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Radisson Blu
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <h3>Foundation as SAS Hotels</h3> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Rezidor_Hotel_Group/Ks0MnkMQ">Rezidor Hotel Group</a></p> <p>SAS Hotels has roots dating to the opening of the then named <a href="/facts/Radisson_Collection_Hotel%2c_Royal_Copenhagen/geSQTTHm">SAS Royal Hotel</a> in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1960. Architect <a href="/facts/Arne_Jacobsen/XDYajHp4">Arne Jacobsen</a> designed every aspect of the hotel for the <a href="/facts/SAS_Group/V9TD8k46">SAS Group</a>, from the building, to the now-iconic furniture (including the <a href="/facts/Egg_(chair)/eoSKlFnv">Egg chair</a>), to the tableware.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a>: 378–379 The hotel was initially operated by the catering division of the group, but merged with the hospitality division to become SAS Catering and Hotels.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a>: 379 In 1982, the hotels were spun off as a separate division, operating under the name SAS International Hotels.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a>: 379 <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p><p>In 1994, Radisson SAS Hotels was created, as a partnership between Radisson Hotels International and SAS International Hotels, for operations in <a href="/facts/Europe%2c_the_Middle_East_and_Africa/9VFa2YMm">Europe, the Middle East and Africa</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> By the year 2000, the brand was operating 100 hotels.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p> <h3>Rebranding to Radisson Blu since 2009</h3> <p>In 2009, the partnership with SAS ended and the Radisson SAS properties were rebranded as Radisson Blu.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> The name ‘Blu’ was chosen as part of a research project to find a new visual identity as the company sought to replace the familiar SAS blue box.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p><p>Radisson Blu entered the United States market with the opening of its first hotel in <a href="/facts/Chicago%2c_Illinois/yPMokrXH">Chicago, Illinois</a> in 2011. The hotel occupies part of the <a href="/facts/Aqua_(Chicago)/6ncf3Xeq">Aqua</a> skyscraper developed by <a href="/facts/Studio_Gang_Architects/v9aL4L7U">Studio Gang Architects</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> In 2013, it opened its second location. It was connected to the <a href="/facts/Mall_of_America/zN9TJmTE">Mall of America</a> in <a href="/facts/Bloomington%2c_Minnesota/HlCk9ra5">Bloomington, Minnesota</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> In 2010, Radisson Blu was named the largest upper upscale hotel chain in Europe.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="concept">Concept</h2> <p>Radisson Blu hotels are mainly located in major cities, key airport gateways and leisure destinations. It is described as an "upper upscale" hotel brand.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul> <li>Hotels portal</li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/facts/2015_Bamako_hotel_attack/w5hV90zH">2015 Bamako hotel attack</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/AquaDom/5Rwt1crU">AquaDom</a></li></ul> <h2 id="notes">Notes</h2> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <p> Media related to Radisson Blu at Wikimedia Commons </p> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Radisson Blu Fact Sheet 2022" (PDF) (Press release). 2022. Retrieved 2024-10-08. <a href="https://media.radissonhotels.net/asset/corporate--media/miscellaneous/16256-140837-m22168348.pdf" target="_blank">https://media.radissonhotels.net/asset/corporate--media/miscellaneous/16256-140837-m22168348.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Cohen, M. L. (2010). Pederson, Jay P. (ed.). "Rezidor Hotel Group AB". International Directory of Company History. 118. Farmington Hills, Michigan: St. James Press (Gale, Cengage Learning group). ISBN 978-1-4144-4729-2. <a href="978-1-4144-4729-2" target="_blank">978-1-4144-4729-2</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Cohen, M. L. (2010). Pederson, Jay P. (ed.). "Rezidor Hotel Group AB". International Directory of Company History. 118. Farmington Hills, Michigan: St. James Press (Gale, Cengage Learning group). ISBN 978-1-4144-4729-2. <a href="978-1-4144-4729-2" target="_blank">978-1-4144-4729-2</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>McDowell, Edwin (August 12, 1994) [digitalized on n.d.]