Marilyn Carlson Nelson, chairman and CEO of Carlson Companies, has been selected to serve as vice chair of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.
The board will work with U.S. Commerce Department Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez to determine how to increase the number of international visitors to the United States and help create a national tourism policy.
Fifteen U.S. travel and tourism industry executives from across the country serve on the advisory board, which will be chaired by James A. Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
In 2003, Congress appropriated $6 million to create an international travel and tourism campaign promoting the United States to people in the United Kingdom, which is a top overseas source market for travelers to the U.S., according to the Commerce Department. The campaign included market and evaluation research, consumer and trade advertising, and promotional initiatives. In 2006, the Commerce Department will launch a similar campaign to include Japan and the United Kingdom.
Carlson Companies operates a number of hotel, restaurant, business and leisure travel, and marketing businesses. Among the names in the Carlson family of brands and services are: Regent International Hotels, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Park Inn hotels, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Carlson Destination Marketing Services, Carlson Leisure Travel Services, CW Government Travel, Results Travel, Cruise Holidays, All Aboard Travel, Cruise Specialists, Fly4less.com, SinglesCruise.com, SeaMaster Cruises, Cruise Deals, Inc., Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, Carlson Marketing Group, Gold Points Reward Network and T.G.I. Friday’s and Pick Up Stix restaurants.
Network
