Carlson hotels sales increased 24% in 2004
Carlson Companies announced that 2004 systemwide sales from its global, company-owned and franchised operations reached $26.1 billion, a 25 percent increase from 2003.
Sales from Carlson-owned and managed operations totaled $8.4 billion, a 24% increase.
“Our sales results are dramatically positive because of improvements in productivity, business acquisitions and our determination to be best in class,” said Carlson chairman and chief executive Marilyn Carlson Nelson. “We also have benefited from improvements in the US economy and a pent up demand for travel, which continues to improve.”
Carlson Hotels Worldwide added 87 hotels and resorts to its global, multi-brand network in 2004, including 45 hotels in the US. The company ended the year with 890 properties in 70 countries. The company’s hotel brands include Regent International Hotels, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, County Inns & Suites By Carlson, and Park Inn.
Carlson Leisure Group added America’s Vacation Store; Singlescruise, Inc.;
Fly4less.com; home-based travel agency franchise program Sea Master Cruises; and Cruise Specialists to its long list of brands, which include flagship Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Carlson Leisure group’s total number of agency locations exceeds 1,800.
Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Carlson’s business travel management division, purchased Maritz Travel Company’s US corporate travel subsidiary; OnBoard, a German travel management company, and Protravel of France.
Carlson Restaurants Worldwide added 10 company-owned T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants in the U.S. along with six new franchised locations. Internationally, 27 Friday’s restaurants opened. There are more than 530 T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants operating in 49 states and more than 230 international locations in 54 countries.
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