Radisson SAS New Breed

Radisson SAS has designs on the future

5 November 2004…. 2004 has been another important year for Radisson SAS with the opening of ten hotels during the first ten months. In 2005 the company will open at least 12 further properties including architectural landmarks in Paris and Frankfurt.

The ‘new breed’ of recent openings have prided themselves on offering the cornerstones of Radisson SAS brand values: modern design, technologically advanced facilities, a relaxed, informal approach and of course the ‘Yes, I Can’ service attitude which is so synonymous with Radisson SAS. Full wireless access in all guestrooms, meeting rooms and public areas will be available in all Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts by the end of 2004.

In addition to this it is the design ethos of these recent openings that is making these hotels stand out from the crowd. Individually designed room themes and a new focus on stylish bars and restaurants are a strong indication of the new direction that the brand is headed in.

“Radisson SAS is not trying to compete with design hotels; the design philosophy is a long term commitment not a trend based marketing initiative. The strength and integrity of design represents the fact that good design is now a pre-requisite in modern hotels. The ethos is very much about individual hotels for individual markets and idividual minds” quotes Gordon Mc Kinnon, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Brand & Corporate Communications.

Who are the new breed?
Recent openings
The Radisson SAS group is expanding rapidly with a number of key additions to the portfolio in 2004 including the Radisson SAS Hotel London Stansted Airport, the Radisson SAS Hotel Liverpool, the Radisson SAS Hotel Belfast, the Radisson SAS Hotel Berlin and the reopening of the Radisson SAS Hotel in Nice.

Radisson SAS Hotel London Stansted Airport
The newly opened (September 15th 2004) 500-bed Radisson SAS Hotel London Stansted Airport is setting new standards of design in the corporate world of airport hotels. The guestrooms are designed in three unique styles providing a choice of accommodation to suit travellers’ preferences.

What sets this hotel apart from its competitors and brings the airport hotel firmly to the fore in the design stakes is the 13m high freestanding wine-tower. The only one of it’s kind in Europe, the tower is home to 4,000 temperature controlled bottles of wine and features its very own ‘wine angels’, a unique take on wine waiters who ‘fly’ up and down the tower retrieving bottles of wine via a series of remote controlled winches.

Radisson SAS Liverpool
This contemporary-designed hotel features 194 rooms in two styles. It offers modern-Italian cooking in its flagship Locatelli-inspired restaurant Fillinis and the White Bar, a spectacular piece of modern architecture linking the newly built hotel with the landmark of the ‘Fisherman’s Cottage’ on the street outside.

The soaring atrium that floods the hotel with natural light is the centrepiece of the hotel and provides a dramatic entrance for all guests. Situated on the riverfront of the Capital City of Culture for 2008 the hotel is fast becoming a landmark in the area.

Radisson SAS Belfast
The architecturally striking 120-bedroom hotel opened in September is appropriately located at the epicentre of regeneration in Belfast and therefore within walking distance of the main sites and shopping districts. The hotel has seven one-bedroom suites and one impressive Penthouse suite. As with all Radisson SAS hotels there is an option of bedroom styles that feature floor to ceiling windows with views out over the city.
The hotel has a stylish all-day restaurant and bar, offering both traditional and international cuisine and there are also live contemporary styled meeting rooms equipped with state of the art technical facilities which reflect Belfast’s burgeoning MICE business.

Radisson SAS Berlin
The most innovative and visually stunning hotel lobby in the world has been wowing guests since it’s opening in March 2004.

A striking AquaDom, the world’s tallest freestanding aquarium, measuring 24 metres high and 12 metres across, dominates this first Radisson SAS in the German capital. This breath-taking structure is home to more than 2,500 fish in more than one million litres of water.

The Radisson SAS Hotel Berlin features a range of dining options, from the fabulous all-day restaurant with views over the River Spree, to the Asian-influenced Noodle Kitchen, the sophisticated Aqua Lounge and the Atrium Bar, with its great views of the spectacular AquaDom.

Radisson SAS Nice
Following a £13.5 million investment the Radisson SAS Nice reopened in September. The hotel offers 331 fully renovated guest rooms and suites in the three schemes Urban, Ocean and Chilli, with 180 of the 331 rooms featuring large balconies with breathtaking views over the Mediterranean.

The highlight of the hotel is the completely renovated, panoramic rooftop Terrace, the largest in Nice with a view over the Promenade des Anglais, the Terrace features an open-air restaurant, solarium, large swimming pool and bar.

Future openings include:
Radisson SAS Hotel Frankfurt
In early 2005 the Radisson SAS Hotel Frankfurt will come on line. The 20-storey Radisson SAS Hotel will stand out on the skyline as one of the most modern, architecturally challenging buildings – an ergonomic structure of glass and steel. The hotel is situated next to the Frankfurt Fair so is ideal for business travellers.
The airport can be reached in only 15 minutes and the commercial and city centre in 5 minutes.

The 420 rooms and suites are cutting edge in design and comfort. As with Belfast the hotel features floor-to-ceiling windows, with some offering breathtaking views over the city. All are fully air-conditioned and are equipped with cable and pay-TV, radio, direct-call telephone, fax and modem connections and mini-bar. Altogether 1200 sq m, including a ballroom, which can be divided into smaller function rooms, are available for conferences, meetings and festive occasions.

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