Carlson Leisure Group is based in Minneapolis, Minn. and is the global leisure and franchise travel agency arm of Carlson Companies, Inc. Carlson Leisure Group manages leisure and franchise travel operations worldwide under a variety of brand names.

Carlson Leisure Group Brands
Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates -- The largest travel agency franchisor in North America, with more than 1,300 Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Travel Agents International franchise locations. In 1998, for the second consecutive year, Carlson Wagonlit's Associate program was named the top travel business franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine and was ranked the No. 6 franchise in the U.S. by Franchise Times magazine.

The Carlson Wagonlit Travel brand name brings together two of the most legendary names in travel. Carlson Travel Network's predecessor, Ask Mr. Foster, is the oldest travel agency network in the U.S., founded in 1888 by Ward G. Foster in St. Augustine, Florida. In 1872, Belgian innovator Georges Nagelmackers founded his first business which was to serve overnight travelers on European trains by creating "wagons-lits" -- literally, "sleeping cars." In 1928, full-service Wagonlit travel agencies sprung up in rail ticket offices throughout Europe.

Carlson Worldchoice -- A leisure travel agency based in Scotland. Carlson Worldchoice operates more than 400 travel agencies in the U.K., and has an alliance with ARTAC WorldChoice, an independent consortium of 600 locations.

Carlson Travel Academies -- Offers premier travel agent instruction at seven locations throughout the U.S.(see Careers).

Neiman Marcus Travel Services -- Operates twelve "private-label" travel stores for customers within Neiman Marcus department stores.

Carlson Vacations -- Leisure brand in Russia. Currently operates one agency in Moscow.

Carlson Destination Marketing Services -- Delivers a wide range of marketing services for destinations around the world.

Related Companies
Carlson Wagonlit Travel (business division) -- Carlson Wagonlit Travel, with executive offices in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Americas headquarters in Minneapolis, Minn., is one of the world leaders in business travel management. Today, the Carlson Wagonlit Travel network for business travel, resulting from the merger of the Carlson and Wagonlit business travel activities completed in January 1997, has over 3,000 locations in 141 countries and generates over $9.5 billion in annual sales. Carlson Wagonlit Travel is co-owned by the Paris-based Accor Group and Minneapolis-based Carlson Companies, Inc. Related brands are Wagonlit Travel in Europe, providing incentives and group services; Wagons-Lits Japan, providing group services; and Viajes Ecuador in Spain.

Carlson Companies, Inc., the parent company of Carlson Leisure Group and a co-owner of Carlson Wagonlit's global travel company, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Carlson Companies is one of the largest privately owned travel, hospitality, and marketing services companies in the U.S. Revenues under Carlson brands worldwide are projected to surpass $20 billion in 1997. Carlson Companies was founded in 1938 by Curtis L. Carlson. People employed under Carlson brands numbers 130,000. In addition to Carlson Wagonlit Travel, the company's brands include Radisson Hotels International; Country Lodging By Carlson; T.G.I. Friday's; and Carlson Marketing Group, a marketing services company.