Rezidor Hotel Group, which operates the Radisson SAS, Park Inn, Country Inns and Suites, Regent and Hotel Missoni brands is set to open 40 new hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa by the end of 2009.

The first to open will include the 165-room Radisson SAS Hotel Lucerne on the banks of Lake Lucerne in Switzerland; the five-star Diplomat Radisson SAS Residence in Bahrain; and the Radisson SAS El Marques Resort & Spa in Mijas, Spain, all of which will be operational before the end of this year.

Hotels at Liége Airport in Belgium, Bordeaux in France, Astana in Kazakhstan and Fredrikstad in Norway are also set to open early in 2007.

Further hotels are currently being developed in Croatia, Georgia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, the UK, Ireland, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nigeria, Senegal AND Tunisia.

As of September this year, Rezidor operated 226 hotels with a further 46 in development. The company has also recently appointed a new senior vice president and chief operating officer, Thorsten Kirschke. Kirschke has retained his former role as area vice president for Germany in addition to the new position. Details: www.rezidorsas.com