. "Radisson and SAS Form Hotel Pact". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2019. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/12/business/company-news-radisson-and-sas-form-hotel-pact.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/12/business/company-news-radisson-and-sas-form-hotel-pact.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Cohen, M. L. (2010). Pederson, Jay P. (ed.). "Rezidor Hotel Group AB". International Directory of Company History. 118. Farmington Hills, Michigan: St. James Press (Gale, Cengage Learning group). ISBN 978-1-4144-4729-2. <a href="978-1-4144-4729-2" target="_blank">978-1-4144-4729-2</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>McDowell, Edwin (August 12, 1994) [digitalized on n.d.]. "Radisson and SAS Form Hotel Pact". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2019. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/12/business/company-news-radisson-and-sas-form-hotel-pact.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/12/business/company-news-radisson-and-sas-form-hotel-pact.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>McDowell, Edwin (August 12, 1994) [digitalized on n.d.]. "Radisson and SAS Form Hotel Pact". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2019. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/12/business/company-news-radisson-and-sas-form-hotel-pact.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/12/business/company-news-radisson-and-sas-form-hotel-pact.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"RADISSON SAS HOTELS AND RESORTS TO CHANGE THEIR NAME TO RADISSON BLU" (Press release). Globe Newswire. February 4, 2009. <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2009/02/04/17716/0/en/RADISSON-SAS-HOTELS-AND-RESORTS-TO-CHANGE-THEIR-NAME-TO-RADISSON-BLU.html" target="_blank">https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2009/02/04/17716/0/en/RADISSON-SAS-HOTELS-AND-RESORTS-TO-CHANGE-THEIR-NAME-TO-RADISSON-BLU.html</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts In Europe, the Middle East and Africa to Change Their Name to Radisson Blu". Franchising.com. Retrieved 2019-09-18. <a href="https://www.franchising.com/news/20090205_radisson_sas_hotels_amp_resorts_in_europe_the_midd.html" target="_blank">https://www.franchising.com/news/20090205_radisson_sas_hotels_amp_resorts_in_europe_the_midd.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"RADISSON SAS HOTELS AND RESORTS TO CHANGE THEIR NAME TO RADISSON BLU" (Press release). Globe Newswire. February 4, 2009. <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2009/02/04/17716/0/en/RADISSON-SAS-HOTELS-AND-RESORTS-TO-CHANGE-THEIR-NAME-TO-RADISSON-BLU.html" target="_blank">https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2009/02/04/17716/0/en/RADISSON-SAS-HOTELS-AND-RESORTS-TO-CHANGE-THEIR-NAME-TO-RADISSON-BLU.html</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Aqua Tower Tour". Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. 17 December 2008. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141219011450/http://www.ctbuh.org/Events/ToursVisits/2008TourArchive/AquaTowerTour/tabid/779/language/en-GB/Default.aspx" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20141219011450/http://www.ctbuh.org/Events/ToursVisits/2008TourArchive/AquaTowerTour/tabid/779/language/en-GB/Default.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"LOOK: The Surprising Location Of This New Hotel". HuffPost. 2013-03-14. Retrieved 2019-09-18. <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/radisson-blu-mall-of-america_n_2877357" target="_blank">https://www.huffpost.com/entry/radisson-blu-mall-of-america_n_2877357</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>TAYLOR, MIA (April 9, 2018). "Radisson Blu is Europe's Largest Upper-Upscale Hotel Brand". TravelPulse. <a href="https://www.travelpulse.com/news/hotels-and-resorts/radisson-blu-is-europe-s-largest-upper-upscale-hotel-brand.html" target="_blank">https://www.travelpulse.com/news/hotels-and-resorts/radisson-blu-is-europe-s-largest-upper-upscale-hotel-brand.html</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"Radisson Blu Hotel, Kyiv". Hospitality Net. 22 February 2020. <a href="https://www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41003825/radisson-blu-hotel-kyiv.html" target="_blank">https://www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41003825/radisson-blu-hotel-kyiv.html</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>