Carlson Hotels Worldwide Expands Goldpoints Plus to Asia Pacific
Broadens Earning and Redemption Opportunities to 824 Locations
MINNEAPOLIS, MN, October 18, 2005. Carlson Hotels Worldwide today announced it has expanded its goldpoints plusSM hotel loyalty program to enable its members in North, Central and South America to earn Gold Points(R) when staying at any of Carlson's participating hotels and resorts in Asia Pacific. Members can now earn 10 points per U.S. dollar when staying with any of the four Carlson hotels' four participating brands in the region including Radisson Hotels & Resorts(R), Park Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM and Park Inn(R). Members earn an additional 1,000 bonus Gold Points if they book online.
Members can now also redeem their points for stays in Asia and the Pacific. The 43 hotels and resorts in the region are operated by Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific and include a diverse group of business and leisure locations throughout Australia, French Polynesia, China, Japan, Thailand, Nepal and India.
"This is exciting news for our members of the goldpoints plus program, giving them an even greater opportunity to earn and redeem Gold Points for vacation or business when they travel in Asia Pacific," says Tony Hart, director of customer relationship management for Carlson Hotels Worldwide. "The Asia Pacific region features a variety of exceptional hotels in some of the world's leading gateway cities as well as remote vacation destinations such as French Polynesia, the Great Barrier Reef and the Taj Mahal."
Guests can enroll in the program at any Carlson hotel in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America or through the brand Web sites at www.radisson.com, www.parkplaza.com, www.countryinns.com or www.parkinn.com. Visit www.goldpointsplus.com for more information and a complete list of participating properties.
EARNING POWER OF GOLD POINTS
As Carlson Hotels Worldwide's guest loyalty program, goldpoints plus provides members with more ways to earn rewards quicker and more freedom to use them than any other hotel loyalty program. Guests need only earn a minimum of 5,000 Gold Points a year to earn Silver Elite status, and 10,000 points a year to earn Gold Elite status. Upon reaching the Elite tier levels, guests will have an even greater earning potential with large bonuses awarded in addition to points earned on hotel stays. Among the many added benefits, Elite members can convert their Gold Points into Membership Rewards points from American Express.
With this most recent expansion, members can now earn or redeem points at 824 Carlson hotel and resort locations worldwide under the Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn brands. This includes all the Carlson affiliated hotels in the Americas, Asia Pacific, plus all partner properties operated by Rezidor SAS Hospitality in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Members can also earn Gold Points at over 100 online retail locations in the ever-expanding Gold Points Reward Network with a vast array of award options such as free hotel nights, dining, gift certificates, plus merchandise options from leading brands. Carlson restaurant and cruise operations, including T.G.I. Friday's(R) restaurants and the luxury cruise line Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, are also part of the network.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
