Founded in 1856, Niagara University is a 3,375-student liberal arts university sponsored by the Vincentian community, an order of priests and brothers founded by St. Vincent de Paul.  The university is home to five colleges:  the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the College of Education, the College of Business Administration, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Nursing.  Nelson is an esteemed friend of Niagara's College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, which is one of only four colleges of hospitality and tourism in the U.S.    
 
Nelson presides over a global hospitality services organization which includes more than 1,330 hotel, resort, restaurant, and cruise ship operations in 77 countries. For example, Carlson Hotels Worldwide includes Radisson Hotels and Resorts, the rapidly growing Country Inns and Suites, Regent International Hotels, and vacation ownership and lifestyle living communities.  Carlson Restaurants Worldwide includes the 650-unit T.G.I. Friday's brand.  Carlson Cruises Worldwide launched its seventh cruise ship under its Radisson Seven Seas Cruises' flag last year.

A champion of technology, e-commerce and customer-loyalty programs, Nelson believes that his company's future success will be driven by building lasting customer relationships founded on the principles of caring, trust and respect.  Nelson directs the Blue Ribbon Task Force of the American Hotel and Lodging Association's Commission and serves on the Travel Business Roundtable, a national coalition of 70 CEO's representing all sectors of the hospitality and tourism industry.  He also serves on a number of boards in Minneapolis, Minn., including the United Way, the Walker Arts Center, and the Advisory Council of the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, to name a few.

Nelson joined Carlson Hospitality Worldwide in 1989 as a management executive with Radisson Hotels Worldwide.  He served in a variety of management positions in key company operations around the U.S., and in 1993, was named president and CEO of Country Hospitality Worldwide, which included Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Country Kitchen Restaurants.  In 1995, Nelson was named executive vice president and chief operating officer of Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, and in 1997, he was named to his current post as president and CEO.

Nelson earned his bachelor of science degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and an MBA degree from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn.

Carlson Hospitality Worldwide is one of the major operating groups of Carlson Companies Inc., and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn.  Carlson Companies also includes Carlson Marketing Group, a worldwide marketing services company, plus operations in the travel industry including Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Carlson Leisure Group, totaling 5,300 travel offices in 140 countries.