Carlson Companies history

Five months after he quit his steady job, Carlson made his first sale, in March 1939, to a small grocer in south Minneapolis.

In 1940, strapped for cash, Carlson sold six $100 shares in his enterprise to friends but planned to buy them back when he became more solvent, since he was intent on retaining control of the company himself.

By 1941, his client list had grown to include 200 merchants in the Minnesota area.

In 1944, when Carlson was called up to join the war effort, he sold a half interest in the company to Truman Johnson, who had also been employed by Procter & Gamble, and left the business in his hands.

In 1946 Carlson vowed to expand the company into seven states within the next five years.

In 1953 Carlson scored a major coup, leaving behind forever the days of individual sales to "mom and pop"-type stores, when the largest grocery chain in the nation, Super Valu Stores, Inc., based in Minneapolis, began offering Gold Bond trading stamps.

In 1957 Kroger, the company's original Top Value client, bought the Top Value portion of Carlson's business for $1 million.

In 1962, Carlson purchased their first Radisson Hotel in Minneapolis.

Carlson Associates, a family owned and operated real estate and land investment company, began when Lee Carlson sold the family dairy farm in 1969.

Since its formation in 1973, Carlson Associates has been involved within the real estate and development of the Greater Denver Metropolitan Area.

Carlson purchased the chain in 1975 when there were just 12 restaurants.

In 1978 Carlson began the acquisition of WaSko Gold Products, a New York City-based jewelry manufacturer, for about $18.2 million.

After gaining experience in the hotel industry through the ownership of the Radisson Hotel chain, Carlson Companies ventured into the travel agency business in 1979.

Starting in the early to mid 1980’s, Carlson Associates shifted its’ focus towards opportunities in residential land development.

By 1982 Carlson's holdings had grown to encompass 75 different companies with combined sales of $2.1 billion.

On January 1, 1983, Carlson appointed his son-in-law, Edwin C. (Skip) Gage III, to be executive vice-president.

In 1985, Carlson Real Estate Company was formed to focus on the broad portfolio of holdings.

In 1986 Carlson moved to cash in on its relationship with nearly 500 different travel agencies and raise the number of bookings for its 22 hotels.

In 1987, Carlson founded Country Inns & Suites By Carlson.

In 1988 Carlson Companies underwent a corporate reorganization that resulted in the formation of Carlson Holdings, Inc., a parent company governance for all the properties of the Carlson family.

In late 1990, the Carlson Travel Network was forced to put some home office employees on a shortened work week to avoid layoffs, as its business was damaged by tension over the impending Persian Gulf War, which battered the travel industry.

In 1991 the recession continued, and profits for Carlson Companies dipped.

The company had operations in 38 countries, and it took to the high seas as well in May 1992, when it inaugurated service on a futuristic-looking cruise ship, the Radisson Diamond, through its newly formed Radisson Seven Seas Cruises luxury cruise line.

Forbes reported in October 1993 that the success of the travel and hospitality groups was at least partly attributable to Curtis Carlson allowing the heads of these groups considerable autonomy.

In 1994, Carlson Travel Group and Paris-based Wagonlit Travel signed an alliance to form Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT)— one of the world’s largest business travel management companies.

CWT acquires Kaleva Travel Ltd., its partner since 1995, with operations in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania.

In late 1996, Carlson formed a partnership with Four Seasons Hotels Inc. to expand the Four Seasons' Regent luxury-hotel chain.

And in mid-1997 CLG expanded in the United Kingdom with the purchase of Inspirations PLC and its 97-unit, Glasgow, Scotland-headquartered A.T. Mays travel agency, the fourth-largest such agency in the United Kingdom.

By January 1998, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises boasted of six luxury liners with a total capacity of 1,202 berths, making it the fourth-largest luxury cruise line in the world.

In 2000, Carlson acquired the Park Plaza and Park Inn brands.

November CWT expands its presence in Latin America with two acquisitions: Centenial Group, its partner in Costa Rica since 2004, in October, and Net Tour Viagens E Turismo LTDA (Net Tours) in Brazil.

February CWT received a 2009 Business Travel Innovation Award for its compliance-enhancing solution CWT Policy Messenger at the Business Travel Show held in London.

The program later was modified and became goldpoints plus, the incentive program of Carlson Hotels. (Effective March 31, 2011, Club Carlson replaced the goldpoints plus hotel loyalty program.)

July CWT To Go TM, our mobile app, wins the 2012 Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) award for innovation of the year in the category of "Outstanding apps" – voted for by business travelers.

Rautio most previously served as the company’s CFO. In May 2013, Diana Nelson assumed the chairmanship of the board of directors, succeeding her mother, Marilyn Carlson Nelson, who also continues to serve on board.”

In 2014, the company further strengthened its relationship with a landmark, decade-long, $25 million investment in the University of Minnesota.

April CWT reported strong 2017 performance.

March CWT reported strong growth in 2018.

June CWT publishes its 2019 Annual Responsible Business Report and reached its third consecutive annual EcoVadis Gold rating and the United Nations Global Compact Advanced Level rating for its annual Responsible Business Report.