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The news broke this morning that the Radisson Americas hotel program is being purchased by Choice Hotels. You might remember that last year Radisson split their company into two, Radisson Hotels and Radisson Hotels America. This was necessitated because the parent company of Radisson Rewards was purchased by a Chinese company. To comply with US privacy and consumer protection regulations, they were required to split into separate companies.

What is Radisson Americas?

According to their website, “Radisson Hotel Group Americas represents Radisson Hotels operations and brands in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. The Radisson Hotel Group Americas portfolio of brands includes Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Radisson Inn & Suites, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, brought together under the overarching Radisson Hotels Americas name.”

So the brands that are being purchased by Choice include hotels with the following brands:

  • 10 Radisson Blu hotels
  • 130 Radisson hotels
  • 9 Radisson Individuals
  • 1 Park Plaza hotel
  • 4 Radisson RED hotels
  • 453 Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
  • 17 Park Inn by Radisson hotels
  • The Radisson Inn & Suites and Radisson Collection brands

This will include Radissons like the Radisson Covington / Cincinnati and its revolving restaurant, but not the disappointing Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek or the (also disappointing) Radisson Blu Rome hotel.

a building with a sign on it

Details of the purchase by Choice Hotels

As is the case with most mergers and purchase agreements, there is a lot that we don’t know yet. According to the press release, Choice Hotels is purchasing the “the franchise business, operations and intellectual property of Radisson Hotel Group Americas”, and paying 675 million USD. This includes 624 hotels with over 68,000 rooms in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. It has already been approved by the Choice Hotels Board of Directors and is expected to close in the second half of 2022, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing requirements.

What does it mean for miles and points people?

Of course, this is the question that most people reading this site actually care about. Will Radisson Rewards points be convertible to Choice Privileges points, and if so, at what rate? 2:1, 3:1, or something else? It doesn’t seem to make sense to me that they would keep two separate loyalty programs, but it will certainly take time to integrate the two companies, especially the loyalty and reservations sides. I also wonder if they won’t rename some of the Radisson hotels in the Americas. It seems confusing to me that you might be able to redeem Choice Privileges points for a Radisson in the US, but not in Europe.

Time will tell how the integration of these two hotel chains will turn up.

What do you make of Choice Hotels buying Radisson? Leave your thoughts in the comments


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