Carlson Receives Responsible Business Award for Partnership Supporting Global Effort Aimed at Protecting Children From Commercial Sexual Exploitation

MINNEAPOLIS, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Carlson, a global hospitality and travel company, has been recognized for supporting the efforts of a global network of organizations and people working together to eliminate the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

Ethical Corporation, an independent United Kingdom company that provides competitive intelligence reports for business sustainability, recently announced the award in London.

In 2004, Carlson was the first North American company in the travel and tourism industry to sign a code of conduct, which commits companies to establish an ethical policy regarding protection of children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism. Funded by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and supported by the United Nations World Travel Organization, the initiative is an industry-driven responsible tourism undertaking in collaboration with ECPAT International (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes).

"Our commitment to protect children is a part of our efforts to operate as a caring, engaged, global citizen," said Hubert Joly, Carlson's president and chief executive officer.

"The company has shown exemplary thought leadership in a sector that often lacks serious strategic action on corporate responsibility," said judges who chose award recipients in 10 categories. "In seriously addressing an important area that is often perceived as a taboo in the travel sector, this company has performed great work on an issue many firms in the industry both overlook and ignore."

Earlier this year, Joly signed the United Nations Global Compact. The initiative encourages businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies supporting 10 principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption.

About Carlson

Carlson is a privately held, global hospitality and travel company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Carlson encompasses more than 1,080 hotels, including, Radisson®, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(SM), Park Inn®, Park Plaza® and Regent®; 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