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Bjorn Gullaksen and Nancy Johnson Assume New Executive
Vice President Roles at Carlson Hotels
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MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 20, 2006) ---- Carlson Hotels Worldwide today announced two key appointments in its senior leadership team. Bjørn Gullaksen, formerly executive vice president of Full Service Hotels, has been named executive vice president of Managed Hotels & Resorts. Also, Nancy Johnson, who served as executive vice president of Select Service Hotels, was named executive vice president of Full Service Hotels. Both Gullaksen and Johnson directly report to Yvonne La Penotiere, president of Carlson Hotels Worldwide-The Americas, who announced these changes.  

The company's full-service brands include Regent International Hotels, Radisson Hotels & Resorts® and Park Plazasm Hotels & Resorts; select-service brands are Country Inns & Suites By Carlsonsm and Park Inn®.  Johnson will continue to oversee the select-service brands until a new leader is named. 

"Both Bjorn and Nancy are veteran, highly valued leaders in Carlson Hotels Worldwide," said La Penotiere. "They have consistently demonstrated their abilities to implement our vision and strategy while growing our brands for sustained success. Bjorn's appointment to lead our managed hotels and resorts portfolio takes advantage of his wealth of operational experience. Nancy's exceptional performance with our select-service brands makes her the ideal choice for assuming the full-service leadership role," La Penotiere added.

About Bjørn Gullaksen

As executive vice president of Managed Hotels & Resorts, Gullaksen is responsible for leading the Carlson Hotels managed portfolio which includes 29 properties under the brands of Radisson, Park Plaza and Country Inn, and an executive retreat in Northern Wisconsin.  

Before his appointment to executive vice president and brand leader for Radisson Hotels & Resorts in 2002, Gullaksen was a regional vice president of operations for Radisson Hotels & Resorts.  In other experience he served as senior vice president of operations for Brussels-based Rezidor SAS Hospitality, Carlson's partner in the EMEA. He also held a variety of other senior executive and management roles with Radisson SAS, which is part of Rezidor. 

Gullaksen began his career in the tourism industry with Winge Travel Bureau in Norway as a tour guide to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany and Holland, while earning an advanced degree in law from the University of Oslo.  He completed the Advanced General Manager Training at INSEAD, School of Business Administration in Paris, France.  He also completed the University of Minnesota/Carlson School of Management Executive Program for senior executives. 
 
About Nancy Johnson

As executive vice president of Full Service Hotels, Johnson will lead the overall strategy of the company's full service brands, particularly Radisson and Park Plaza. In this role, she serves as the brand champion for franchisee and partner relationships, leads implementation of new programs and services plus oversees the development of brand systems, processes and standards.  

Prior experience at Carlson includes service as executive vice president of Select Service, senior vice president of Development, vice president of Development and senior director of Franchise Development for the mid-tier lodging chain of Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. 
 
Before joining Carlson, Johnson was vice president/chief operating officer at Hospitality Development Corporation, and was employed with Brutger Companies, Inc., where she held the various leadership positions.

Johnson was recently appointed to the board of directors for The Travel Partnership Corporation, a consortium of travel industry organizations representing all key segments of the industry. She is also the founding chair of the Women in Lodging Council of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Johnson also serves on the board of directors of the International Hotel and Restaurant Association. She has also been named one of the Most Powerful Women in Travel by Travel Agent magazine.

Minneapolis-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide, includes five hotel brands, totaling 922 hotels in 69 countries.  Hotel brands include: Regent International Hotels, a respected brand in the luxury segment of the lodging industry; Radisson Hotels & Resorts®, one of the world's leading upscale hotel companies with 415 locations; Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, positioned in the mid-scale segment of the full-service hotel category, has 36 hotels globally and is known for its great value and customer-focused service culture; Country Inns & Suites By Carlsonsm, one of the fastest growing, mid-tier lodging chains with over 380 locations offering excellent value with upgraded services and amenities; and Park Inn®, with 83 hotels worldwide, is a unique emerging hotel brand offering a relaxed environment in the economy category and is poised for aggressive global growth. 

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Contact:

Joan Cronson
763-212-1418
[email protected]
 

Also See: Yvonne La Penotiere Appointed President of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, the Americas / June 2005
Bjorn Gullaksen Named Executive Vice President and Brand Leader for Radisson Hotels & Resorts / Oct 2002

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