Radisson Blu, an upscale international hotel brand, traces its roots back to the world's first designer hotel, the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, which opened in 1960. Established in 2009 (following a rebranding from Radisson SAS), Radisson Blu is part of the Radisson Hotel Group and operates over 300 hotels predominantly located in major cities, key airport gateways, and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. While managed and operated by Radisson Hotels, Radisson Blu's ownership is shared between Choice Hotels, Jinjiang International, and the Radisson Hotel Group.