Carlson Rezidor bagged two prestigious awards for Service Excellence at the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Norway Chapter Annual Awards – one for its Yes I Can! programme and the other for Best Service in Norway. Mari Myrseth, Director of Sales at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia, Oslo, was nominated Young Leader of the Year. Representing the entire global hospitality industry, HSMAI aims to recognise exceptional customer service. “It is our employees who strive to deliver our Yes I Can! service and we have invested significantly in skills and career development,” said Tarje Hellebust, District Director & General Manager of the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Oslo.

The Radisson Blu Belorusskaya Hotel, Moscow has been officially certified a Business and Conference Hotel by the Russian Association of Business Travel (ABT). A corporate travel buyer-driven association, the ABT launched the certification programme to promote the development of business travel in Russia by creating a comprehensive list of hotels suitable for international business. The Belorusskaya is one of 13 certified hotels on the list. “This certification allows us to build and continue to grow our business within the Moscow market,” said General Manager Deborah Haines.

The reception of the Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel, Turku has been identified as one of the best places to work within the S Group, owner of Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts in Finland, and has been rewarded with 1,000 euros for further development of its “fit for work” programme.

The Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel, Tripoli recently honoured Credit Manager Ezhu Gafoor and presented him with a diamond Yes I Can! pin to mark an incredible 20 years’ service.

During the press conference for the opening of the new meeting area at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Zurich Airport, Willem van der Zee, Area Vice President for Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Southeast Europe, congratulated Deputy General Manager Helge Luetters on 10 years of exemplary service. Helge was also responsible for overseeing the huge reconstruction and expansion project for the meeting area and is a great example of our Yes I Can! philosophy.

Last year a total of 43 employees at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Kuwait received Recognition Certificates and diamond Yes I Can! pins, marking some 500 years of service with the hotel! Special recognition went to Yousef Puthiya Purayil from Front Office for reaching his remarkable 30-year landmark. Five of his colleagues were rewarded for 25 years’ service, another five for 20 years, seven for 15 years, three celebrated 10 years and 22 picked up their first five-year diamonds.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Muscat took a silver medal at the Oman Chef Guild competition organised by the National Hospitality Institute last autumn. Two of the 4-star hotel’s chefs were among 10 teams of two representing top-class properties around the Sultanate and faced tough opposition, beating the Shangri-La and coming second to the Ritz-Carlton.

The Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow, a historical landmark in the capital, has once again been voted the World's Leading Luxury Business Hotel. At the gala ceremony of the World Travel Awards 2012, held in India in December, Radisson’s Russian flagship was recognised for the second year running as the best for business by travel professionals from 200 countries. Also known historically as the Ukraina, the Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow, one of the legendary Seven Sisters, celebrated its 55th anniversary at a glittering gala dinner the evening before. This award was the eighth the property has received since reopening in 2010 after modernisation.

At the top of Montparnasse Tower, in the sky above Paris, the French drinks flavouring company Monin celebrated its centenary with 27 young cocktail makers and shakers from all over Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Competing in the Monin Cup Final for the best cocktails, the participants were all aged under 27 and had already won first prize in their national competitions. Vilnius’s Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva’s Skybar bartender Tadas Dvarvytis came third in the final after demonstrating his talent by creating a short alcoholic cocktail and a non-alcoholic long drink from a mystery box.

The Park Inn by Radisson Oslo is the first hotel of the Park Inn brand in Norway to receive the revered Nordic Eco “Swan” certificate. “Being an eco-hotel demands environmental commitment from our staff, subcontractors and partners. We’re ready to make that commitment and contribute to a better world,” said General Manager Karl Einar Sundby Baggos. Chief Technician Clayt La Motte was on a high when he received the certificate from Alvhild Hedstein, Director of Nordic Eco Label Norway.

Rezidor’s President & CEO honoured at gala event in London Rezidor’s President & CEO Kurt Ritter has received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the European Hospitality Awards 2012. During a gala event at the prestigious The Landmark hotel in London, Ritter was honoured for his extraordinary

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has been honoured as Hotel Group of the Year at the Worldwide Hospitality Awards 2012. At the gala event in Paris, Carlson President & CEO Trudy Rautio and Rezidor President & CEO Kurt Ritter received the prestigious trophy for the Group’s outstanding achievements in four complementing areas: development, innovation, human resources and business performance. “The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group launched earlier this year in January. To be chosen as the world’s best hotel company in our first year is a great honour,” they commented. “It’s a fantastic compliment to our teamwork. Our dedicated people have proven that our Yes I Can! philosophy resonates around the world – a huge thank-you to all our 80,000 employees in 81 countries.”

The Worldwide Hospitality Awards were created by Georges Panayotis, President & CEO, MKG Group, as an international competition and opportunity for hotel groups to highlight their exemplary achievements. The jury for the “grand prix” of Hotel Group of the Year consists of readers of the renowned trade magazine Hospitality-On.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, East Midlands Airport has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious European Hotel Design Awards. The GBP 22 million, year-old luxury property is up against two other hotels – one in Athens and the other in Milan – for the best Sustainable Hotel Design. The award is for a hotel that has been developed using sustainable and environmentally friendly principles through innovative design and architecture. With a power plant fuelled by recycled cooking oil, and a 62,500-litre underground storage tank for grey water, East Midlands is the most efficient in Rezidor’s European portfolio of over 400 hotels.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Halle-Merseburg was declared the best hotel in the state of Saxony-Anhalt in November by the German Hotel and Catering Association (DEHOGA). The 4-star Superior hotel outclassed 233 other hotels to retain its crown for the second time. General Manager Shereen Amin said, “We live our Yes I Can! philosophy. My inspiration comes from these words: who stops getting better, stops being good.”

The Radisson Blu Hotel, East Midlands Airport has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious European Hotel Design Awards. The GBP 22 million, year-old luxury property is up against two other hotels – one in Athens and the other in Milan – for the best Sustainable Hotel Design. The award is for a hotel that has been developed using sustainable and environmentally friendly principles through innovative design and architecture. With a power plant fuelled by recycled cooking oil, and a 62,500-litre underground storage tank for grey water, East Midlands is the most efficient in Rezidor’s European portfolio of over 400 hotels.

