Radisson Hotel Group has revealed plans to launch its playful Radisson RED brand into the Portuguese hotel market.
The first Radisson RED in the country will open in the city of Porto, with a launch planned for early 2027. The 250 room hotel wil feature a rooftop bar and pool, providing guests with great views across the city.
European development partnership
Investment and development partners Value One and Arbireo Capital will work together to deliver the 2 hotel, which will be built on a prime site in the central Vilanova de Gaia district, overlooking the Douro River from its southern bank. The aim is to meet high sustainability standards, with a LEED Gold certification for the project.
Sebastian Gruber, managing director of Value One’s development division, commented: “In turbulent
times and a challenging market environment, the careful structuring of a project is of paramount importance for the sustainable creation of real value. With the Radisson RED Porto Gaia, we are creating a new hotspot in one of the coolest cities in Europe.” Home of the world famous port fortified wine, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage destination that attracts visitors all year round.
Arbireo Capital is acting as the main investment partner on the project, along with financing provided by Banco Portugues de Investimento. “We firmly believe that Radisson’s brand strength and customer loyalty are essential to the long-term success of this hotel project. Quality hotel investments such as the Radisson RED Porto Gaia participate in the long-term growth of the tourism industry and can also provide added value for society through the newly created jobs,” said Arbireo board member Christoph Flugel.
In 2024, the Radisson RED brand expanded into several new markets, including Danang in Vietnam, plus Berlin, Auckland, Vientiane in Laos and, in Nigeria, the city of Abuja. The first RED branded hotel opened in Thailand, with a beach resort property in Phuket, while Ireland also joined the portfolio with Radisson RED Galway opening.
A growing Radisson RED pipeline
The Radisson RED brand will see substantial growth in 2025, with a raft of openings, as projects currently under construction come to completion. These include Radisson RED Twickenham, in the UK, which is a 150 room hotel at the home of British rugby, due to relaunch under the brand shortly following refurbishment. Also coming shortly is a 322 room hotel for the brand in Auckland, New Zealand.
In the second half of 2025, openings follow in Mitropoleos Square, Athens and Innsbruck. An Indian Radisson Red will launch in Indore, while in China there will be openings in Xi’an and Shenzhen. And in Africa, the brand will be launching in Lagos.
Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027, there will be openings in Phnom Penh, Diriyah Gate in Saudi Arabia, and in Casablanca, Morocco.
