Carlson Hotels Worldwide Launches Premier Hotel Loyalty Program: Goldpoints Plus

Faster Rewards and More Ways to Redeem Them, Than Any Other Hotel Loyalty Program

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Carlson Hotels Worldwide today announced the launch of a new hotel loyalty program, goldpoints plus, offering members more ways to earn points for rewards faster and more freedom to redeem them, than any other hotel loyalty program.

The company has redesigned its hotel loyalty program with input from customers to provide members with a seamless experience and superior value that combines the strengths of all of the Carlson hotel loyalty programs under one umbrella. Members of goldpoints plus can now earn Gold Points® when they stay at more than 800 participating Radisson Hotels & Resorts®, Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson® and Park Inn® locations worldwide. This includes all the Carlson affiliated hotels in the Americas, and partner properties operated by Rezidor SAS Hospitality in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

In addition to hotel accommodations, goldpoints plus members will have access to the Gold Points Reward Network, which includes over 100 name-brand online retail partners in the Gold Points Reward Network with an array of award options such as dining, gift certificates and merchandise options from leading brands. Carlson's restaurant operations, including T.G.I. Friday's®, and Radisson Seven Seas Cruises®, are also part of the network. All participating partners will accept any Gold Points Reward Network card and every partner offers their own unique rewards.

"As the season of giving is behind us, it's the ideal time to introduce a new loyalty program that gives travelers some 'payback' for the money they spend on hotels, and other purchases, extending their ability to get and give more year-round," said Trudy Rautio, president, Carlson Hotels Worldwide, The Americas. "Our new rewards program will do just that, as it provides our customers with the unprecedented ability to earn points faster -- and with greater flexibility and convenience than any other hotel brand."

Developed by Carlson Marketing Group, a recognized leader in relationship marketing, the Gold Points Reward Network is the nation's largest and most successful coalition loyalty program and was called a "program to watch" in the January/February 2004 issue of Peppers and Rogers' 1to1 Magazine.

"By making goldpoints plus available to guests at all of our brands, we offer them a choice from among a variety of accommodations for business or leisure travel," said Tony Hart, director, Customer Relationship Management, Carlson Hotels Worldwide. "The points they earn at any of our participating hotels can then be used for future travel or redeemed via our extensive Gold Point Rewards Network and online retail partners."

Goldpoints plus offers three levels of membership: Base, Silver Elite and Gold Elite. Upon reaching the Elite tier levels, guests will have an even greater earning potential with 50 percent and 75 percent bonuses respectively on the points earned on hotel stays.

All goldpoints plus members will receive the following rewards and benefits:

• Free room nights (15,000 to 60,000 points, depending upon Carlson hotel brand and location)
• The ability to achieve elite status faster than any other hotel program
• 1,000 points every time they book a hotel room online at goldpointsplus.com or any of the Carlson hotel brand websites
• 10 Gold Points per U.S. dollar spent on a hotel stay
• Automatic entry in quarterly sweepstakes for vacation prizes with every hotel stay, for residents of the United States and Canada
• Global network of distinct hotel experiences
• Freedom and flexibility to earn points through over 100 partners in the ever-expanding Gold Points Reward Network
• Elite members will have additional reward privileges, such as the option to convert Gold Points to a major credit card rewards program

As part of the January roll-out, the new goldpoints plus program will be supported by a national promotional campaign, including advertisements on CNN's business traveler network, USA Today and via innovative media outlets at select locations and special events nationwide.

To find out more about the goldpoints plus program, visit www.goldpointsplus.com.

About Carlson Hotels Worldwide:
Minneapolis-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide includes five hotel brands, totaling more than 890 locations in 68 countries. Hotel brands include: Regent International Hotels, one of the most respected brands in the luxury segment of the lodging industry; Radisson Hotels & Resorts®, one of the world's leading upscale hotel companies with more than 435 locations in 61 countries; Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, positioned in the mid-scale segment of the full-service hotel category, has over 35 hotels globally and is known for its great value and customer-focused service culture; Country Inns & Suites By Carlson®, one of the fastest growing, mid-tier lodging chains with over 330 locations offering excellent value with a warm and comfortable atmosphere; and Park Inn®, with nearly 80 hotels worldwide, is a unique emerging hotel brand offering a relaxed environment in the economy category and is poised for aggressive global growth.

Carlson Hotels Worldwide is one of the major operating groups of Carlson Companies, a global leader in providing corporate solutions and consumer services in the marketing, travel and hospitality industries. Other names among the Carlson family of brands and services are: Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, Carlson Marketing Group, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Results Travel, Cruise Holidays, T.G.I. Friday's® and Pick Up Stix restaurants. The company has been recognized by both Fortune and Working Mother magazines as one of the "100 best places to work for in America," Carlson Companies' corporate headquarters are in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Gold Points Reward Network:
Gold Points Reward Network is the nation's largest coalition loyalty program and was called a "program to watch" by Peppers and Rogers' 1to1 Magazine. Gold Points is a consumer strategy program of Carlson Marketing Group, a recognized leader in Relationship Marketing. The Gold Points Reward Network was launched by Carlson Companies' founder Curtis L. Carlson in 1996 as an electronic reincarnation of the Gold Bond Stamp Company, which he started in 1938 and is the basis of the current multi-billion dollar Carlson Companies. The electronic consumer incentive program rewards members for consistent loyalty, and grows sales for a network of well-known retail, service, and hospitality partners. Today, more than eight million Gold Points members earn and redeem points at more than 2,000 Gold Points partner locations including many of Carlson's nationwide brands such as Radisson Hotels & Resorts®, Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson®, Park Inn® hotels, T.G.I. Friday's® restaurants, and Radisson Seven Seas Cruises®. Members may also earn and redeem points with FTD.COM®, Spa Finder, over a hundred, brand-name online retailers featured on goldpoints.com, and more. In Canada, partners include Service Master and Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Goldpoints.com.

Source: Carlson Hotels