The Radisson Blu 1835 Hotel & Thalasso, Cannes was awarded the globally recognised Green Key eco-label in November, the premier international environmental certificate for tourist accommodation and restaurants. The hotel met the criteria for the award with its large windows and mirrors that optimise natural light, by using the energy from the Thalasso machines to refresh the meeting rooms and by offering guests non-polluting Segways to get around on. The hotel has also reduced its electricity usage by 19% since 2011 by installing motion sensors and LED lighting, and water by 15% with flow reducers.

The team of eight chefs at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek have plenty to be proud of: in the La Cuisine by SIAL culinary competition at the SIAL Middle East 2012 exhibition in November, they walked away with a total of five gold medals, fourteen silver and six bronze. Competing against 300 chefs in the second biggest competition in the Middle East, the hotel’s chefs won the trophy in all three main categories for Best Cuisine (Chef Amila Shamika Rupasingha), Best Pastry Chef (Wengappuli Arachchige Saachithra Danendra) and Best Kitchen Artist (Rovart Cagayat, defending his 2011 title).

Training and Development Manager Martin Beirne at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Galway is the first to receive the Irish Hospitality Institute’s Hospitality Manager of the Year CPD (Continuous Professional Development) 2012 award. To earn this new accolade, sponsored by the Irish Institute of Training & Development (IITD), Martin proved not only that he had an exceptional ability to manage but that he also excelled in CPD, specifically in training and career development.

Staff at the four Radisson Blu hotels in or near Helsinki (Royal, Plaza, Seaside and Espoo) received a grand total of 300 years’ worth of diamond pins in November. Many were celebrating 15 years of service, having worked at the legendary Radisson SAS Hesperia Hotel when it opened in 1997.

The Radisson Blu Centrum Hotel, Warsaw not only celebrated its tenth anniversary with a stylish party in November, but also honoured 35 members of the 140-strong staff who had been with the property since the beginning, creating a long-term relationship with the establishment akin to a family. The hotel is very proud of its exceptional family team, helping it to stand out from other hotels.

The Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Dubrovnik Sun Gardens, has recently won a clutch of accolades, after being named Best Beach Resort Europe at the World Luxury Travel Awards 2012 as well as receiving the 5* Award for Best Resort, Croatia at the International Hotel Awards 2012. Both titles confirm its status as a prime destination resort on a national and international scale and recognise its dedication to upholding the highest of standards.

The resort also provides second-home buyers with the rare opportunity for freehold ownership on the Adriatic coast in the form of 207 fully appointed residences. The combination of developing an attractive real estate offering alongside a five-star resort led to impressive recognition at the recent Overseas Property Professional Awards for Excellence 2012, where the residences took home Gold in the categories Best Developer Europe and Best Global Developer. Meanwhile, the resort was Highly Commended in the Development of Multiple Units Croatia category at the International Property Awards.

Our Russian hotels continue to take top awards and gain global recognition! The Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow has been selected as Europe's Leading Luxury Business Hotel for a second year and Russia’s Leading Luxury Hotel for the third time at the World Travel Awards in Portugal in October. It was also heralded as Europe’s Leading Landmark Hotel. Described as the “Oscars of the travel industry”, the awards are decided by 213,000 travel professionals voting in more than 160 countries.

Other Radisson Blu winners include Berlin, Germany’s Leading Business Hotel; Astorija Vilnius, Lithuania’s Leading Business Hotel; and Alesund, Norway’s Leading Business Hotel.

The Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow has scooped one of the world’s most prestigious tributes for luxury hotels, taking the title of best Luxury Hotel in Europe at the glittering gala ceremony of the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2012 (WLHA) in Kuala Lumpur. Aiming to provide top-class establishments with recognition for their world-class facilities and service, the WLHA cover a wide range of categories on a country, continental and global basis, from bush lodges to island resorts.

Two of Rezidor’s Croatia hotels netted Luxury Beach Resort trophies as well, with the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Dubrovnik Sun Gardens winning the best in Europe, and the Radisson Blu Resort, Split the best in Croatia.

The new Radisson Blu Hotel, Uppsala has a big presence on Facebook with its message to “upgrade”, winning the hotel a Gold M for Best Social Media Campaign at Uppsala’s annual Media Day in October. Opened in May last year, the hotel set out to deliver an “upgraded concept” through social media sites such as Facebook. “We had several ways to communicate our message: ‘Upgrade your meeting’, ‘Upgrade your after work’ or ‘Upgrade your dreams’. Uppsala finally has a 5-star hotel that can deliver Yes I Can! service,” says General Manager Ann-Sophie Myrefelt.

Not only was the Radisson Blu Resort, Sharjah proclaimed to have the Best Waste Water Management Project of the Year at the Green Middle East Awards for Environmental Excellence in Sharjah, it was also nominated for the Best Alternative Energy Project. The Resort’s Grey Water Recycling Project saves around 33,000 gallons of water every day and the switch from diesel to gas is reducing the hotel’s carbon footprint by 29% per month.

Nicolas Fernandez of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City is Green Hotelier of the Year! Green-fingered Nicolas impressed the judges at the Middle East Hotel Awards for going above and beyond his role as Chief Engineer when it came to green issues - delivering phenomenally successful water-saving and recycling initiatives, as well as striving to achieve Responsible Business practices throughout the hotel. He has also used his many talents to support the local community. The judges also commended the fact that many of his creative ideas have since been rolled out to other Rezidor hotels as best practice.

Carlson Rezidor was nominated in four other categories, the highest number of nominations ever received by one hotel group at the Middle East Hotel Awards.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek
Unsung Hero of the Year

Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa, Bahrain 
Unsung Hero of the Year

Klara Zakis 
PR Manager of the Year

Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City
Sommelier of the Year

Chef Alaa El Din Mabrouk was the star of the show for the Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis when he won two top awards at the HACE – Hotel Expo 2012, one of Egypt’s largest exhibitions for hotel suppliers. Alaa, who joined the hotel as Demi Chef two years ago and is now Chef de Partie at the Filini restaurant, scooped first prize for his delicious dishes in the Makro Black Box competition for the second consecutive year, as well as winning the Al Wataniya Chicken Dish competition.

