On Monday, June 6, I attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official opening of the newest Radisson location, the Radisson Blu Minneapolis. Formerly the Radisson Hotel Minneapolis, the hotel went through a multimillion-dollar transformation and now joins 250 Radisson Blu hotels worldwide and its sister property: The Radisson Blu Mall of America.
Following the lively ceremony, I was led on a tour of the property by Gina Walsh, the Radisson Blu Minneapolis’ catering sales manager. I was shown the modern, Minneapolis-themed guest rooms and executive level suites, as well as the lobby, FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar, and the extensive meeting and event space.
Immediately upon entering the Radisson Blu Minneapolis, I was greeted by an impressive media wall that acts as the centerpiece of the hotel lobby. The large square screen, which lately has been playing host to FIFA World Cup soccer games, is customizable and can grandly display a company’s logo.  The media wall serves as a backdrop for a technology-focused lobby, which will soon hold Mac computers for guests to use, as well as touch screens scattered throughout the hotel’s main areas that link to events in the city, transportation and weather information, and even allow you to check into your upcoming flight.
The 360-room property designated the entire second and third floors to 29,000 square feet of new meeting and event space. These two floors are home to a 7,000-square-foot ballroom that can seat up to 600 guests, and 22 other meeting rooms that are enhanced with natural lighting and complimentary wireless Internet. The entire space has received a complete redesign and now exudes an urban feel to match the hotel’s downtown location. Additionally, the Radisson Blu Minneapolis will offer a 24-hour business center, located within the meetings and event space, that will be up and running in the next few months.
In celebration of the official opening, and the MLB All Star Game in Minneapolis, the hotel’s FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar is offering a few specials. Because the restaurant is located just a few blocks from Target Field, the doors will be staying open late on Monday, July 14 and Tuesday, July 15 with a party outside the hotel entrance rounding out the celebration on Tuesday. The extended hours mean a late-night menu will be served until 4 a.m. both nights and will include items such as grilled polenta, smoked salmon rillettes and a blue ox burger. The party, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, will include food options such as a bacon-wrapped hot dog with pepper jack cheese and crispy onions and the All Star Burger with white cheddar, fired pickles, smokey ketchup, lettuce, tomato and red onion. Other options include smoked pork ribs, grilled chicken wings, and the American Dog.
