Carlson Opens Hotel Near Knott’s as 400th Radisson

Carlson Cos. on Tuesday dedicated a renovated hotel beside Knott’s Berry Farm as the 400th Radisson and said it will spend $1 billion to $2 billion this year expanding its hotel chains with an emphasis on making Radisson more upscale.

Carlson, a privately held Minneapolis company that also owns the Regent and Country Inns hotels, unfurled a new Radisson logo at the former Buena Park Hotel.

The hotel, owned by Knott’s parent company, Cedar Fair LP of Ohio, is now the Radisson Resort Knott’s Berry Farm. The renovation, funded by Cedar Fair, won’t be complete until spring.

Carlson plans to open 55 new Radissons, 70 of its lower-priced Country Inns and 10 luxury Regent hotels this year, said its president, Eric Danziger. The Radissons will be located in big-city downtowns and popular vacation spots, where demand for expensive hotel rooms is highest.

Radisson opened 55 hotels last year and removed the Radisson name from 30 franchised hotels that didn’t meet Carlson’s standards. About 20 more hotels are likely to lose their Radisson franchise this year--a culling designed to help consumers recognize Radisson as an upscale chain in major travel destinations, Danziger said.