Marcus Gronwall, Inhouse Sales/Meetings & Events Coordinator at the Radisson Blu Strand Hotel, Stockholm was chosen as Valedictorian out of 59 students when he graduated in International Hospitality Management from the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management.

The 10-strong Maltese Culinary Team netted two bronze medals in October at the IKA/Culinary Olympics, the world’s largest and most prestigious gastronomic competition. Competing in Germany against more than 1,500 chefs from 45 countries, Malta’s team included two chefs from the Radisson Blu Hotel Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands: Head Patissier Jimmy Aquilina and his assistant Paul Camilleri. Traditional Maltese ingredients were used in their winning dishes and the team plans to enter the Culinary World Cup in 2014 and the next IKA/Culinary Olympics in 2016.

The Radisson Blu Resort, El Quseir has been recognised by two independent travel websites. One of the largest travel review sites in Europe, with over 1.5 million visitors a month, Zoover.com had recommended the resort to its members over the past 12 months. Based on members’ votes, it has been named Zoover’s Best Hotel in El Quseir for 2012 and the ninth top hotel in the whole of Egypt. The second accolade is the award of a Certificate of Excellence 2012 from the world’s largest travel site, TripAdvisor, which delivers these certificates to hotels that consistently receive excellent ratings from its members.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Belfast has achieved a Gold Star Service Excellence accreditation in the pilot programme of this new scheme, designed to bring professional and effective international customer service practices into common use in Northern Ireland businesses. Based on research into international approaches to building world-class service excellence and developed in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, the scheme aims to help businesses develop and showcase their offering by putting customers and customer support systems at the core of what they do.

Having undergone a comprehensive adjudication process, through workshops, assessments, analysis and presentation of all customer processes at the hotel for the past three years, combined with its excellent results and proven track record, this stylish and popular Belfast city hotel was awarded one of the first six Gold Star accreditations.

The Radisson Blu Resort, Split has become the very first hotel in Croatia to receive Green Key certification. Management praised the fantastic display of teamwork during the challenging pre-audit period and the team can be very proud of their achievement.

The Park Inn by Radisson Uno City Vienna has officially been awarded the Austrian eco-label for accommodation services by the Federal Environment Ministry for the fourth consecutive time. In addition, the hotel received the Austrian Energy Efficiency Programme Award for the first time. The Eco Quality Label for Tourism is a national environmental programme specifically designed for the tourism and hospitality industry. Action is focused on the areas of solid waste, waste water, energy efficiency, ecological purchasing and environmentally friendly cleaning practices.

The Radisson Blu Resort, Fujairah triumphed at the East Coast Culinary Competition in Fujairah. Chef Pankaj won gold for his pastry showpiece, Chef Cherry Ann took silver in the Individual Meat/Lamb Static, and bronze medals went to Chef Gayan and Chef Wajid. The hotel also scooped some merits, resulting in a total of seven awards.

Only one year after opening, the Park Inn by Radisson Astrakhan was presented with no fewer than four prestigious awards by the Astrakhan Ministry of Sport and Tourism on Russia’s International Tourism Day in September. Not only was it chosen by the public online as the best hotel and restaurant in the city, its active commitment to the company’s Responsible Business programme - working with orphanages, cleaning the city beach, feeding the poor and fundraising - also earned it the award for Best Charity Participation. And to top off a successful first year, the Ministry presented the hotel with the Breakthrough of the Year award.

Radisson received the award for the Best Hotel Chain in Russia at the National Geographic Traveler Awards 2012 in Moscow. The choice was made by the public via the magazine’s Russian website, which asked people to vote for their favourite places to visit and for companies that offer travellers the best facilities. The first international hotel brand to offer free internet service seven years ago, Radisson has been a serial winner with its seven Russian properties; two more – a beach hotel and a ski resort – will soon open in Sochi.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek won a sheaf of awards – 15 gold medals, 7 silver, 5 bronze and 4 diplomas – at Dubai’s renowned “Treat” – the BurJuman World Food Fest 2012. In addition, its chefs took first, second, third and fifth places in the hotly contested BurJuman Junior Chef 2012. As a bonus, the Emirates Culinary Guild awarded the hotel with its prestigious certificate of Appreciation for the Best Effort by an Individual Establishment.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Dakar left the 37th International Star for Quality Convention in Geneva with its highest accolade. Awarded by the Business Initiative Directions, the International Star for Quality award celebrated the hotel’s top-quality customer satisfaction, excellence in leadership and management, innovation, business and brand-name prestige.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis was named Egypt’s Best Hotel for Supporting the Environment by the Minister for Tourism on World Tourism Day in September. The coveted Certificate of Excellence was awarded to the hotel for its total commitment to protecting the environment and utilising sustainable resources in all its activities, as well as for supporting Egyptian tourism.

The Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel, Tbilisi and the Radisson Blu Hotel, Batumi have been awarded the Green Key eco-label, a globally recognised eco-certificate. To gain this certification, hotels have to fulfil a wide range of environmental requirements to prove their sense of responsibility for their surroundings and local community. The two Georgian hotels set themselves clear targets to reduce their environmental impact through saving water and electricity as well as educating staff, guests and their suppliers on their Responsible Business practices. Torbjorn Bodin, Batumi’s General Manager, said, “The fact that both our hotels became Green Key-certified so shortly after opening is a testament to our hard work and commitment to Responsible Business.”

The great and good of the hospitality industry in Leeds stepped out in stunning and striking colours at the recent Bollywood-inspired Leeds Hotel Association Awards. With a total of seven awards on offer, the team from the Radisson Blu Hotel, Leeds were delighted to win two Gold and two Silver – beating stiff competition from local competitors, including Marriott, Hilton, Devere and Q Hotels. It was a proud night for Sales Manager Natalie Boyne (Gold – Rising Star) and Meetings & Events Coordinator Adeel Mir (Gold – Leeds Ambassador), who both took home top honours in their respective categories. As further evidence of the Yes I Can! attitude showcased by the entire hotel team, Front Office Shift Leader Emma Hunt was awarded Silver for Excellent Customer Service, while the hotel’s sales team were runners-up in the Bright Idea category.

