Carlson Hotels Worldwide announced that it has added 24 new hotels and resorts to its worldwide portfolio of brands in the third quarter of 2009. The new properties span 11 countries, including 11 Radisson and Radisson Blu properties; 11 Country Inns & Suites by Carlson (SM) properties; and two Park Inn® locations.

The company also announced that it signed agreements for 11 new hotels during the same period, adding future locations in India, Nigeria, Norway, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States. At the end of the third quarter, the Carlson Hotels Worldwide portfolio totalled 1,052 hotels with 157,492 rooms in 77 countries. Carlson hotel brands also include Regent® Hotels & Resorts and Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts.

"These new openings bring the total number of properties added to the Carlson Hotels Worldwide portfolio in the first three quarters to 73 hotels around the world," said Hubert Joly, president and CEO of Carlson. "Despite the economic downturn that continues to impact the hotel industry globally, we have sustained a steady development stream with over 200 hotels signed and now under development.

The Rezidor Hotel Group, Carlson's primary partner in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, recently celebrated the opening of the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Dubrovnik Sun Gardens. This is Croatia's largest resort hotel and also one of the largest in the Radisson Blu resort portfolio. Located on Croatia's Mediterranean coast, it features 201 contemporary-styled rooms with expansive sea-views and private terraces, along with special suites. The resort also includes 207 deluxe apartments.

The resort offers multiple dining venues and one of the area's largest Spa and Wellbeing destinations on the Dalmatian Coast, featuring luxury Anne Semonin treatments, thermal facilities and relaxation zones. Other features include a Sports Centre, Kids Club and state-of-the-art meeting facilities.