Dallas-based Patriot American Hospitality has acquired Carefree Resorts for $210 million. Patriot American owns more than 40 upscale hotels; Phoenix-based Carefree is made up of five exclusive resorts: The Boulders in Carefree, AZ; The Peaks Resort & Spa in Telluride, CO; Carmel Valley Ranch in Carmel, CA; The Lodge at Ventana Canyon in Tucson, AZ, and The Buttes, a Carefree Conference Resort in Tempe, AZ. Under its new ownership the company will continue to develop properties under the Carefree Resorts name and current management will remain unchanged.
Four Seasons-Regent/Carlson Hospitality created a partnership for development, management, and marketing of de- luxe Regent hotels around the world. Four Seasons will continue to operate and manage existing and new Regent hotels and will help develop standards for growth of the luxury chain.
Carlson Hospitality, the Minneapolis-based parent company of Radisson Hotels, will acquire the rights to the Regent name for new development and will also establish a luxury hotel division to expand the Regent chain. Carlson hopes to double the size of the chain within three years. There are currently nine Regent hotels and 28 Four Seasons properties. Carlson's Radisson Hotels subsidiary totals 342 properties worldwide.