Kinseth Assumes Management of Royal Sonesta Minneapolis
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Kinseth Assumes Management of Royal Sonesta Minneapolis
Iowa-based operator adds downtown Minneapolis hotel and its top-rated restaurant, Wood + Paddle, to its portfolio
Minneapolis, Minnesota — October 15, 2026
Kinseth Hospitality Companies (KHC) has assumed the management contract for the Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown, effective October 15, 2026. Kinseth will oversee daily operations of the hotel, its meeting and event spaces, and its restaurant, Wood + Paddle.
The hotel joins a Kinseth portfolio that spans Marriott, Hilton and IHG-affiliated properties along with boutique and independent destinations. Located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, the 360-room hotel connects directly to the city’s nearly 10-mile climate-controlled skyway system.
A Downtown Legacy
The Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown carries one of the city’s great hotel legacies. It stands on the site of the very first Radisson hotel, which opened in 1909 and was celebrated as “the finest hotel between Chicago and the West Coast.” The original hotel was torn down in 1982, and the current building opened on the same site in 1987.
Today the hotel offers 360 guest rooms and suites, among the most spacious in downtown Minneapolis, including Business Class Suites with access to the Business Class Lounge. Groups have more than 30,000 square feet of space across 21 flexible venues, including the 7,000-square-foot Scandinavian Ballroom for gatherings of up to 500 guests. A 24-hour fitness center, concierge service, and pet-friendly rooms round out the stay.
Nicollet Mall, the IDS Center and Crystal Court, the Hennepin Theatre District, First Avenue, Orchestra Hall and Target Center are all steps away by skyway or a few blocks. Target Field, U.S. Bank Stadium, the Minneapolis Convention Center, the North Loop, the Guthrie Theater and the Stone Arch Bridge are an easy walk, and the METRO Blue Line offers a direct ride to Mall of America and Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport.
Wood + Paddle: Minneapolis’s #1 Restaurant
The transition brings one of the city’s most celebrated dining rooms into the Kinseth family. Wood + Paddle, the Royal Sonesta’s signature restaurant, is currently ranked the #1 restaurant in Minneapolis on Tripadvisor out of more than 1,500 restaurants.
The restaurant also recently earned a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice award for 2026, which recognizes businesses that consistently receive outstanding reviews from travelers. Kinseth plans to build on that momentum while keeping the menu, team and guest experience that diners have made a local favorite.
Wood + Paddle Eatery serves Northern-inspired dishes made with Minnesota-grown ingredients and cooked over a wood-fired grill, along with craft cocktails and private dining for up to 40 guests.
A Commitment to Team and Community
“We’re honored to welcome the Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown and the Wood + Paddle team to Kinseth,” said Elliott Rhoad, Director of Operations for Kinseth Hospitality. “This hotel already has a talented team and a restaurant that Minneapolis loves. Our job is to support them, invest in their success and keep earning that trust from guests and neighbors every day.”
“Being named the top restaurant in a city with this many great options says everything about our culinary and service team,” said Daniel DeDecker, General Manager of the Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown. “We’re excited to keep that going with Kinseth behind us.”
“With 21 venues and the Scandinavian Ballroom under one roof, we can host everything from an intimate board meeting to a 500-guest celebration,” said Riana Van Staden, Director of Sales. “Planners will find the same dedicated team, now backed by Kinseth’s experience across hotels and restaurants.”
Guests with existing reservations will see no change to their bookings, and the hotel will continue to operate under the Royal Sonesta brand.
About Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown
The Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown offers 360 guest rooms and suites, more than 30,000 square feet of event space across 21 venues, and Wood + Paddle Eatery, ranked #1 of more than 1,500 Minneapolis restaurants on Tripadvisor. Built on the site of the original 1909 Radisson hotel, it connects directly to downtown Minneapolis’s skyway system.
About Kinseth Hospitality
Kinseth Hospitality is a leading hotel management, development, and ownership company. With a strong track record in developing and operating award-winning hotels — full-service, limited-service, boutique, and resort hotels — restaurants, and event venues, KHC stands out in the hospitality industry. Based in Coralville, Iowa, KHC currently manages more than 130 hotels across 16 states.
For more information about career opportunities and company updates, please visit www.kinseth.com/careers.
