360-key Radisson Blu Minneapolis to Open Completing Multi-million-dollar Transformation
Circa 1909 Original Radisson, the Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis, Becomes Radisson Blu Minneapolis
Minneapolis | June 5, 2014 - Radisson Blu®, one of the world's leading hotel brands, today announced the completion of the multimillion-dollar transformation of the Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis into the new Radisson Blu Minneapolis, opening on Monday, July 7, 2014. The hotel features over 360 sophisticated rooms, 29,000 square feet of new and flexible meeting and event space, 24-hour business center, Business Class by Radisson® Lounge, and revitalized FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar.
"This hotel marks our fourth Radisson Blu in North America, located in the heart of Downtown Minneapolis, one of the country's most hospitable cities," says Javier Rosenberg, chief operating officer, Radisson, Americas. "We are focused on further expanding the brand with flagship properties in major cities, airport gateways, and leisure destinations across the world."
The new Radisson Blu Minneapolis is located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis at 7th Street, one half-block from Nicollet Mall. This ideal location places the hotel within short walking distance to the city's main attractions, including top boutiques, the vibrant theater district, and the business district, as well as Target Field, Target Center, and the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Highlights include:
Design & Decor
Jim Hamilton, the award-winning designer from Graven Images based in the United Kingdom, known for his work on Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago, Radisson Blu Mall of America, and Radisson Blu Warwick Hotel, Philadelphia, became the trusted visionary tasked with maintaining the historical significance of the property while also elevating it to the modern style and sophistication of the Radisson Blu brand. Graven partnered with acclaimed New York City-based Stonehill & Taylor on all aspects interior design and architecture of the property. The respective firms enhanced the famed hotel porte-cochère, a unique physical attribution to Minneapolis architecture, by introducing theater-inspired canopies along the entrance adorned in tiny LED lights. In true Blu style, the lobby of the hotel serves as a place for guests to relax while also relishing in the visual impact it provides. The atrium affords sweeping interior views up to 18 floors high and is the most architecturally significant aspect of the hotel. Additionally, the mixing of avant-garde lighting with different textures and colors found in the furniture and objects in the space provide an element of surprise. A grand TV installation serves as the lobby's focal point, covering an entire wall, the first of its kind, along with a white Krion table directly below the atrium box with a stunning white dome hanging overhead taking the spotlight. The project was managed by The John Hardy Group out of Atlanta.
Guestrooms & Suites
Appealing to both business and leisure travelers alike, Radisson Blu Minneapolis offers a series of signature room types. Each room features a design aesthetic reflective of Scandinavian simplicity, which attracts distinguished guests to Radisson Blu hotels worldwide. Subtle nods to Minneapolis and its cultural ties are found throughout the artwork in each room, completing the ambiance. All of the spacious guestrooms and suites offer complimentary high-speed internet, HDTV, in-room safe, mini-fridge, spacious desk space, and This Works® bath amenities.
Meetings & Events
All aspects of the function space from boardrooms to ballrooms have received a complete redesign and can easily adapt for corporate or social functions. Conveniently located on the second and third floors, with access to the lobby, the meeting spaces provide an effortless flow for events both large and small, with over 29,000 square feet of flexible space, including one 7,000 square foot ballroom and 22 meeting rooms enhanced with outdoor views and natural lighting. As the newest meeting space in the city, the Radisson Blu Minneapolis provides the latest in technology and catering as well as Experience Meetings, a core meetings component unique to Radisson Blu. The pillars of the Experience Meetings program include Brain Food, a culinary service offering menus developed to stimulate the mind, and Brain Box a special breakout room that provides hands-on activities and comfortable lounge decor, in an environment that encourages creative development and concentration.
FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar
Continuing to offer the heartland-inspired cuisine FireLake is known for, the restaurant, helmed by Executive Chef Jim Kyndberg, has undergone a complete renovation and redesign and has received an updated menu including signature dishes the Blue Ox Burger; Seafood Pot Pie; Waffle Battered Fried Chicken Sandwich and Bison, Ham Hock & Wild Rice Meatloaf. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and with an enticing happy hour, the eatery goes beyond the typical hotel-restaurant experience with a dynamic menu, seasonally inspired cocktail program, extensive wine list, and impressive wine wall. Much like its sister restaurant at Radisson Blu Mall of America, FireLake features reclaimed wood from Minnesota barns, cozy lighting, and an overall rustic elegance that ensures the entire heartland experience is felt throughout.
History
The hotel originally opened in 1909 and marks the first hotel for the Radisson brand.
"We could not be more excited to unveil the city's newest hotel with the Radisson Blu brand in downtown Minneapolis," said Steve Lindburg, general manager of Radisson Blu Minneapolis. "The conversion of this hotel to Blu coupled with our Yes I Can service culture provides an elevated guest experience from dining to overnight stays, meetings and special events— every aspect of property has been enhanced."
About Radisson Blu Minneapolis
Re-opening early summer 2014, the newest Radisson Blu hotel in North America is located in the former Radisson Plaza Seven building, home to the first Radisson Hotel. Situated in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, the hotel offers heartland-inspired cuisine at FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar, modernly appointed guestrooms for the leisure and business traveler as well as accessibility to Minneapolis' most sought-after attractions. http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-minneapolis or call +1 (612) 339-4900.
About Radisson Blu®
Radisson Blu® is one of the world's leading brands with more than 270 hotels in operation in 62 countries. The brand's vibrant, contemporary and engaging hospitality is characterized by a unique Yes I Can!SM service philosophy, and all of its first class hotels offer a range of signature features that are empathetic to the challenges of modern travel, including the 100% Guest Satisfaction Guarantee. Distinguished the world over as the HOTELS DESIGNED TO SAY YES!TM, Radisson Blu offers a vivid visual celebration of leading-edge style where the delight is in the detail. Radisson Blu hotels are located in prime locations in major cities, airport gateways and leisure destinations across the world.
Radisson Blu is part of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group portfolio which also includes Quorvus Collection, Radisson®, Radisson Red, Park Plaza®, Park Inn® by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM. For reservations and more information visit, www.radissonblu.com or the brand's newsroom.
About The Chartres Lodging Group, LLC
The Chartres Lodging Group, LLC, is an investment and advisory firm founded by Robert Kline and Maki Nakamura Bara to focus on the acquisition, asset management, renovation and development, and property management of lodging assets. Chartres Lodging's principals have been responsible for over $9 billion of lodging investments and have asset managed over 250 upscale and luxury hotels, resorts and conference centers. The firm is currently responsible for a $2.0 billion, 9,000-room portfolio of luxury and upscale hotels, conference centers and resorts in the United States and Japan. Chartres Lodging's principals and employees are direct investors in 90 percent of this portfolio. For more information on The Chartres Lodging Group, please visit www.chartreslodging.com.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
