Avantor, a self-styled developer of new townships, has helped develop theNydalen area, which will be a center for technology, communications and media and will have up to 15,000 workers when completed in 2006. The area will be connected to Oslo, which is 10 miles to the south, byan underground railway under construction that will include a stop at the hotel. The hotel will feature conference rooms, banquet facilities, restaurant, healthy club and recreation facilities.

Minnetonka, MN-based Radisson thought the area was an underserved market with great potential, says Jay Witzel, president of Radisson Hotels & Resorts. The new hotel will strengthen the brand image of Radisson in Norway, where it already has 19 hotels, he notes.

Christian Joys, CEO of Avantor ASA, says he thought Radisson SAS was "a good match to the modern company profile in this area." Radisson SAS has 102 hotels in operation and 26 under development in 37 countries and is the sole franchiser in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa for Radisson Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

Radisson Hotels & Resorts and its Minnetonka-based parent company, Carlson Hospitality, have 712 hotel and resort locations in 64 countries plus five luxury cruise ships with an additional vessel under construction.