In these days of increasing demands and continual change, 45 years in the same company seems a little out of fashion. And meeting a man who is celebrating 45 years of service, isn’t that like digging up a prehistoric fossil? Well, when the company is Rezidor and the man is Børge Lunde Nielsen, it certainly isn’t. We asked him how he and the company have survived 45 years together.

Børge, how did it all start? 
I was working at a hotel in the sticks when I heard that the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen was looking for an Assistant Concierge. I got an interview, but when I saw the huge, elegant building and the impressive doorman, I was ready to take the next train back. I finally plucked up my courage, went in – and got the job. That was in 1961.

But you’re not a concierge now? 
No, but there are many similarities between my present job and that of concierge, which is a 100% service function. Sort of making the impossible possible – that’s what made it so interesting. Over the years, however, the guests became more “self-service” minded and I found the job less stimulating. Besides, I was 38 and had reached a ceiling as First Concierge. If I was going to try something else, it was now or never. I got the job as Manager of the Saga cinemas and later as Assistant Manager at another hotel, but then the Royal Hotel made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I returned to the concierge desk, convinced that I was going to spend the rest of my professional life there.

Still a concierge, then? 
Yes, but in between I’d done a lot of creative work, such as advertising and magazines. I was involved in founding the hotel’s employee magazine. Then one day I was offered a position as PR Manager. I talked to my wife and decided to take on the challenge, a decision that changed our lives drastically.

How does Cornerstone fit into the picture?
After I’d spent a while as a one-man-department in charge of PR, advertising and print production for the Danish hotels, the Head Office moved from Oslo to Brussels. I started to lay out and produce hotline and later the Win cost-saving project was launched – jobs that lead to Creative Corner being set up 19 years ago. I got a secretary and the first DTP assistant, Jan, who’s still with us, now as Director Project Management and Studio.

The company has grown a bit since then, hasn’t it? 
Indeed, but so have we! We started with three people, two computers and a black-and-white printer. Today, we have 32 staff and all the latest equipment. And besides providing Head Office and the hotels with graphic materials, one of the cornerstones of our activities is to help newcomers in the conversion process, drawing on my own experience going from Concierge to Director Advertising and Production. Apart from a few basic qualifications, it’s been about learning on the job, but I’ve had very good mentors. Alberto Kappenberger, whose name is synonymous with service, Alfred Andersen and Poul Moen – two of the best concierges in the world, and Tor Hamnes, Kappenberger’s successor, who gave me the freedom to realise ideas and projects. “It’s easier to get forgiveness than permission,” he once said – words I took to heart! Last, but not least, Haakon Flak, who gave me one challenge after another. He could drive me crazy, but he’s the one who allowed both Cornerstone and I to develop. Today, he is much more than my old boss – he’s also a very good friend.

45 years with one company – it’s a long journey!
It has been rewarding and fun, frustrating at times and lots of hard work. But if you believe in what you’re doing, and people believe in you, it’s worth it. I feel privileged and realise that few companies would be prepared to give a man of my age with no proper theoretical background such a chance of a lifetime to build up a unique function like Cornerstone. And I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by people who stand up for their job and the department and take up every challenge with true Yes I Can! attitude.

So now retirement is on the horizon - what then?
I don't give my age much thought, and there are still challenges ahead. I won't sit back twiddling my thumbs. Several projects come to mind and I look forward to spending more time with my family. I will see my grandchildren and meet with good friends and colleagues to relive memories of many years in a great company.

hotel.info, a free hotel reservation service for companies and individuals, with more than 210,000 hotels worldwide, took a close look at the behaviour of its business customers and announced the Radisson Blu Hotel, Zurich Airport to be the most popular business hotel in Switzerland. Business travellers are particularly enthusiastic about its location with direct access to the airport.

The Park Inn Sheremetyavo has received the Green Key eco-label, making it the very first recipient in Moscow and only the 7th hotel in Russia to obtain this coveted certification. The hotel team did a wonderful job achieving the highest results of all the Russian hotels audited this year. “The Green Key helps to create environmental awareness among staff and make them true Responsible Business ambassadors in their interaction with the guests,” commented General Manager Gerard Kelly. “It connects with our company-wide Responsible Business programme and speaks to eco-conscious travellers.”

Currently 180 Rezidor hotels (or 55%) are eco-labelled. Rezidor aims to have all its hotels eco-certified by 2015.

Christian Gartmann, Area Vice President, The Nordics, has been honoured with a Carlson Fellowship. During the glittering award ceremony, held in June in Minneapolis, the Rezidor veteran entered the legendary Carlson Hall of Fame. The Carlson Fellowship award was established by Curt Carlson in 1988 during Carlson’s 50th anniversary year, and since then has honoured employees and business partners for their outstanding contribution and commitment to the company. Carlson Fellows represent the best of the best – people who show great strength of character as well as leadership and dedication, and who embody the Carlson Rezidor ideals not only within the company, but in all aspects of business.

To date, 278 Carlson Fellows have received this honour, including the former US President George Bush Sr and Queen Silvia of Sweden. Members of the prestigious club also include Hubert Joly, Kurt Ritter, Trudy Rautio, Knut Kleiven and Finn Schulz. Please join us in congratulating, saluting and celebrating Christian’s fantastic new achievement and career milestone.

