MARIGOT, St. Martin -- Carlson Hotels Worldwide has opened a new $80 million resort in the French Caribbean dependency of St. Martin.

The Minneapolis-based company's VP for communications, Tom Polski, says the 252-room Radisson St. Martin Resort is the 1,000th hotel in Carlson's worldwide portfolio.

Polski said that the financial meltdown is making times tough for the global hospitality industry. But he predicted that the new resort "will be serving customers for many years to come."

The oceanfront resort, which features a spa and a marina, opened in December and is managed by Radisson Hotels & Resorts.