Carlson Rezidor Introduces Radisson Red

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has launched a new brand called Radisson Red. The first property under the new brand will be Radisson Red Shenyang Hunnan, due to open in Northeast China near UNESCO World Heritage site Shenyang Imperial Palace in 2016.

Radisson Red will be Carlson Rezidor’s new “lifestyle” brand. Their target guest will be Millennials, and there will be a strong focus on technology, design, and what they call “guest choice and personal interaction”.

I am not their target guest, and an introductory blurb on their website confirms this by saying, “This is not luxury. This is the future”.

I guess I’d better get used to reality if I want to stay here. At least they’re honest and not pretending to be a luxury brand.

Click here to see the new Radisson Red website.

The press release says that the hotel brand will offer lower construction and operating costs than traditional upscale hotels due to efficient space planning. A picture from their website makes me think of renovated buildings in not-so-nice areas of town, but since I prefer to be swept away in a cloud of luxury maybe the artsy look will be instantly appealing to Millennials.

Radisson Red hotels will be located in airports, big cities, urban and suburban areas and resort destinations. Carlson Rezidor’s goal is to have 60 Radisson Red properties worldwide by 2020, half of them in Asia Pacific. Here’s a concept drawing from their website on how part of their hotel might look.

Taking a look at the plans for Radisson Red hotels, guests will enter a lobby that Carlson calls the Hi All Gallery where art is displayed. A 24 hour food area called Redeli, a lobby bar called Ouibar and a seating area will all be connected. Ouibar will be open 18 hours a day to offer coffee, alcohol and appetizers. Redeli says it offers “to go self service room service”. I’m not sure what that means though, maybe I make my own sandwich and bring it to my room?

Their website says there will be three room types listed as “studios, studios 4, studios sweet, doubles, double doubles, the odd bunk and the sweet suites”. Bunk beds? What, is this a hostel?

Their website asks the question I have been thinking. Why Red?

I guess I need to get used to reality, where the focus for travel these days is less on luxury and more on cost savings. My hope is that these properties will start at a low enough price point so I can at least get stays to redeem for the dreamy luxury properties!