Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has been committed to India for 25 years, with our initial growth accelerated due to the quality of our partners and strength of our brands.

　　DELHI, INDIA (May 16, 2016) - Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups, announced today that it has acquired full ownership of Country Development & Management Services Private Limited (CDMS), the joint venture between Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, Inc. and Chanakya Hotels Private Limited that was set up to pioneer the Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM brand in India. The Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM brand in India will now be managed by Carlson Hotels (South Asia) Private Limited, the Indian affiliate of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. This acquisition also includes four Radisson Blu hotels managed in India by CDMS.

　　“Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has been committed to India for 25 years, with our initial growth accelerated due to the quality of our partners and strength of our brands. Our joint venture with Chanakya Hotels Private Limited, under the leadership of Ranjan Bhattacharya, positioned Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM as a leading midscale hotel brand in India. This acquisition, resulting in the full ownership of CDMS, is a strategic move to further strengthen our position as the leading international hotel operator in India. We aim to have 170 hotels in operation and under development by 2020 in the country,” said Thorsten Kirschke, president, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.

　　“India is an important market for Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, where we offer seven brands from mid-scale to luxury. Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM is an integral part of our brand portfolio in the mid-scale segment. We look forward to bringing our management expertise to further drive value to our Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM owners. This consolidation will help us in directing our resources more efficiently to support our hotels,” said Raj Rana, chief executive officer, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.

　　The Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM hotel brand has over 500 hotels, in operation and in the pipeline, globally. It is a brand known for its welcoming and comfortable hospitality experience, delivered with a touch of home. There are currently 24 operating hotels in India and 11 in various stages of development.

　　“We are proud of what we have accomplished together for the Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM brand in India. We have no doubt that this strategic move will augment our brand positioning with better synergies for its future successes and growth,” said Ranjan Bhattacharya, managing director, Country Development & Management Services Private Limited.

　　Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has 117 operating and under development hotels in India, across 60 Indian cities, including 16 state capitals. The group’s brand portfolio in the country spans the mid-scale to luxury segments, and besides the Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM brand, also includes Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu®, Radisson®, Radisson RED, Park Plaza® and Park Inn® by Radisson.