Hotel at Africa's most visited destination is the first Radisson Red in EMEA
Carlson Rezidor, one of the most dynamic hotel groups worldwide, announces the very first Radisson Red in Europe, the Middle East and Africa: the group's new upscale lifestyle select brand launches in Cape Town, South Africa. The Radisson Red Hotel V&A Waterfront will open in late 2016 and be located at the V&A Waterfront, with 24 million visitors per annum one of Africa's most visited cultural and historical hubs. Set on the edge of a natural harbour with the Table Mountain as its backdrop, the V&A Waterfront offers a cosmopolitan mix of experiences ranging from shopping to exclusive entertainment. It also features prime residential and commercial property.
"Following the recent Carlson Rezidor signing of the Radisson Red Shenyang Hunan in China, we are now delighted to announce the first Radisson Red in EMEA in a location as prominent as the V&A Waterfront - giving our new brand both local and global visibility, and adding a vibrant new concept to this world class destination. Radisson Red is inspired by the trends of the highly connected, high-octane and design savvy millennial lifestyle", said Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO of Rezidor.
David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront, added: ''Radisson Red is an exciting, creative and innovative offer in the lifestyle select sector, and it is a coup to have the first hotel in EMEA at the V&A Waterfront. We believe an internationally branded and marketed hotel will add to our existing portfolio and meet the increasing demand for such accommodation. In addition, this new concept is key to the continued development of the district and its mixed-use appeal.''
The signing also strengthens Carlson Rezidor's presence in Cape Town where the group now operates 5 hotels with almost 800 rooms of the brands Radisson Blu, Radisson Red and Park Inn by Radisson, and further solidifies Carlson Rezidor's African pipeline: with 30 hotels and 6,500 rooms the company has the largest pipeline of hotels and rooms under development on the entire continent.
Featuring offers and services such as flexible, functional guest rooms, paperless check in, and 24/7 deli & bar, Radisson Red highlights a new hotel philosophy. "This transaction marks the launch of our brand in a key destination. Radisson Red complements our global brand portfolio ranging from mid-scale to luxury, and unlocks commercial value by capturing the growing guest segment of the millennial travellers. Set for ambitious growth in urban locations, the brand targets 60+ hotels worldwide by the year 2020", commented Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer of Rezidor.
The Radisson Red Hotel V&A Waterfront will form part of the new "Silo District" of the V&A Waterfront that will also be home to the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA). Designed by Thomas Heatherwick of Heatherwick Studio in London, the museum is scheduled to open in late 2016. The founding collection is that of German businessman Jochen Zeitz, gifted in perpetuity to the museum. Art connoisseurs already place MOCAA in the same category as the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
Besides 235 guest rooms which include Studios, Studio 4's and Studio Sweets, the Radisson Red will offer a "Redeli" and a "Ouibar" where tempting taster plates, wine & beer and bottled cocktails will be available 24/7. Business travellers will benefit from 5 meeting event studios with an area of 460sqm. And after a long day of meetings or sightseeing in Cape Town, guests can relax in the "Red Face" fitness studio and rooftop swimming pool or enjoy a sunset cocktail with DJ performances at the hotel's rooftop garden terrace and bar.
The site is also located in walking distance of the Cape Town Convention Centre (CTICC) which hosts all major meetings and events in the city. The V&A Waterfront is easily accessible by car, train, ship and helicopter, and is 20km away from Cape Town's International Airport.
The Radisson Red Hotel V&A Waterfront Cape Town will be operated by The Rezidor Hotel Group.
For further media information please contact
Christiane Reiter, Senior Director Corporate Communication, Christiane.Reiter@carlsonrezidor.com
Renu Snehi, Senior Director PR, Brand & Marketing Communication, Renu.Snehi@carlsonrezidor.com
About Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the world's largest and most dynamic hotel groups and includes more than 1,350 hotels in operation and under development totalling 180,000 rooms and a footprint spanning 105 countries and territories. The Carlson Rezidor portfolio includes a powerful set of global brands: Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu ® , Radisson ® , Radisson Red, Park Plaza ® , Park Inn ® by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By Carlson SM . In most hotels, guests can benefit from Club Carlson SM , one of the most rewarding loyalty programs. Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group employs 88,000 people worldwide and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., and Brussels, Belgium. Visit www.carlsonrezidor.com for more information.
About the V&A Waterfront
Contributing R259.1 billion in nominal terms to the South African economy over the last twelve years, the V&A Waterfront's cumulative contribution to the provincial GGP since 2002 was over R227 billion. The property also reported a 19% increase in retail trade sales for 2014, marking four consecutive years of consistent growth since 2011. Total visitor numbers have grown to 24 million a year by 2014 (at year end). Although the V&A Waterfront remains South Africa's favourite tourist attraction for international tourists they account for only 23% of all visitors. Visits by locals increased to 63%, while 14% of visitors were from upcountry. With 22 official landmarks on-site, it is also part of South Africa's historical legacy. Jointly owned by Growthpoint Properties Limited and the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), represented by the Public Investment Corporation Limited (PIC), the V&A Waterfront was developed in 1988 by the state-owned transport corporation, Transnet Limited, while official commercial trading commenced in November 1990.
Press release PDF http://hugin.info/142138/R/1911310/681904.pdf
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