Recipients of the 2011 Carlson Fellowship are:

Doug Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT)
Judy Dodson, Senior Director, Corporate Services, Carlson Restaurants 
Joe Ihrke, Senior Vice President, Carlson Holdings, Inc. 
Thorsten Kirschke, President, Americas, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group 
Ronnie Lobo, Vice President of Operations, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group 
Gordon McKinnon, Executive Vice President and Chief Branding Officer, Carlson 
Carl Robie, Vice President, Strategic Sourcing, Carlson Restaurants 
Craig Thompson, General Manager, Military Markets, CWT SatoTravel 
Andrew Waller, Executive Vice President, CWT

“Throughout his career, Christian Gartmann has exhibited consistent dedication to the interests of the company and has been a key contributor to our development, maintaining a sharp focus on delivering a quality customer experience while effectively keeping costs in check. He has never shied away from taking the right decisions even when they are the difficult and unpopular ones. He has proven himself as a leader who leads by example and has the complete trust of his team.” – Hubert Joly

“Golfer Jack Nicklaus said, ‘Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one’s levels of aspiration and expectation.’ These new Carlson Fellows constantly raise the level of aspiration and exceed expectations. You 11 are the keepers of the Carlson flame; you were chosen from more than 170,000 employees to receive this great honour. You live the Carlson Credo.” – Marilyn Carlson Nelson

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Muscat received a Special Commendation at the third annual Oman Green Awards in the category “Green Campaign of the Year”, beating other major hotel chains and brands, and was also shortlisted in two other categories: Green Footprint and Green Guardian. Commenting on the achievement, General Manager Marius Wolmarans said, “Our Responsible Business and green ethos are engrained in our everyday operations. Thanks to Carlson Rezidor projects like Think Planet, we are leading the way in this area in Oman and continue to be recognised for our ongoing efforts.”

Carlson Rezidor’s UK national sales team members triumphed at the inaugural People Awards in London recently. Lee Morgan, National Sales Manager – Government, was named Business Development Manager of the Year, with his colleague Kaarin Chadwick, National Sales Manager, being highly commended in the same category. Meanwhile the Carlson Rezidor national sales team were proud to be announced as runners-up in the Sales Team of the Year category.

The Business Travel Magazine launched the People Awards in 2012 as a way of recognising excellence in business travel. These awards acknowledge individuals and teams within the industry whose professionalism and business excellence make them stand out from their industry peers.

Hotel Missoni Kuwait is one of the world’s 121 hottest new hotels, according to Conde Nast Traveler’s 2012 Hot List published in May. The first hotel from Kuwait to be included in the highly influential listing for new and cutting-edge hotels, it ticked all the boxes for impeccable service, excellent food, beautiful grounds and “a bed so plush that you dread going home”. It also hit the “Hottie” list (for little details that elevate a hotel from “likeable” to “lovable”) for Best Airport Transfer – in a Maserati – and was lauded for its “efficient business base” for those working while they travel.

TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence programme honours hospitality excellence. The accolade is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor. Approximately 10% of accommodations listed receive this prestigious recognition. The programme does not replace the TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards, but is an extension of TripAdvisor’s recognition of highly rated businesses, as reviewed by travellers on the world’s largest travel site. Established in 2002, the Travellers’ Choice Award is the highest honour TripAdvisor can bestow. The only travel industry awards based on millions of reviews and opinions from travellers around the world, these annual awards reflect “the best of the best” for service, quality and customer satisfaction. A host of Carlson Rezidor hotels hold a Certificate of Excellence and feature on the 2012 Travellers’ Choice Award list!

Congratulations to our winners!

• Radisson Blu Hotel, Alexandria
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Amsterdam
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Biarritz
• Radisson Blu EU Hotel, Brussels
• Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Brussels
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis
• Radisson Blu Farnham Estate Hotel, Cavan
• Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Copenhagen
• Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin
• Radisson Blu Media Harbour Hotel, Düsseldorf
• Radisson Blu Resort, El Quseir
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Gdansk
• Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Gothenburg
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Hamburg Airport
• Radisson Blu Bosphorus Hotel, Istanbul
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Leipzig
• Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow
• Radisson Blu Hotel Nydalen, Oslo
• Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Oslo
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Rostock
• Radisson Blu Hotel i Papirfabrikken, Silkeborg
• Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel, Stockholm
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Trondheim Airport
• Radisson Blu Centrum Hotel, Warsaw
• Park Inn Ekaterinburg
• Park Inn by Radisson Krakow
• Park Inn by Radisson Oslo
• Hotel Missoni Edinburgh

Hotel Missoni Kuwait was recently announced Best Hospitality Company of the Year 2012 at the Arabian Business Achievement Awards, held in Kuwait in May. Each year, these awards celebrate outstanding performers in business achievement, on both a corporate and an individual level. Arabian Business is the premier business magazine in the Middle East. General Manager Alfio Bernardini said, “This award is of great value to us and is dedicated to each and every person who gave their time and effort to ensure that the hotel stood out on the Kuwaiti hospitality map.”

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis has won a platinum award as the Best Price Value Hotel at the 2012 MENA Travel Awards, which honour top performers in the hospitality industry throughout the Middle East and North Africa region. A total of 53 awards were presented in 16 selected industry categories.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City came a close second in the “Sustainable Initiative” category at the recently held Middle East Hotel Awards 2012, part of the annual trade forum, the Hotel Show. The hotel’s achievement was due to a variety of ongoing sustainable initiatives, ranging from an eco-roundabout to an airco water recycling programme.

The German Federal Employment Agency, which honours businesses and organisations that are renowned for their continuous high standard of apprenticeship, has awarded the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cologne with a certificate for excellent education and training. The ceremony was attended by General Manager Juergen Wirtz, Human Resources Manager Gabriele Trodtfeld and two current trainees, Rania Obeid and Fabian Kloeckner.

One of the greenest commercial hotels in Europe, the Radisson Blu Hotel, East Midlands Airport has won a Green Footprints Award for its sustainable design. Now in their fourth year, these awards recognise commitment to the environment by local groups and businesses. The judges commended the building’s striking design features and its high environmental credentials, including a combined heat and power plant that generates energy from waste food oil. The highly energy-efficient hotel features a range of innovative technologies to reduce energy demand and generates its own energy supply, delivering an 87% reduction in CO2. It also harvests rainwater, which is used in the building’s toilets and to water the external landscaped areas.

Rezidor’s President & CEO Kurt Ritter is a new member of the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame. The prestigious award was presented at the Hall of Fame’s Annual Dinner at the Savoy Hotel in London in April, and honours Ritter “for having created a major and highly successful leading organisation in the global travel and hospitality industry”.

“I am very honoured to be a new member of the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame,” said Ritter. “This award gives me great motivation to continue my work in the world of hospitality. Our industry is one of the most prosperous global businesses, and we are dedicated to serving our guests in hotels with clearly defined brands and innovative, personalised services. A hotel will never be a standardised machine, but always a true people business.”

