Hotels, one of the most respected brands in the luxury segment of the lodging industry; Radisson Hotels & Resorts, one of the world`s leading upscale hotel companies with more than 440 locations in 61 countries; Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, positioned in the mid-scale to upscale segment of the full-service hotel category, have 36 hotels globally; Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, one of the fastest growing, mid-tier lodging chains with over 322 locations offering excellent value with upgraded services and amenities; and Park Inn hotels, with 54 hotels worldwide, are positioned within the economy to mid-scale segment of the limited service hotel category.
Carlson Hotels Worldwide is part of Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, a global leader in hospitality services, encompassing more than 1,660 hotel, resort, restaurant and cruise ship operations in 82 countries. In addition to its hotel operations, other brands include Radisson Seven Seas Cruises; T.G.I. Friday`s and Pick Up Stix restaurants; and Provisions, a worldwide procurement company. (30) Media inquiries, please contact: Kristi Arndt, 763-212-5626 mailto:[email protected] Note to Editors: PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST Contact Rosanne Swanson at 763-212-5451 or [email protected].

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