Michael Batt

President, CEO
Carlson Leisure Group

Michael Batt joined Carlson in 1996 and for the past 10 years he has been responsible for Carlson's leisure travel operations, which includes Carlson Travel Franchise Group, Carlson Leisure Travel Services, Carlson Vacation and Business Travel and Carlson Destination Marketing Services.

Carlson Travel Franchise Group brand has been named as the top travel business franchise by Entrepreneur for each of the last 10 years and the Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate Program has been ranked as the third overall franchiser in 2005 by Franchise Times, for the fifth consecutive year. In 2003 and 2005, Results! Travel^® was named top new franchise organization by Entrepreneur, along with being listed within the top 100 overall in both Entrepreneur's 2006 Franchise 500^® and Franchise Times' 2005 Top 200 listings.

Prior to joining Carlson, Mike was executive vice president, sales and marketing for Alamo Rent-A-Car. He was responsible for worldwide sales and marketing for the car rental giant.

Prior to Alamo, Mike served as marketing director (and member of the executive board) of British Airways where he was responsible for all advertising and promotion, product development and delivery of service standards (1987-1994). Mike previously enjoyed 12-year tenure with the Mars Company, in various sales and brand management positions. He is a native of the United Kingdom and holds a Bachelor of Science in economics and materials from the University of Wales.