MINNEAPOLIS (Dec. 18, 2003) - Carlson Companies has appointed Kathy Hollenhorst to the newly created position of vice president, Relationship Management and Development, Centers of Expertise.

A longtime member of Carlson's consumer brands' leadership group, Hollenhorst previously was executive vice president - Carlson Consumer Group. In her new role, she is responsible for the development of the customer relationship and data strategies for the Carlson enterprise, working closely with the company's business units, Carlson Marketing Group and the recently acquired Peppers & Rogers Group, a customer-strategy consulting firm. She will continue to report to Carlson President and Chief Operating Officer Curtis Nelson.

In partnership with Carlson Chief Information Officer Steve Brown, Hollenhorst will develop Carlson's business strategies and policies for the company's data trust - an enterprise-wide data warehouse. 

Nelson also announced the promotion of three people who report to Hollenhorst:

Gino Giovannelli to vice president, e-Business Solutions, Center of Expertise - Carlson Companies. He is responsible for new enhancements to Carlson's e-Platform and the enterprise portal. Giovannelli will also provide e-Business strategies, brand websites and e-Marketing expertise for all Carlson business units. Previously, he was director of e-Commerce for Radisson Hotels & Resorts, and in 2001, he joined the Customer Relationship Management team at Carlson as the senior director of e-Business Strategy. 

Mike Sund to senior director, Customer Data & Valuation - Carlson Companies. Sund will lead the development of data strategy and the customer valuation and measurement initiatives. He will also support the development of Carlson's customer strategies, Data Trust and customer relationship management applications.

Mike Williams to Intelligence - Carlson Companies. He will continue to lead the company's initiative to integrate marketing and customer knowledge, and the development of intelligence processes and tools.

Carlson Companies is a global leader in the marketing, business and leisure travel, and hospitality industries. Among the names in the Carlson family of brands and services are: Carlson Marketing Group®, Peppers and Rogers Group, Carlson Wagonlit Travel®,  Carlson Destination Marketing Services, Regent® International Hotels, Radisson® Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson®,  Park Inn® hotels, Results Travel, Cruise Holidays, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises®, and T.G.I.  Friday's®  and Pick Up Stix® restaurants.