Continuing the plan to build specific brand teams and strengthen our commitment to brands overall, hotel industry veteran Richard Flores has been appointed vice president, Branding, Radisson. Richard reports to Gordon McKinnon, executive vice president and chief branding officer, Carlson, and will be based in the company’s Minneapolis headquarters. He replaces Rose Kutzli, who moves to Radisson Blu as vice president, Branding.

“As we continue to develop, evolve and deliver world class, segment-leading brands, the need to have world class teams capable of living up to that challenge becomes a foregone conclusion,” said Gordon. “I am pleased to welcome Richard to our Minneapolis headquarters as part of our branding team.”   

As the revitalization of the Radisson brand continues, Richard will be responsible globally for analysis of trends and insights; new product development; future-proofing; brand DNA; brand audits; brand governance and implementing the brand’s marketing strategies in the Americas.

“Our branding leadership team is now in place,” said Gordon. In addition to Richard and Rose, who will lead branding for Radisson and Radisson Blu, respectively, Eric DeNeef, senior vice president, Marketing, CRM and Global Branding, has taken on global responsibility for Park Inn by Radisson from Brussels and Aurora Toth, vice president, Marketing, Americas continues to lead the efforts for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson^SM.

Prior to joining Carlson Rezidor, Richard oversaw brand marketing efforts for Wyndham® Hotels and Resorts, Dream®, Night® and Planet Hollywood Hotels brands, including the development, management and execution of global marketing plans and e-commerce marketing strategies. From 2000-2007, he served as director of Marketing for the Americas division of Sol Meliá Hotels and Resorts, where he developed the division’s corporate marketing strategies for the U.S. and Latin America, and led the repositioning and redevelopment for several of the company’s brands.  

Honored by Travel Agent magazine as a “Rising Star,” Richard attended Florida International University and is fluent in English and Spanish.