Carlson Hotels, a subsidiary of Minnetonka-based Carlson, and SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation, a subsidiary of Philippine conglomerate SM Investments Corporation, announced Thursday that they will open the first Radisson Blu hotel in Asia Pacific on September 27.

The 400-room Radisson Blu in Cebu, the Philippines oldest and second largest city, adds to Carlson's plans to expand Radisson as a “powerful, globally consistent, first-class brand,” according to a statement released by Carlson.

“The opening of the first Radisson Blu hotel in Asia Pacific is a major milestone,” said Jean-Marc Busato, managing director of Carlson Hotels, Asia Pacific, in a statement. “More hotels that are under development and in operation in the region will also become Radisson Blu hotels, as we deploy the brand globally.”

The interior design of the hotel will feature local and natural elements of the culture, such as woodwork carvings, weavings, and pearls. Guests of the hotel in all 400 rooms can expect 37-inch flat screen televisions, iPod docking stations, and high-speed Internet access.

The hotel features the Santa Maria Grand Ballroom with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and the Nina Ballroom. Restaurants include the main Freia restaurant and The Pool restaurant, located by the free-form swimming pool.

The Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu will be less than seven miles from the international airport, and centrally located to Cebu's financial and shipping districts.

Carlson Hotels is a privately-held global hotel company with more than 1,000 locations in 75 countries. Minnetonka-based Carlson is a global hospitality company which operates hotels, marketing, and restaurants. It is the third-largest private company in Minnesota, reporting an estimated $4.3 billion in revenue in 2009.