Kurt Ritter’s charisma, his genuine belief in hospitality, and his straightforward approach are admired and recognised throughout the industry. Ritter was Corporate Hotelier of the World 2002, received the International Hotel Investment Forum Lifetime Achievement Award 2004, and the MKG Lifetime Achievement Award 2008. He also holds two Honorary Doctorates from Johnson & Wales University, Providence (USA), and Oxford Brookes University (UK).

The British Travel Industry Hall of Fame was created in 1995 to honour the most outstanding achievements in the British and international travel & tourism sector. Among its members are leading lights such as Thomas Cook (founder of Thomas Cook), Sir Richard Branson (founder of Virgin), and Lord Forte of Ripley (founder of Forte Hotels). Curtis Carlson, founder of Carlson, and his daughter Marilyn Carlson Nelson, who currently chairs Carlson, are also Hall of Fame members.

For the second year in a row, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Bucharest has won Romania’s Hotel of the Year Award at the Excellency Awards Gala Ceremony during the Hotel, Tourism & Leisure Investment Conference 2012. Hospitality specialists, local authority representatives and managers of the most famous international hotels active in the Romanian market attended the biggest local event dedicated to the hotel and tourism industry to identify new business opportunities and learn about the most important changes in the industry.

Rezidor’s President & CEO Kurt Ritter is a new member of the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame. The prestigious award was presented at the Hall of Fame’s Annual Dinner at the Savoy Hotel in London in April, and honours Ritter “for having created a major and highly successful leading organisation in the global travel and hospitality industry”.

Following a successful audit by the BVC Bordeaux Aquitaine agency, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Biarritz has now been officially certified by the Restaurant Food Safety Association (ASAR), whose goal is to promote food safety in restaurants and other food establishments. The annual certification plaque is visible proof that the establishment is checked regularly for compliance with stringent health regulations.

For the second consecutive year, the Park Inn by Radisson Al Khobar has shone at the Saudi Excellence in Tourism Awards, this time voted Best 4-Star Hotel in Saudi Arabia. The awards are held under the patronage of HRH Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz and recognise organisations and individuals within the travel trade that have made a significant contribution to the Kingdom’s growing tourism industry.

The view from the restaurant at the top of the Radisson Royal Hotel, Copenhagen, may be worth a visit alone, but Alberto K has so much more to offer, according to a recent rave review in the Danish business newspaper Børsen. The new Nordic cuisine, the wine, the atmosphere and especially the service were praised as top-notch, gaining an overall maximum rating of 6 stars from the reviewer, who feels that all that is missing is a Michelin star for what he describes as “maybe the most stylish designer restaurant in Copenhagen”.

Lorena Zanzottera has been voted Colleague of the Year 2011 for Corporate Office, chosen by her colleagues for her great Yes I Can! attitude, her warmth and friendliness, and her unflagging enthusiasm. Her interaction with all departments is excellent and she demonstrably represents all of the company’s values. She started her career with Rezidor as a Receptionist almost 15 years ago, later became Office Manager and has been Manager Future Openings & Corporate Food & Beverage since April 2007.

The Radisson Blu Bosphorus Hotel, Istanbul can once again be proud of its outstanding Kitchen talent. In March Executive Chef Umit Yuksel took a team to the Istanbul International Gastronomy Festival, where they won an impressive total of 23 medals and 4 cups in various categories. More than 1,250 chefs from 22 countries participated in this internationally recognised event.

Yilmaz Gunduz, a young member of the team, also attended the Hotelympia Salon Culinaire Chefs’ Competition 2012 in London and brought the Salon Culinaire Food Safety Challenge 2012 Cup to the hotel for a year.

Chef Yousef Jalalel from the Radisson Blu Resort in Aqaba recently took part in the Junior Culinary Challenge held in conjunction with the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and cooked up a storm, landing awards in no fewer than three categories, including being named “Overall Winner: Best Chef”. As his once-in-a-lifetime prize, he will be flown to France, where he will take part in a three-month course at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Chef Tomas Rimydis from the Park Inn by Radisson Kaunas shone in St Petersburg in March when he competed in the Open Baltic Sea Countries International Chefs Competition and took second place in the individual “Main hot dish” category. He and his team also carried off the competition’s Grand Prize: the Baltic Culinary Star Cup – the first Lithuanian team to do so!

Chef Uwe, Director of Kitchens at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, has scooped Time Out Dubai’s Outstanding Achievement Award 2012 for his contribution to shaping the Dubai food and beverage industry over the past 20 years. He arrived in Dubai in 1993 and has worked at the iconic Deira Creek property ever since, overseeing all kitchen operations, including an award-winning portfolio of 11 restaurants, 3 bars and a renowned outside catering service team. As President of the Emirates Culinary Guild since 1999, Chef Uwe has personally overseen the development and careers of some of the UAE’s most promising young chefs. It’s this contribution and dedication that earned him the prestigious accolade from the region’s number one entertainment magazine.

The Rezidor Hotel Group remains one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies: the US think-tank Ethisphere Institute has recognised the company for the third consecutive year for its real and sustained ethical leadership.

“We are very proud to have maintained our status as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies since 2010. We are committed long term to doing business in a responsible way. We translate words on ethical practices into action, create innovative ideas to benefit the public, and raise the bar for standards within our industry,” commented President & CEO Kurt Ritter.

The sixth annual selection of the World’s Most Ethical Companies saw a record number of nominations and applications from companies in more than 100 countries and 36 industries. The methodology for the award includes reviewing ethics codes, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; evaluating investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; looking at activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; and studying nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers. “This year’s winners know that a strong ethics programme is a key component of a successful business model, and they continue to scrutinise their ethical standards to keep up with an ever-changing regulatory environment,” said Alex Brigham, Executive Director of Ethisphere.

Rezidor’s Group-wide Responsible Business programme has its roots as far back as 1989. Besides respect for social and ethical issues within the company, the programme also focuses on health and safety for guests and employees, and on a reduced negative impact on the environment. It is compulsory for all employees and hotels, and is also reflected in the “Always Care” motto of Rezidor’s renowned Safety & Security programme, TRIC=S. The Group supports charity organisations such as the World Childhood Foundation, partners with responsible players like World Cleanup 2012, and has signed up to the UN Global Compact and Caring for Climate initiative. One of the latest developments within the programme is the five-year energy-saving project, “Think Planet”.

