Carlson Exploring Strategic Options for its Hotel Company and Radisson Brands

Carlson, the owner of Radisson and other hotel brands that are part of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, is exploring strategic alternatives for the hotel company that could include a partnership, merger or sale of the company, according to people familiar with the matter.

The parent, a privately held hospitality and travel company based in Minnetonka, Min., has asked its regular banker, Morgan Stanley, to run this process, these people said.

Part of the hotel company, known as Rezidor Hotel Group, has shares that trade in Stockholm. That is a reflection of its Swedish roots when it was part of the SAS Group, owner of Scandinavian Airlines.

Carlson Rezidor has more than 1,100 hotels and nearly 174,000 rooms world-wide, according to data tracker STR Inc., making it one of the world's largest hotel companies. Its brands include the flagship Radisson business hotels, and its offshoots Radisson Blu and Radisson Red, which are more design-oriented hotels. Carlson Rezidor also owns Country Inns and Suites.

The parent also owns Carlson Wagonlit Travel, a business travel management firm.

Write to Craig Karmin at [e-mail] and Dana Mattioli at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 21, 2016 13:25 ET (18:25 GMT)

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