During its annual business conference in Minneapolis, Trudy Rautio celebrated “strong momentum” for its hotels, placing particular emphasis on the Radisson Blu brand, which it is aiming to grow globally.

During 2012, the group added 33 Radisson Blu properties, bringing the portfolio to 272. This year it expects to add 21 Radisson Blu hotels, including the brand’s second U.S. opening at Minnesota’s Mall of America.Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group announced that the Radisson Plaza – Warwick Hotel Philadelphia (photo) will become a Radisson Blu by late this summer. The 301-room Rittenhouse Square property will remain open during a US$17 million renovation prior to the conversion.The company reported 50% of the brand’s properties have completed renovations, with 75% expected to do so by the end of 2013. The strategies are all part of the group’s Ambition 2015 strategy, which calls for Carlson Rezidor to have 1,500 hotels by 2015. The company ended 2012 with a portfolio of 1,077 hotels, and the global portfolio currently includes 1,305 properties either in operation or under development.