WORLD PROPERTY CHANNEL ®

(ST MARTIN, CARIBBEAN) -- Carlson Hotels Worldwide® today opened the 1,000th hotel in its international portfolio, the 252-room, $80 million Radisson St. Martin Resort, Marina & Spa.

At opening ceremonies, top company officials of the Minneapolis, MN-based firm joined with representatives of the United Nations Environment Program Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign and The Carbon Neutral Company to officially dedicate the resort.

Jay S. Witzel

Carlson is planting 1,000 trees worldwide and making a financial donation to the UNEP program, plus partnering with The Carbon Neutral Co. to offset carbon equivalent to 10,000 room nights, according to Carlson president and CEO Jay  S. Witzel.

"We are extremely proud to open the Radisson St Martin Resort - the 1,000th property in the Carlson Hotels Worldwide portfolio -- celebrating this growth milestone with a global initiative embracing responsible business and environmental sustainability," says Witzel. "The five brands of Carlson Hotels Worldwide now are serving guests in 74 countries."


These brands include: Regent Hotels & Resorts (regenthotels.com); Radisson Hotels & Resorts (radisson.com), Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts (parkplaza.com), Country Inns & Suites by Carlson (countryinns.com) and Park Inn® (parkinn.com).

Radisson St Martin Resort is nestled in the picturesque cove of Anse Marcel, facing 1,600 feet of white-sand beachfront.

The hotel has undergone a total transformation and features 63 suites and 189 guestrooms; a signature beachfront restaurant with al fresco dining; casual, market-style eatery and lobby tapas bar. The resort also includes a zero-entry infinity pool; full-service spa and fitness center; 7,500 square feet of meeting space and 150-slip marina.

Achim Steiner

The hotel is managed by Radisson Hotels & Resorts under Caribbean veteran Hotel Manager Jeff Lesker.

"We are delighted that Carlson Hotels is celebrating the opening of its 1,000th global property by pledging 1,000 trees to the Billion Tree Campaign," said Achim Steiner, executive director United Nation's Environment Program.



"In the face of alarming environmental data, the Billion Tree Campaign offers hope and a simple solution for climate change mitigation, while enhancing biodiversity."

Sue Welland

"Taking action on climate change involves making the issue accessible to everyone - as a company and also as an individual," says Sue Welland, Founder and Executive Director, Marketing of The Carbon Neutral Co.

"We are pleased to team with Carlson Hotels in support of an initiative that emphasizes sustainability, personal responsibility and which provides customers with a simple yet effective solution."