Carlson Group to build 100 hotels by 2015

American hospitality firm, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group will increase the number of hotels it operates in India to 100 by 2015, a top company official said. The firm is currently the largest international operator in the country with 63 hotels.

Simon Barlow, president of the company's Asia Pacific region said that India is a priority for the company. It has more hotels in India than in China. Carlson opened 13 hotels in 2012, after a record year in 2011 when they opened 18 hotels. This year, the plan is to open another 13 properties which will take them closer to their target of 100 hotels.

The company has 50 hotels in the pipeline that will open in the next few years, he said. Carlson operates brands such as Radisson Blu, Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By Carlson in India through the management and franchise route.

The Park Inn by Radisson brand, said Barlow, is the brand for the future as these mid-market hotels will be built in secondary and tertiary cities of India and will be designed specifically for the Indian domestic traveller.