Radisson Hotel Group continues to experience strong momentum across EMEA and APAC, with over 1,520 hotels in operation and under development. In 2024 alone, the group added more than 300 hotels through new openings and signings.
“In the Middle East, we have almost 100 hotels in operation and under development, and we’re on track to reach 150 hotels by 2030,” says Tim Cordon, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East And Africa For Radisson Hotel Group, in an interview with
TTN.
“Nearly half of our regional footprint is in Saudi Arabia, where we have close to 50 hotels in operation and under development, highlighting the Kingdom’s key role in our long-term growth strategy.
“We look forward to several flagship developments, such as opening our third Radisson Collection in Riyadh and bringing the Radisson RED brand to Ras Al Khaimah,” Cordon says.
OUTLOOK FOR 2025
His outlook for travel and hospitality in 2025, given the changing geopolitical and economic situation, is positive. “Despite global uncertainties, we remain optimistic. Leisure and bleisure demand continue to thrive, business travel rebounds, and destination-led growth in markets like Saudi Arabia and Vietnam remains strong.
“At Radisson, we're responding with agility whether it’s expanding our serviced apartments for extended stays, enhancing our digital guest experience, or introducing flexible hybrid offerings for evolving traveller needs.
Nearly one in two bookings is generated through our RHG commercial engine, which underscores the power of our holistic distribution strategy
– Tim Cordon
“Hospitality is inherently resilient. As long as we remain close to our guests, adaptable in our operations, and forward-thinking in our development, we’ll continue to grow in 2025 and beyond.”
The Middle East presents a diverse landscape of opportunities and challenges, says Cordon.
In Kuwait, the return of business travel drives renewed investor confidence, while Qatar is navigating the post-World Cup transition with strong potential in meetings and events.
The UAE remains a highly competitive but resilient market, fuelled by tourism and large-scale events.
In Oman, experiential and cultural tourism opens upscale and resort development doors.
Saudi Arabia continues to lead regional growth and the strategy goes beyond giga-projects to include midscale and upscale hotels in secondary cities, aligned with Vision 2030.
Meanwhile, Bahrain, though smaller, holds steady as a key MICE and leisure destination within the GCC.
FOCUS ON EVENTS
“Events are a key driver of our commercial strategy. We actively tailor our offerings and marketing efforts around major regional events.
“Through Radisson Meetings and our industry-specific event solutions from Esports and Healthcare to Automotive and Entertainment, we’re hosting events and co-creating experiences with planners.
“Our tools, like ‘Book It Easy’ and immersive digital tours, streamline the booking process, while our AI-powered avatar helps personalize the pre-event journey. Ultimately, we aim to be the partner of choice for regional event organisers.”
BALANCING B2C, B2B
Radisson is actively balancing direct booking strategies with the crucial role that travel agents play in the overall distribution landscape.
“We’ve made significant strides in direct booking channels, driven by our award-winning app, dynamic pricing models and the relaunch of Radisson Rewards with over 20 million members and a growing share of direct bookings.
“At the same time, we recognise the value of the travel trade. We provide agents with easy-to-use platforms, access to member benefits and training tools. Our unified commercial engine “The Club” now encompasses sales, web, voice and M&E, ensuring agents and partners have the insights and support to drive bookings.
“Nearly one in two bookings is generated through our RHG commercial engine, which underscores the power of our holistic distribution strategy.
“Our approach is balanced,” he says.
OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
As COO, Cordon runs a tight ship, ensuring optimum operation and cost management across Radisson’s properties, among other things.
“Operational efficiency is core to our value proposition. We’ve invested in systems that deliver results at scales such as Pulse by RHG for data-driven decision-making and EMMA, our cloud-based platform unifying PMS, CRM and reservations.
“We’re also leveraging AI to automate repetitive tasks, streamline revenue management and optimise workflows, whether dynamic M&E pricing or back-of-house kitchen operations. Our new digital housekeeping and inventory management systems reduce waste and improve productivity.
“At the heart of it all is The Club, our international commercial community, which enables local teams to apply global best practices. These initiatives allow us to deliver best-in-class gross operating profit, while preserving the guest experience.”
