Carlson Timeline
1938 - 1961
1938: Gold Bond Stamp Company founded and developed by Curtis L. Carlson in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1938 - 1952: Gold Bond trading stamps slowly worked their way into the Minneapolis marketplace, then regionally.
1953: Gold Bond trading stamps introduced into one of the nation's largest food chains – Super Valu food stores – the first large supermarket chain in the nation to use trading stamps. Almost overnight, Gold Bond stamps became a household name for Americans.
1955: Gold Bond trading stamps introduced into Canada. Gold Bond eventually becomes the largest trading stamp company in Canada.
1959 - 1961: Joint venture acquisitions of 1,000 acres for home office and Minneapolis Industrial Park.
1961 - 1969
1962: Gold Bond Stamp Company headquarters opened in Plymouth, Minnesota.
1962: Carlson acquired first Radisson Hotel in downtown Minneapolis.
1968: Number of trading stamps issued nationally by all companies reached peak year.
1970 - 1980
1973: Company changed name to Carlson Companies, Inc., to reflect its diversification.
1975: Acquired T.G.I. Friday's restaurants.
1977: Achieved $1 billion in annual revenues.
1979: Acquired Ask Mr. Foster Travel.
1980: Premium Group changed name to Carlson Marketing Group, Inc.
1981 - 1990
1981: Acquired E.F. MacDonald Motivation Company, Dayton, Ohio.
1985: Founded Carlson Real Estate Company.
1987: Founded Country Inns & Suites By Carlson brand.
1987: Acquired Provisions, a global purchasing, project-management and distribution services company.
1989: Carlson Companies moved most of its operations to the new World Headquarters at Carlson Center in Minnetonka, Minnesota.
1990: Marilyn Carlson Nelson became member of Carlson Companies Board of Directors.
1990: Acquired A.T. Mays Group (travel agencies in England and Scotland).
1990: Ask Mr. Foster changed name to Carlson Travel Network.
1992 - 1995
1992: Launched the Radisson Diamond, the largest twin-hull ship ever built, marked the company's entry into the international cruise market.
1994: Acquired Cruise Holidays.
1994: Radisson Diamond Cruise merged with Seven Seas Cruise Line to form Radisson Seven Seas Cruises.
1994: Radisson and SAS hotels formed partnership for international growth.
1994: Carlson Travel Group and Paris-based Wagonlit Travel sign alliance to form Carlson Wagonlit Travel – one of the world's largest business travel management companies.
1996 - 1998
1996: Acquired Regent brand.
1996: Founded Carlson Destination Marketing Services and Carlson Leisure Travel Services.
1997: Curtis L. Carlson launched the Gold Points program – "trading stamps gone electronic."
1998: Curtis L. Carlson named daughter Marilyn Carlson Nelson as President and CEO.
1999 - 2000
1999: Carlson Companies and Westdeutsche Landesbank, Preussag, merged Thomas Cook's worldwide leisure travel and financial services with Carlson Leisure Group, U.K.
1999: Curtis L. Carlson, Founder and Chairman of the Board, Carlson Companies, died on Feb. 19, 1999.
1999: Seven Seas Navigator, 480-guest cruise ship, launched.
1999: Marilyn Carlson Nelson became Carlson Companies' Board Chairman.
1999: Carlson Companies became a co-founder of the World Childhood Foundation, global initiative to help at-risk children.
2000: Acquired Park Plaza and Park Inn hotel brands.
2000: Carlson Companies announced the sale of its 22 percent ownership share of Thomas Cook Holdings to German tour conglomerate C&N of Frankfurt, Germany.
2000: Founded Results! Travel agency franchise.
2001 - 2003
2001: Acquired Pick Up Stix restaurant brand.
2001: T.G.I. Friday's celebrated 500th restaurant opening in the U.S.
2001: Acquired Cruise Holidays franchise units.
2001: Seven Seas Mariner, 708-guest cruise ship, launched.
2002: Carlson Hotels Worldwide announced expansion plans for Asia Pacific, creation of Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific and a new global structure.
2003: Seven Seas Voyager, all-suite, all-balcony cruise ship, launched.
2003: Carlson Marketing acquired Peppers & Rogers Group, a leading authority on customer-based business strategy.
2003: Firelake Grill House & Cocktail Bar opened in Radisson Plaza Hotel, Minneapolis.
2004 - 2005
2004: Carlson Leisure Group launched SeaMaster Cruises franchise for home-based cruise-only agents.
2004: Carlson Wagonlit Travel announced the completion of its acquisition of Maritz Corporate Travel, the U.S. corporate travel subsidiary of Maritz Travel Company.
2004: Carlson Companies became the first North American corporation to sign the Code of Conduct for the protection of children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism.
2004: Carlson Leisure Group acquired SinglesCruise.com®, All Aboard Travel, Fly4Less.com and Cruise Specialists, Inc.
2005: Acquired Cruise Deals, Inc.
2005: Carlson Vacation and Business Travel acquired Caravelle Travel Management.
2005: T.G.I. Friday's celebrated its 40th birthday.
2006 - 2007
2006: Carlson announced the merger of Regent Hotels and Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, creating a global Regent brand. The new global Regent brand encompasses Regent Hotels & Resorts and Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, which changed its name to Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
2006: Carlson and One Equity Partners acquired Accor's 50 percent share of Carlson Wagonlit Travel.
2006: Doubling its size in North America and strengthening its presence in key regional markets Carlson Wagonlit Travel acquired Navigant International.
2006: Carlson Marketing acquired TQ3Navigant Performance Group in the United States, continuing the agency's growth as a powerhouse in the meetings, incentive and event marketing business.
2006: Carlson unveiled new logo symbolizing the company's Heart, Heritage and Future, and shortened name to Carlson.
2006: Partners in Travel Luxury Travel Network launched for Cruise Specialist agents.
2007: Carlson Leisure Group launched Dazzle Travel.
2007: Carlson Hotels Worldwide acquired additional shares of Rezidor Hotel Group, increasing Carlson's ownership share to 41.7 percent.
2007: Carlson Wagonlit Travel acquired the business travel operations of Preferred Travel, Inc., a registered travel management company in the northeast U.S.
2007: Grand Lodge Hotel at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN was renamed the Radisson Hotel Bloomington By Mall of AmericaTM
2008
2008: Apollo Management L.P. acquired Regent Seven Seas Cruises operations
2008: Carlson Leisure Group (CLG) and its portfolio of leisure travel-related businesses acquired by CLG's management team
2008: Hubert Joly is named President and CEO of Carlson; Marilyn Carlson Nelson remains Chairman of the Board