Kinseth Assumes Management of Royal Sonesta Minneapolis
Iowa-based operator adds downtown Minneapolis hotel and its top-rated restaurant, Wood + Paddle, to its portfolio
Minneapolis, Minnesota — October 15, 2026
Kinseth Hospitality Companies (KHC) has assumed the management contract for the Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown, effective October 15, 2026. Kinseth will oversee daily operations of the hotel, its meeting and event spaces, and its restaurant, Wood + Paddle.
The hotel joins a Kinseth portfolio that spans Marriott, Hilton and IHG-affiliated properties along with boutique and independent destinations. Located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, the 360-room hotel connects directly to the city’s nearly 10-mile climate-controlled skyway system.
A Downtown Legacy
The Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown carries one of the city’s great hotel legacies. It stands on the site of the very first Radisson hotel, which opened in 1909 and was celebrated as “the finest hotel between Chicago and the West Coast.” The original hotel was torn down in 1982, and the current building opened on the same site in 1987.
Today the hotel offers 360 guest rooms and suites, among the most spacious in downtown Minneapolis, including Business Class Suites with access to the Business Class Lounge. Groups have more than 30,000 square feet of space across 21 flexible venues, including the 7,000-square-foot Scandinavian Ballroom for gatherings of up to 500 guests. A 24-hour fitness center, concierge service, and pet-friendly rooms round out the stay.
Nicollet Mall, the IDS Center and Crystal Court, the Hennepin Theatre District, First Avenue, Orchestra Hall and Target Center are all steps away by skyway or a few blocks. Target Field, U.S. Bank Stadium, the Minneapolis Convention Center, the North Loop, the Guthrie Theater and the Stone Arch Bridge are an easy walk, and the METRO Blue Line offers a direct ride to Mall of America and Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport.
Wood + Paddle: Minneapolis’s #1 Restaurant
The transition brings one of the city’s most celebrated dining rooms into the Kinseth family. Wood + Paddle, the Royal Sonesta’s signature restaurant, is currently ranked the #1 restaurant in Minneapolis on Tripadvisor out of more than 1,500 restaurants.
The restaurant also recently earned a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice award for 2026, which recognizes businesses that consistently receive outstanding reviews from travelers. Kinseth plans to build on that momentum while keeping the menu, team and guest experience that diners have made a local favorite.
Wood + Paddle Eatery serves Northern-inspired dishes made with Minnesota-grown ingredients and cooked over a wood-fired grill, along with craft cocktails and private dining for up to 40 guests.
A Commitment to Team and Community
“We’re honored to welcome the Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown and the Wood + Paddle team to Kinseth,” said Elliott Rhoad, Director of Operations for Kinseth Hospitality. “This hotel already has a talented team and a restaurant that Minneapolis loves. Our job is to support them, invest in their success and keep earning that trust from guests and neighbors every day.”
“Being named the top restaurant in a city with this many great options says everything about our culinary and service team,” said Daniel DeDecker, General Manager of the Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown. “We’re excited to keep that going with Kinseth behind us.”
“With 21 venues and the Scandinavian Ballroom under one roof, we can host everything from an intimate board meeting to a 500-guest celebration,” said Riana Van Staden, Director of Sales. “Planners will find the same dedicated team, now backed by Kinseth’s experience across hotels and restaurants.”
Guests with existing reservations will see no change to their bookings, and the hotel will continue to operate under the Royal Sonesta brand.
About Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown
The Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown offers 360 guest rooms and suites, more than 30,000 square feet of event space across 21 venues, and Wood + Paddle Eatery, ranked #1 of more than 1,500 Minneapolis restaurants on Tripadvisor. Built on the site of the original 1909 Radisson hotel, it connects directly to downtown Minneapolis’s skyway system.
About Kinseth Hospitality
Kinseth Hospitality is a leading hotel management, development, and ownership company. With a strong track record in developing and operating award-winning hotels — full-service, limited-service, boutique, and resort hotels — restaurants, and event venues, KHC stands out in the hospitality industry. Based in Coralville, Iowa, KHC currently manages more than 130 hotels across 16 states.
For more information about career opportunities and company updates, please visit www.kinseth.com/careers.