Hospitality company Carlson has announced plans to open 19 more hotels in India by the end of 2011 across its Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Park Inn and Park Plaza brands.

The expansion is part of the company's Ambition 2015 strategy to increase its global portfolio by at least 50 percent to more than 1,500 hotels by 2015. Across India at the end of 2010, there were 15 Radisson properties in operation, with a contracted pipeline of 25. Eleven new hotels are set to open in 2011, in cities such as Agra, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Country Inns & Suites By Carlson was operating 10 properties at the same date, with 13 contracted. Two properties are scheduled to open this year, one in Gurgaon and the other in Mussoorie. Park Plaza had six properties operating, with 13 projected. A further five will open during 2011 including two in New Delhi and one each in Bangalore, Chandigargh and Coimbatore.

Park Inn had three properties operating at the end of 2010 and three in the pipeline. The brand's one new opening this year will be in New Delhi's central business district.