Regent International Hotels is a brand of upper luxury hotels, currently operating nine hotels in Asia, Americas and Europe. In recent years, the brand has expanded to Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Regent Residences.
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Founded in Hong Kong in 1970 by Robert H. Burns, Georg Rafael and Adrian Zecha. It was the first global hospitality group based in Asia at a time when the industry was dominated by European and American brands. In the 1980s and 1990s, Regent hotels were considered among some of the most acclaimed, such as the Regent Hong Kong and Regent Beverly Wilshire. It managed 17 hotels around the world in 1992.[1]
In 1992 Four Seasons hotel chain acquired the Regent hotel chain. Hotels under development at the time of purchase in New York, Bali, Milan, and Istanbul were subsequently opened as Four Seasons.[1] In 1998 Carlson Companies acquired the Regent name for new hotel developments and would create a luxury hotel division while the Four Seasons continued management of existing and new Regent hotels.[2]
In 2002, Carlson agreed with Rezidor SAS to develop the Regent hotel brand in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.[3]
In March 2006, Carlson renamed its Radisson Seven Seas Cruises to Regent Seven Seas Cruises and merged the cruise operation and Regent International Hotels under a common brand.[4]
In 2008, Regent Seven Seas Cruises was sold to Apollo Management, an investment company. Carlson retains ownership of the master Regent brand, along with the operations of Regent Hotels & Resorts around the world.[5]
In 2010, Carlson sold its Regent hotel business to Formosa International Hotels, the largest listed hotel operator in Taiwan. It is also the owner of Grand Formosa Regent hotel, Taipei, Taiwan, which was opened by Regent’s founders in 1990 as 'The Regent Taipei'.[6][7][8]
Co-founder Robert Burns is appointed as Honorary Chairman to serve as the brand's visionary and Ralf Ohletz is appointed president. Ohletz worked with another Regent co-founder Adrian Zecha for 25 years.[1]