Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts
Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts is a worldwide brand of 39 hotels operating in Europe, the Middle East, the United States and Asia. Its main markets include London (six hotels), Amsterdam (three hotels), Berlin (two hotels) and one property in Bloomington, Minnesota, USA near the company's headquarters. The hotels are either owned, managed, or franchised to independent operators by Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts. In 2000 Carlson Hotels acquired the Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts brand. Today, they are operated by Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.
History
Established in 1989, Park Plaza Mandarin Eindhoven is the first hotel opened. The Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam built in 1890, becomes the company's second hotel. In 1995, Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam joins the group and an agreement is signed with Park Plaza Worldwide. In 1997, the Park Plaza Astrid Antwerp (Belgium) opens. The group opens its first hotel in 1999 in the United Kingdom, the Shaw Park Plaza in central London (asset no longer a Park Plaza Hotel). In 2000, Park Plaza Hotels Europe acquires the master franchise for the brand from Park Plaza Worldwide. The Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam celebrates its 110-year anniversary.
In 2000, Carlson Hotels acquired the Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts brand from Park Plaza Worldwide. The company moves into the world of boutique hotels and expanded by opening of seven hotels in Germany and an art’otel in Budapest, Hungary. The Park Plaza Victoria, London and Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes, both in central London, open late 2001. The second art’otel in Berlin, art’otel berlin city center west (Germany) opens as well, featuring 221 artworks from Andy Warhol and Christopher Makos.
Further expansion in the UK with the opening of Park Plaza Nottingham. Also, in 2002 strategic marketing and reservations alliance agreed with Carlson Hotels Worldwide. North America, India, and EMEA unify to form one brand. The group launched its franchise offering with the opening of its first franchise hotel, Park Plaza Trier, Germany in 2003. In 2004, Park Plaza Belfast opened.
In 2005, one of London’s largest hotels to open for more than 30 years, Park Plaza Riverbank London, designed by Aedas RHWL, opened. Park Plaza Cardiff opened, as well as the company’s first all-suite luxury hotel, Plaza on the River – Club and Residence, London. In 2006, the company's second Amsterdam hotel, Park Plaza Vondelpark, Amsterdam (Netherlands) opened. The opening of Park Plaza Tyrrelstown, Dublin (Ireland) and Park Plaza Wallstreet, Berlin (Germany) and 2 new art’otels in Germany – art’otel Berlin Kudamm and art’otel Potsdam are completed as well.
In 2007, Park Plaza Hotels floats on the London AIM Stock Exchange and the new Park Plaza Hotels Ltd company is created. The company opens its 4th Park Plaza hotel in London, Park Plaza County Hall.
In 2008, the site for the first art’otel in London was acquired in Hoxton in association with the Rueben Brothers. In 2010 the largest London hotel so far opened, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge.
Park Plaza in Asia Pacific
Park Plaza in Asia Pacific are managed by Carlson Hotels in Asia Pacific. There are currently Park Plaza Hotels in key destinations such as china, India, Pakistan, Thailand.
