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Radisson ready to make its mark in third quarter

New five-star hotel's GM talks to The Daily Star

M Abdur Rahim
Reputed international chain hotels boost tourism and economy of a country, says Ian R Barrow, general manager of Radisson Water Garden Hotel, a five-star chain that is expected to start operation in Dhaka in the third quarter of this year.
Quality hotels and hospitality services enhance business and encourage international travellers to visit a country. Radisson will bring in international services and add new dimension to Bangladesh's catering and hospitality services, he said in an exclusive interview with The Daily Star.
"Though viable, no five-star hotel was built in Bangladesh in the last 20 years," he said pointing out that more competition brings in more competitiveness and opportunities among businesses.
Cox's Bazar and Saint Martin's hold huge potential for tourism but poor planning and lack of infrastructure are holding back the prospect, he said when asked why quality hotels of international standard have not yet been builtthere.
Signing of Safta (South Asian Free Trade Area) agreement opens opportunities for increased trade and investment prompting rise in business travellers, said the Australian.
Regarding their link with Bangladesh government, Barrow said the target is to get business from all sectors and government is one of the big sectors. Sena Kalyan Sangstha, the army welfare trust, is the owning company of the hotel.
Sports can make a difference for Bangladesh. Cricket matches will increase flow of travellers," said Barrow who has been associated with the opening of five Radisson hotels, Dhaka being his latest venture.
Radisson Hotels & Resorts is one of the brands of Carlson Hospitality Worldwide which has 1,700 hotels, restaurants and resorts and one of the largest privately held corporations in the US.
There are many indications that the country's tourism industry is growing but it is mainly domestic tourism. But adequate infrastructure is required to see a booming tourism, he said.
As the hotel on the Airport Road is surrounded by upmarket areas such as Baridhara, Gulshan, Banani and close to airport it will have an added advantage. As Dhaka city is expanding beyond Uttara, Tongi, the Export Processing Zone and Ashulia in the north, the hotel will be a good place for the these developing areas on the outskirts, Barrow observes with his vast experience of working for Radisson in this region for over 10 years including Indonesia, Malaysia and Nepal and in various hotels and catering businesses in Australia.
About level of product and service delivery at Radisson, which has over 430 hotels in its chain worldwide, he said service will be at par with the other hotels of the chain. The rates will be definitely competitive and fair.
"We do not think other hotels to be our competitors. We can grow together and take the service levels to new heights," said 38-year-old Barrow who has been working for the reputed American hospitality chain for 12 years. "As a new hotel we are in a more advanta-
geous situation to implement the latest technologies and current practices, and also have opportunities to invest at a higher level," he added.
Like other ventures, Radisson will take one year for settling down but he expects to make profit in the second or third year, though the owning company's target for profit generation is ten years.
Initially, the hotel will have four permanent and six temporary expatriate management staff but the rest of the recruitment will be from Bangladesh, he said.
The total strength of the hotel will be 350 plus.
Talking about its uniqueness, Barrow says that the Radisson Hotels Worldwide is a training-oriented and family-run company with people who enjoy working for them. Their focus is to ensure 100 percent guest satisfaction and as host every staff is empowered to make things right in their own areas.
Sena Hotel Developments Ltd has signed a management agreement with Radisson for 20 years. The hotel, spread over a seven-acre land, will have 206 rooms including 116 deluxe rooms, 85 plaza rooms and five suites. It will have special wedding hall, four restaurants, two lounges, two swimming pools, tennis court and access to 9-hole golf course.
Immensely impressed with the architectural splendour of some of the old historic buildings, the beauty of the varying seasons of the country, Barrow is highly optimistic aboutthe business opportunities in Bangladesh.