Carlson Hotels Inc. and its sister Rezidor Hotel Group announced Friday several organizational shifts that would put its hotel companies under the same umbrella of leadership.
Carlson Hotels and Rezidor Hotel Group make leadership changes
The new CEO of Carlson Hotels is heading to Rezidor, while another HNA exec steps in.
May 6, 2017 at 1:22AM
In a shuffle that resembled musical chairs, Federico González Tejera, who became chief executive of Minnetonka-based Carlson Hotels in January, is leaving to become chief executive of Rezidor, while John Kidd, former president and chief operating officer of HNA Hospitality Group, will become chief executive of Carlson Hotels.
Rezidor's former Chief Executive Wolfgang M. Neumann will serve on the Rezidor board of directors.
González will also lead a newly established global steering committee that will be made up of representatives from Carlson and Rezidor to "provide overall strategic direction to both companies," the companies said in a statement.
"Rezidor's relationship with Carlson Hotels creates numerous opportunities for growth and success," González said in the statement. "The establishment of a global steering committee will ensure that both businesses are in lock-step and are able to make more informed decisions that will benefit each entity and the Carlson-Rezidor family as a whole."
The companies say they will continue to operate as separate entities.
The announcements are just the latest in a line of changes since Chinese conglomerate HNA Tourism Group agreed about a year ago to purchase Carlson Hotels, a deal which closed in December for an undisclosed amount.
With the acquisition of Carlson, HNA also inherited 51 percent ownership in Rezidor, which operates several of the company's hotel brands like the Radisson Blu and Park Inn in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
In February, HNA offered to purchase the rest of Rezidor's shares, but the board rejected the offer, but it still ended up with 70 percent of the shares.
Carlson Hotels has about 1,440 hotels in operation and under development worldwide including under the Radisson and Country Inns & Suites brands.
Nicole Norfleet • 612-673-4495
Twitter: @nicolenorfleet
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