The Park Inn by Radisson Azerbaijan in Baku has been elected Hotel of the Year 2012 by the Caspian-European Integration Business Club, which brings together over 500 member companies and organisations from 50 countries around the world operating in the Caspian, Black Sea and Baltic regions. The awards ceremony was held in the hotel’s biggest ballroom.

The Rezidor Hotel Group remains one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies: the US think-tank Ethisphere Institute has recognised the company for the third consecutive year for its real and sustained ethical leadership.

The Meetings & Events department at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Malmo has won the Rezidor Sweden award for “Best Service Improvement of the Year” 2011. The award is based on various factors, such as individual guest comments, Medallia, exit calls, test calls and also comments and feedback from delegates who have experience of the M&E department. The Malmo team members were praised for their unremitting efforts to continually improve guest service.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, London Stansted Airport, has renewed its gold status under the Green Tourism Business Scheme, the national sustainable tourism certification scheme for the UK. Hotels have to fulfil a total of 60 criteria relating to environmental performance and environmental management. Gold level is the highest recognition, first achieved by the hotel in 2008.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Bristol has been awarded Gold rating by the Green Tourism Business Scheme. GTBS, the UK’s leading sustainable tourism certification scheme, recognises and rates hotels and tourism businesses demonstrating high levels of commitment in protecting the environment and promoting sustainable tourism with bronze, silver and gold awards.

All five of our Flemish hotels – the Radisson Blu Park Lane Hotel, Antwerp, Radisson Blu Hotel, Hasselt, Radisson Blu Astrid Hotel, Antwerp, Park Inn by Radisson Leuven and Park Inn by Radisson Antwerp are now Green Key-certified. Star of the March award ceremony was the Leuven property, which received not one but two keys, making it the first member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group to receive the prestigious eco-label for a meeting location. Open since only November 2011, Leuven is also the Group’s first Belgian hotel to achieve this recognition in its first year of operation.

It’s been a successful few months for the culinary team at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, with the youngsters recently winning a number of medals at the annual Emirates Salon Culinaire. Rodel Acala and Rovart Cagayat, both Kitchen Artists, won four each and Ishara Rangana, who competed for the Best Young Chef trophy and as the Youngest Competing Chef, came home with three bronze. Overall the team walked away with an amazing three gold medals, five silver, 15 bronze and six certificates of merit. It seems that the hotel is breeding Champion Chefs!

Sonja Divé-Dahl, General Manager of the Radisson Blu Bosphorus Hotel, Istanbul and District Director of Turkey & Georgia, was delighted to present diamond pins and service diplomas to 42 loyal members of staff in recognition of their invaluable contribution to the hotel’s consistent success.

In their first ever competition experience, two members of the culinary team at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel in Manama secured a stunning victory in February by winning the silver medal at the prestigious Anchor MasterChef Challenge held in Dubai. Having triumphed in the Bahrain leg of the competition, Yousif Al Basri and Sayed Hanif faced off against chefs from all over the Gulf region in the final. Their daunting task was to devise a three-course meal from “mystery basket” ingredients that were only revealed once the competition started. The judges were so impressed, they asked for the recipes!

In February four Radisson Blu properties were among the first hotels in Turkey to be awarded the Green Key, a prestigious worldwide eco-label for leisure organisations. The Radisson Blu Bosphorus Hotel, Istanbul, Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel, Istanbul, Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Cesme and Radisson Blu Hotel, Ankara all went through a thorough certification process covering various areas and were also audited by the Green Key International Team before receiving their sustainable hotel recognition.

The team at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Belfast are celebrating a prestigious industry accolade, having picked up the Housekeeping Team of the Year 2012 award at the Hotel & Guesthouse Housekeeping Awards, organised by the Northern Ireland Hotel Federation. The judges noted the high standards throughout this contemporary property.

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group – Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson – has won both the international and the national award as the best hotel chain in the Grand Travel Awards, the most prestigious in the Norwegian travel and tourism industry. These annual awards honour the industry’s top suppliers and are based on a large-scale survey sent to travel agents across Norway. “This is the fifth consecutive year we’ve been chosen as best international hotel chain, and the second year in a row we’ve ranked as the best national hotel chain,” said a delighted Christian Gartmann, Area Vice President Nordics.

At a recent star-studded ceremony, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Liverpool was delighted to take the title of Best Hotel at the Liverpool Lifestyle awards. Voted for by members of the public, these prestigious awards pay tribute to the best in the industry. In scooping top honours, the hotel saw off extremely tough competition from strong players in the market, including Hilton, Marriott, Thistle and Ramada.

The Radisson Hotel, Astana – the first and only hotel of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group in Kazakhstan – celebrated its fifth anniversary in January and honoured 38 team members with diamond pins and diplomas. General Manager Jesper Francl expressed his gratitude to the entire hotel team for embracing genuine and driving Yes I Can! attitude.

For over a decade, readers of the world’s premier travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveller, and visitors to CNTraveller.com have voted annually for their favourite spa experience. The Readers’ Spa Awards highlight the finest spots to relax in the world, including the best hotel spas, spa retreats, day spas and thermal spas, and are based on readers’ votes on various criteria: spa facilities, individual approach, ambience/design, body and facial treatments, amenities and products as well as quality of service.

The 2012 winners were revealed in February, with our very own ESPA Riga at the Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija, Riga announced the winner in the Best Day Spa: Overseas category, also coming fourth out of the 30 top spas around the world!

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Cologne is one of the first hotels to receive a Müller-Touristik Award, scooping the prize for “Best City Programme”. These inaugural Best Partners awards, presented by Germany’s largest party and short trip organiser, were based on some 25,000 guest surveys. The Radisson Blu hotel and its staff received perfect scores from guests for its weekend programmes. Maira Hörner, Cluster Sales Manager and responsible for the leisure market, was delighted to accept the award.

The Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow, Radisson’s Russian flagship and a historical landmark in the capital, has been voted the World’s Leading Luxury Business Hotel at the World Travel Awards 2011.

