IHG wakes up Regent Hotels with a kiss

Brussels. Nearly two years after selling the Regent brand to the Taiwanese Formosa Group, Rezidor has decided to develop the brand in the EMEA region again – based on a master franchise agreement.

Dubai. "Regent was never a success." Speaking at the "Arabian Hotel Investment Conference" in Dubai this week, Kurt Ritter, CEO of the Rezidor Hotel Group, commented publicly on the sale of Carlson and Rezidor's luxury hotel brand to the Taiwanese Formosa International Hotels Corporation three weeks ago.

Brussels. The first half of 2012 saw a drastic increase in revenues significantly reducing losses, but that is not the only reason Kurt Ritter, Chief Executive Officer Rezidor Group, and Wolfgang M. Neumann, Chief Operating Officer, were in a good mood one week after publishing the semi-annual report. They consider the close partnership with main shareholder Carlson and the connected hotel brands a great advantage when it comes to persuading the remaining shareholders of "Route 2015". In the course of this, Rezidor's brand development is being geared to Radisson Blu and Park Inn more than ever before. The latter will receive a new brand profile. Country Inn is being put in the hands of Carlson and the American market. Rezidor officially wants to avoid lease agreements; however, a few are being signed nonetheless as became apparent in the interview with Maria Puetz-Willems. One thing becomes clear: Rezidor is switching over to profitability leaving its pure expansion strategy behind.