Jean-Marc Busato to Spearhead Region-Wide Growth and Development

Singapore (December 23, 2008) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Hospitality industry veteran, Jean-Marc Busato, has been appointed Managing Director of Carlson Hotels Worldwide – Asia Pacific (CHW-AP). Busato, who will take up his new position in January, 2009, will be based at CHW-AP's regional headquarters in Singapore. The appointment was announced today by Jay Witzel, president and CEO of Carlson Hotels Worldwide.

The Swiss national joins CHW-AP, one of the world's largest privately-held hotel companies, from The Rezidor Hotel Group, where he was Area Vice President and Managing Director for Middle East and Africa. The Rezidor Hotel Group is Carlson's major partner in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Carlson is also the largest single shareholder in Rezidor.

"We are pleased to appoint Jean-Marc to this key leadership role in our global organization," Witzel said. "He brings a broad range of experience and proven leadership skills to this position along with an understanding of Carlson Hotels Worldwide and its brands. His talents will play a vital role in the strategy to double the size of our portfolio in Asia over the next four years while increasing market share and building an industry leading organization," he added.

At Rezidor, Busato was responsible for aggressively growing the group's brands in key Middle East markets including Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Egypt. Under his leadership, the company's portfolio in this emerging region reached 23 hotels with more than 5,500 rooms in operation and further 30 hotels with more than 7,500 hotels under development. Upcoming projects include flagships such as the first Hotel MISSONI (to debut in Kuwait in 2009) and The Regent Abu Dhabi (2010).

Prior to his role at Rezidor, Busato was Managing Director of Egyptotel S.A.E, a subsidiary of German tourism and shipping giant TUI. Busato helped set up Egyptotel S.A.E and clinched 14 new management contracts for the group's Iberotel brand in Egypt. He was also responsible for recruiting and training more than 2,000 employees. In addition, he previously worked with Movenpick Hotels & Resorts in various positions for over ten years and holds a Masters in Hotel Management from the Swiss Hotel Association.

CHW-AP currently has more than 20,000 rooms in operation and under development across the region. Regional offices are located in Singapore, supported by reservations, sales and development offices in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, New Delhi and Sydney. Carlson Hotels Worldwide is the world's ninth largest hotel company with more than 1,000 locations in 74 countries. Its key focus markets in Asia Pacific are China, India, Thailand and the South Pacific.

Carlson Hotels Worldwide – Asia Pacific (CHW-AP) is fast expanding its portfolio of hotels in Asia Pacific which includes five brands: Regent Hotels & Resorts, one of the most respected brands in the luxury segment of the hospitality industry; Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, positioned in the mid-scale segment of the full-service hotel category; Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM, a mid-scale hotel brand; and Park Inn, a growing global brand offering fresh and affordable accommodation. CHW-AP currently has approximately 120 hotels in operation and under development with more than 20,000 rooms in 14 countries. Headquartered in Singapore, it is supported by reservations, sales and development offices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, New Delhi and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.carlsonhotelsasiapacific.com

The parent company, Carlson Hotels Worldwide includes more than 1,000 hotel locations in 74 countries and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Carlson Hotels Worldwide is one of the major operating groups of Carlson, a global leader in the marketing, travel and hospitality industries. Other names in the Carlson family of brands and services are: T.G.I. Friday's restaurants, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, and Carlson Marketing Worldwide. For more information, please visit www.carlson.com

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Sarah Wang
  Carlson Hotels Worldwide – Asia Pacific
  Tel: +86 21 6115 6208
  Email: [email protected]