“We are honoured and proud to receive this outstanding award,” said General Manager Wolfgang Nitschke at the red-carpet Grand Final of the Awards in January in Doha, Qatar. “The Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow has once again consolidated its position as one of the best luxury business hotels around the globe. Our guests experience Moscow’s rich historical and culture heritage combined with industry-leading first-class standards and services.”

Described as the “Oscars of the travel industry”, the World Travel Awards were launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognise excellence in the global travel and tourism industry, with votes cast by 213,000 travel professionals in more than 160 countries.

The Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow is one of the legendary Seven Sisters – the Soviet skyscrapers masterminded by Stalin. The property re-opened in 2010 after an extensive three-year renovation and now features 497 elegant guest rooms and suites, as well as 38 serviced apartments, versatile meeting & event facilities, fine dining in a choice of nine restaurants and bars, and a Spa & Wellness Centre offering the ultimate in pampering treatments for mind and body.

The Park Inn by Radisson Ekaterinburg has been chosen as one of the Top 20 Trendiest Hotels in Russia in TripAdvisor’s 2012 Travelers’ Choice® awards. Now in their tenth year, these annual awards recognise the world’s best hotels, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travellers. Unlike any other hotel honours, TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winners are based on millions of reviews and opinions from travellers around the world. Ekaterinburg is the only hotel in Russia outside Moscow and St Petersburg to receive this award.

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website, has announced that the Park Inn by Radisson Krakow has been chosen as winner in the Trendiest Hotels in Poland category in its 2012 Travelers’ Choice® awards. Designed by leading German architect Jurgen Mayer, the first Park Inn in Poland opened in October 2009 and is located in the emerging cultural hub between the Old Town, Wawel Castle and the Jewish Quarter. “With the help of millions of travellers around the globe, TripAdvisor is thrilled to recognise the world’s most outstanding hotels in this year’s Travelers’ Choice Awards,” said Christine Petersen, President, TripAdvisor for Business. “From the best bargain hotels to the best luxury hotels, remarkable service, value and quality are the hallmarks of our Travelers’ Choice winners.”

In January the Park Inn by Radisson Krakow became the 16th hotel in Russia to be certified under the Green Key global eco-label programme for the leisure industry after confirming its compliance with international standards. In order to gain Green Key certification, hotels have to fulfil a list of environmental requirements covering a wide range of criteria aimed at reducing their negative impact on the environment by saving water and electricity, and decreasing the amount of waste produced. The hotel takes part in different social programmes to ensure a noticeably better environment for both guests and staff.

The Group Travel Organisers Association held their 21st AGM, Conference & Workshop at the Park Inn by Radisson York in January. Attended by over 250 delegates, the weekend was extremely productive with members commenting that it was the most successful AGM in 10 years.

During the welcome dinner, Annette Gallagher, Rezidor’s National Leisure Sales Manager, was presented with Elite Membership in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the Association. With only 10 other Elite Members, this is a very prestigious award and was accepted on behalf of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Park Inn by Radisson UK and the Park Inn by Radisson York for their outstanding service and Yes I Can! attitude throughout the event.

The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa proudly honoured five of its team members who have an astounding 105 years’ service between them. Each was awarded a gold Yes I Can! pin studded with one diamond for each five years of service, a certificate and a cash incentive:

30 years – Waheed Ameen, Valet, Laundry Department
25 years – Ebrahim Khalil Ebrahim, Supervisor, Engineering Department
20 years – Abass Al Ekri. Chef Garde Manager, Kitchen Department
15 years – Varghese Dhas, Shampoo Technician, and Abdulameer Abdulla, Outlet Manager, F&B Department

Having joined the team at the Radisson Blu Resort Split last year, Marco Eichhorn recently celebrated 15 years of service with Rezidor. He started his career at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Hamburg, where he finished his three-year traineeship, and then held various positions at the Radisson Blu Resort Ruegen, Radisson Blu Resort Fleesensee and Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport. He was also on the opening team for the Radisson Blu Hotel Port Elisabeth before returning to Hamburg where his journey started. Since May he has been based in Split and is currently in the Mentee/Mentor programme as Operations Manager.

Torbjorn Marthinussen, Food & Beverage Operations Manager at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Oslo, has been named Hotelier of the Year 2012 by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI). The annual Hotelier of the Year and Young Manager of the Year awards go to young leaders who have distinguished themselves in the past year through exceptional job performance, or who have been particularly innovative in their business and leadership.

General Manager Lars Listhaug praised Torbjorn’s leadership as steadfast and principled and stressed his high regard for excellence. “He sets goals and works systematically to achieve them together with his team and colleagues.”

Torbjorn can look forward to three optional Personal Development Programme courses over three days at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration in New York.

At a glittering ceremony in January, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Hamburg, which hosted the event, carried off the Business Diamond Award in the Hotel Industry category. This award is presented in acknowledgement and appreciation of outstanding achievement in various business sectors. After the official formalities were over, the guests enjoyed an exciting after-show party with culinary fireworks and breathtaking views in High End, Hamburg’s highest and most exclusive event venue, located on the hotel’s 26th and 27th floors.

The Radisson Blu Resort, Sharjah has received an award as one of the major sponsors of the recent Sharjah Water Festival. The Sharjah Tourism Award ceremony took place at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce in January under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.

The annual staff party of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Basel in January was an excellent opportunity to honour several employees for long service: Mario Schuknecht (5 years), Aida Pinto De Jesus (10 years) and Dusan Okolic (20 years). Tahir Tahiri was also chosen as Employee of the Year 2011.

Radisson Blu was named Best Full Service Hotel Brand at the Business Travel Awards (BTA) in London in January, beating Crowne Plaza, Marriott International and Sofitel Luxury Hotels in the same category. Now in their 17th year, the BTA recognise and celebrate the achievements of the industry’s leading players. The independent panel of judges comprises some of the most experienced buyers in the business, leading consultants and specialist journalists, who between them judge a total of 22 categories.

The judges commented that, “Radisson Blu is a brand that has a clear focus on the corporate market, excellent sales and after-sales service – and has good green credentials, too. In short, it has a very positive approach and is good to do business with.”