Carlson Hotels Worldwide And Its Family Of Hotel Brands Raise $156,000 In 18 Months To Help End Exploitation Of Children And Young Women Around The World

Travelers Encouraged to Participate in Semi-Annual Fund Raising Program Benefiting the World Childhood Foundation

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN (Thursday, September 15, 2005) - Carlson Hotels Worldwide today announced that it has raised $156,000 in the past 18 months in support of the World Childhood Foundation, the company's designated global charity which is dedicated to protecting children at risk from exploitation and trafficking around the world.

The funds were raised through semi-annual guest donation campaigns at participating hotels, silent auctions at its Annual Business Conferences and donations from corporate and hotel employees for World Childhood Tsunami relief to help teens at risk plus other activities during the year.

During the recent spring campaign, participating Carlson Hotels Worldwide brand locations in the Americas invited guests to 'Make Room in Your Heart for Kids' by donating $1 per night's stay to benefit the World Childhood Foundation (Childhood). Participating Carlson hotel branded hotels, including Radisson Hotels & Resorts®, Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlsonsm and Park Inn®, raised over $24,000.

Carlson Companies, the parent company of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, is a founding sponsor of Childhood, donating over $1 million through the Curtis L. Carlson Foundation to help establish this global foundation. World Childhood efforts support over 75 children's aid programs in 15 countries.

"Through the vital work of Childhood, we are committed to reaching out to at-risk children and young women around the world, helping the most vulnerable members of society," said Yvonne La Penotiere president of Carlson Hotels Worldwide-The Americas. "We are particularly pleased that our guests and employees have committed to supporting this effort with their generous contributions," she added, "enabling us to help children around the corner and around the globe."

The Carlson Hotels Worldwide guest fundraising program runs twice a year in spring and fall, and the next 'Make Room in Your Heart' property campaign will run from October through November, 2005.

Founded in 1999 by Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, World Childhood Foundation is headquartered in Stockholm, with offices in New York, Sao Paulo and Munich. The Foundation has so far donated over $7 million (USD) to help aid children at risk of exploitation around the world. In the United States, for example, Childhood supports:

The Bridge for Runaway Youth in Minneapolis - serving homeless children and youth at risk for sexual trafficking


Northside Center for Child Development in Harlem, New York - rehabilitation and support services for sexually abused children


Inwood House in NY, NY- helping teens and young mothers make healthy decisions for themselves and their children


In a related initiative aimed to help children, Carlson is also the first North American company to sign a global code of conduct designed to protect children against sexual exploitation and trafficking in the travel and tourism industry. Carlson's compliance with the ECPAT Code of Conduct includes educational outreach to the public, staff education and other measures to end the exploitation of children in the travel industry.

For complete background on all of World Childhood Foundation's current projects, please visit www.childhood-usa.org. For additional information on the Code of Conduct visit www.thecode.org.

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