From a single Minneapolis hotel to a global hospitality giant under Chinese ownership

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Radisson brand has undergone a complex evolution, shifting from a division of an American family-owned company to a subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned conglomerate. Through decades of international franchise agreements, acquisitions, and strategic divestments, the group has transformed its identity while managing a diverse portfolio of global hotel brands.

The origins of the Radisson Hotel Group trace back to 1962, when Curt Carlson purchased a single hotel in downtown Minneapolis. Over the next four decades, the division expanded significantly, acquiring brands like Park Plaza in 2000 and establishing Country Inns & Suites in 1986. By 2013, the company had cemented its status as one of the world's top hotel corporations, operating through a complex web of international partnerships.

A pivotal moment in the group's history occurred in 1994, when Carlson signed a franchise agreement with SAS International Hotels. This partnership allowed the brand to expand rapidly across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa under the name Radisson SAS, later rebranded as Radisson Blu. By 2005, Carlson had acquired a 25% stake in the partner company, Rezidor SAS, eventually becoming its parent company in 2010. This period of growth saw the group manage over 320 hotels by 2008.

The corporate structure shifted dramatically in 2016 when the group was sold to the Chinese conglomerate HNA Group. Two years later, in 2018, it was acquired by a consortium led by Jin Jiang International, a Chinese state-owned hospitality company. This era of international ownership also involved significant restructuring, including the 2022 sale of the group's Americas operations to Choice Hotels for $675 million. Today, the group continues to operate a wide array of brands, including Radisson Collection, Radisson Red, and Prize by Radisson, maintaining its presence as a major player in the global hospitality market.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The world's largest hotel franchisor may have been named after a journalist
• The luxury hotel empire that owns no hotels
• From a root beer stand to the world's largest hotel empire
• From roadside restaurants to a global empire of 205,053 rooms
• How a French hotel chain is pivoting from business travel to ocean conservation
• The legendary 'Sons of Kings' were actually mostly farmers
• Why a viral Olympic breakdancer became the target of a global conspiracy theory
• From local steelworks team to European contender: the rise of Raków Częstochowa
• Why a critically panned blockbuster still dominated the global box office in 2018
• A massive two-part cinematic adaptation of the ancient Ramayana epic arrives in November 2026.
• Why this high-stakes espionage thriller was cancelled after just one single season
• Can a 35,000-year-old warrior teach modern students to master their own reality?

More in Traditions & customs · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics