Printable Version

THE ORIGINAL RADISSON HOTEL, LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS, TURNS BLU
MINNEAPOLIS (June 3, 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 highspeed 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 décor, 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.
Opening Hotel Rates
Rates will start at USD 199 per night for a Superior Room and USD 259 for a Luxury Suite.
Guests can book rooms by visiting http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-minneapolis.
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
SM
brand’s vibrant, contemporary and engaging hospitality is characterized by a unique Yes I Can! 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
TM
DESIGNED TO SAY YES! , 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,
®
®
®
SM
Radisson , Radisson Red, Park Plaza , Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By Carlson . 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.
Contacts
Lauren Larson, Wagstaff Worldwide | +1 (312) 943-6900 | [email protected]
Ben Gardeen, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group | +1 (763) 212-8129 | [email protected]
Note to Editor: Photography, video and print renderings available upon request

Download Report