Radisson SAS becomes Radisson Blu
Published: 05/02/2009 - Filed under: News »
The Rezidor Hotel Group’s Radisson SAS chain is rebranding as Radisson Blu, with the Radisson Blu Hotel, Zurich Airport the first to unveil the new name.
Rezidor had been planning to change the SAS suffix for some time, a legacy of the group’s links with Scandinavian Airlines which effectively ended in 2006 following Rezidor’s IPO.
The new Blu name was apparently originally chosen as the project’s working title, but according to Gordon McKinnon, Rezidor’s executive vice president of brands, it “soon became apparent that it was actually the most natural of choices".
“It’s simple, it’s short, it’s relevant and we’ve applied it in a way that adds a certain modernity to the identity without taking it too far,” said McKinnon.
McKinnon added that the new name “promotes our specific brand heritage by preserving the graphic ‘blue box’ which has become the recognised symbol of the distinctive characteristics of the Radisson brand in Europe, the Middle East and Africa”.
The first hotel to adopt the new signage was the Radisson Blu Hotel , Zurich Airport, which this week also unveiled the world’s highest wine tower (click here for more details). At 16m the tower surpasses a similar offering at Radisson’s Stansted Airport property.
Rezidor’s president and CEO Kurt Ritter said there would be a “gentle evolution” from SAS to Blu between now and 2010.
“We currently have more than 200 hotels in operation or under development, so the name change has been designed in such a way that it’ll avoid any unnecessary disruption but still create an impact,” said Ritter.
Radisson’s Berlin property is likely to be the next hotel to see the name change in time for the ITB travel market in March. The change initially affects only the Radisson properties in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as the hotels in the US and elsewhere under the Radisson name have different brand standards. However it is understood that in time certain of these properties may “upgrade” to the Radisson Blu standard.
For more information visit radissonblu.com (this website currently redirects to the existing radissonsas.com URL).
Report by Mark Caswell
Read more about...
Bookmark with:
ADD A COMMENT »
The big picture: BA’s Jubilee jumbo 28/05/2012
British Airways has painted one of its B747 aircraft with an emblem and message as part of its celebrations to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee — full story »
Hong Kong Airport takes step closer to third runway 28/05/2012
The Airport Authority of Hong Kong has submitted its project profile for a third runway, the start of a two-year Environmental Impact Assessment — full story »
Travelodge adds two Edinburgh properties 28/05/2012
The budget hotel group has opened hotels on Edinburgh’s Queen Street and Princes Street, the latter being a partnership with high street retailer Topshop — full story »
