Radisson Hotels is one of the leading, full-service global hotel companies with more than 420 locations in 73 countries. The first Radisson Hotel was built in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1909, and was named after the 17th century French explorer Pierre-Esprit Radisson.[2] The hotel was purchased by Curt Carlson (1914–1999) in 1962, and is still owned by his company,Carlson.