Pillar Partners with Carlson On Expansion of Country Inn & Suites by Carlson in Oklahoma

IRVING, Texas - April 23, 2013 - PRLog -- Pillar Hotels & Resorts and Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group today announced the further expansion of the Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM brand in Oklahoma with the opening of Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Tulsa Central, OK.  The property’s opening marks the brand’s growth in the region as part of its Ambition 2015 strategy and Pillar’s sixth Country Inn & Suites under management.

“The brand is working to establish a strong footprint in Oklahoma and is gaining traction with six Country Inns & Suites locations,” said Scott Meyer, senior vice president, Midscale Brands, Americas, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. “The continued growth in this region is another step forward in our plan to expand the brand primarily in the U.S., Canada, India and Mexico.”

The hotel will be managed by Pillar Hotels & Resorts, one of the largest managers of select service hotels in the U.S.  “We are thrilled to continue our relationship with the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and their family of brands,” said Susi Schmidt, vice president, Legal Services, Pillar Hotels & Resorts. “We are confident that the consistency, value and leadership of this brand and the Carlson Rezidor system will result in a successful future for this hotel.” Opening the hotel is general manager, Lisa Smolar.

"We're excited about our new membership in the Carlson Rezidor family of hotels.  Our guests will now enjoy all the signature Country Inn & Suites amenities as well as the Club Carlson global hotel rewards program benefits," said Smolar.

The hotel offers 148 guestrooms and is situated just off I-44 and east of downtown Tulsa. The Country Inn & Suites, Tulsa Central provides guests easy access to attractions and businesses around the city including the University of Tulsa, St. Francis Hospital, LaFortune Park and BOK Center. The hotel features warm accents and welcomes business travelers, vacationing families and tour groups with amenities including complimentary high-speed Internet access, seasonal outdoor pool, fitness center and meeting space.

Country Inns & Suites offers a caring, consistent, comfortable hospitality experience delivered with a touch of home, and features particularly attractive for business travelers. The brand offers its complimentary, hot, Be Our Guest Breakfast served on classic diningware daily. The distinctive product and service innovations, such as the Be Our Guest employee training program have generated tremendous employee engagement scores and high guest satisfaction. For reservations and more information, visit www.countryinns.com.

About Pillar Hotels & Resorts
Pillar Hotels & Resorts is the second largest independent hotel and resort manager in the United States with approximately 209 select-service, extended stay and full service hotels across 35 states under management. Pillar represents 16 well-respected flags, including Country Inn and Suites by Carlson-Rezidor. Pillar Hotels & Resorts offers shared services, hotel management, accounting, revenue management, and project management. The company is headquartered in the Las Colinas business suburb of Irving, Texas. Learn more at www.pillarhotels.com.

About Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups. The portfolio of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group includes more than 1,300 hotels in operation and under development, a global footprint spanning 100 countries and territories and a powerful set of global brands (Radisson Blu, Radisson®, Park Plaza®, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM and Hotel Missoni). In most of the group’s hotels, guests can benefit from the loyalty program Club CarlsonSM, one of the most rewarding loyalty programs in the world. Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and its brands employ more than 80,000 people.  Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., and Brussels, Belgium. http://www.carlsonrezidor.com