We are a global, family-owned hospitality and travel company with a strong portfolio of leading brands. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., Carlson encompasses 1,077 hotels in 81 countries and territories; 924 restaurants in 61 countries and territories; and a majority stake in Carlson Wagonlit Travel, the global leader in business travel management*.

Our brands, which include Radisson Blu, Radisson®, Park Plaza®, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM, Hotel Missoni, T.G.I. Friday’s® and Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), are among the most recognized and respected in the business. Our entrepreneurial spirit is deeply rooted in our 73-year history and the Carlson Credo. Looking ahead, we are driven by our purpose, our Ambition 2015 strategy and our values.

Our Portfolio

Our business portfolio has significantly evolved over the last few years to focus on hospitality. We are a global leader in that space thanks to the strengths of our hospitality and travel brands — Radisson Blu, Radisson®, Park Plaza®, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM, Hotel Missoni, T.G.I. Friday’s® and Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) — and our strong geographic footprint.

Our focus is well placed. Travel and tourism is a large and growing industry. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the industry currently employs over 235 million individuals worldwide and represents a global annual spend of USD 6 trillion. Economic development and globalization lead corporations to expand their operations across continents and inspire individuals to discover the wider world, increasing our opportunity to serve this growing base of customers.

For Carlson, hospitality is more than a market: it represents the essence of what we do for our guests. We simply like to take care of them and bring them extraordinary service.

Our founder, Curtis L. Carlson, had his own way of defining this:

“Hospitality, travel, leisure and food — what I describe collectively as the ‘happiness business’.”
*As of Q4 2011