Radisson's Growth Plan: Fewer Rules for Hotel Owners, China Focus
Skift Take
Radisson Hotel Group is making the case that it understands owner challenges better than the giant publicly held hotel groups, which are asset-light and mostly franchise-driven.
And it says it's staying focused on revenue for its owners — not rigid rules about how they should run their brands.
"We are very financially driven versus the owner," said Chema Basterrechea, global president and chief operations officer. "Every time we face a new project, we try to see what brand can best fit their financial interests and return in the future, not just our interests."
The group, backed by China's Jin Jiang International, remains quite small compared to Marriott and Hilton. Yet it added a company record of nearly 40,000 guest rooms last year.
Radisson says its properties generate returns 15% to 20% above industry benchmarks, which, if true, is exactly what owners want to hear.
While leased properties represent roughly 10% of Radisson's over 1,500 hotels in operation and under development, they will generate roughly $1 billi
