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The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is turning its attention to traveling athletes.
This week the Minnesota-based group announced the launch of a Sports Approved Hotel program at its Radisson, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By Carlson brands in the Americas.
Carlson Rezidor said the program will serve two purposes. In addition to allowing eligible hotels to earn a coveted Sports Approved designation, it will provide services to traveling sports teams in hopes of delivering the best possible experience.
Interestingly, the program will target every level of sports, not just professional and collegiate teams but also high school and youth squads.
Through the program, sports teams that book at participating Radisson, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites by Carlson hotels will receive group pre-keyed and rooms pre-blocked to speed up the check-in process and get teams settled in faster.
Teams will also have access to complimentary meeting spaces for important team meetings and other potential needs.
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Other perks for sports teams will include discounted coupons for restaurants across hotel properties and customized welcome signs.
"This program allows our hotels to gain the training and certification to effectively host sports teams and provide enhanced services and is something we feel is unique in the industry and will deliver on that commitment," said Carlson Rezidor's Vice President of Global Group Sales for the Americas Kaaren Hamilton in a statement.
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It remains to be seen whether Carlson Rezidor's Sports Approved Hotel program will be expanded to some of the group's other brands or beyond the Americas. However it's clear there's a demand for the aformentioned perks among traveling sports teams.
Citing the Sports Facilities Advisory, the group said the youth sports movement alone has become a $7 billion industry in travel. By looking after the needs of younger athletes and all other levels of sports it appears Carlson Rezidor is poised to capitalize.
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