Carlson Expands Responsible Business Action Month

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Carlson, a privately held, global hospitality and travel company, today announced the global expansion of its Responsible Business Action Month. In September, Carlson hotels across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia were invited to take action in their hotels and communities by organizing social and environmental activities and raising funds to support Carlson's corporate charity organization, World Childhood Foundation.  

"Responsible Business Action Month has been celebrated by Carlson branded hotels in 40 countries for the past six years. This year, we have taken steps to extend the effort to include our Radisson®, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(SM), Park Inn® and Park Plaza® hotels across the 70 countries in which we operate," said Beathe-Jeanette Lunde, executive vice president, people development and responsible business, Carlson.

Hotel activities included people focused events such as a health and safety week at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center Canmore, Alberta, Canada; community focused events such as a film festival at the Radisson Fort George Hotel & Marina in Belize to benefit the Stella Maris School for mentally and physically challenged kids; and environmental activities such as participation in the local adopt-a-highway program by the Country Inn & Suites in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis organized a 5K run/walk and kids fun run to benefit World Childhood Foundation. Carlson was a co-founder of the organization that raises awareness of children at risk for abuse and exploitation.

In addition to the activities that took place at Carlson's hotels around the world, the corporate headquarters and reservation center employees participated in the Carlson Community Giving Campaign. The campaign provides employees with a well-rounded mix of opportunities to make an impact in the community locally, nationally and internationally.  Partners of the campaign include the Carlson Health and Wellness Initiative, Global Impact, Greater Twin Cities United Way and Minnesota Environmental Fund.

"The purpose of this effort is to contribute to the communities in which we operate, and help meet people's basic needs, including food, shelter and education," said Hubert Joly, Carlson's president & chief executive officer.

Responsible Business Action Month is part of Carlson's overall Responsible Business strategy that addresses how the company interacts with all of its stakeholders, including its people, its customers, its partners, its suppliers, the environment, governments, and the communities in which it operates. For more details about Carlson's responsible business strategy, please visit www.carlson.com/responsible-business/.

About Carlson

Carlson is a privately held, global hospitality and travel company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. Carlson encompasses more than 1,075 hotels, including Radisson®, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(SM), Park Inn® and Park Plaza®; more than 1,000 restaurants, including T.G.I. Friday's® and Pick Up Stix®; and a majority stake in Carlson Wagonlit Travel®, the global leader in business travel management. Carlson operates in more than 150 countries and its brands employ about 150,000 people. http://www.carlson.com

SOURCE Carlson