Hospitality Leader 1

CURTIS LEROY CARLSON 1
CURTIS LEROY CARLSON
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INTRODUCTION,
“Whatever you do, do with integrity. Wherever you go, go as a leader. Have courage to lead.
Whenever you serve, serve with caring. Whenever you dream, dream with your all. And
Innovate, never give up. ” This is one of the quotes by Curt Carlson, a businessman known for
his chain of businesses, awards and his philanthropy. Curtis Leroy Carlson also known as Curt is
an American businessman. He is the founder of Carlson and Radisson Hotel Group. This paper is
going to discuss the biography, the leadership style and the personality traits of this renowned
hospitality industry leader.
Section One: Biographical background
Curtis Carlson was born in the year 1914 on 9th of July. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
to Charles and Leatha Carlson. The father, Charles Carlson was a Swedish-American immigrant
who had arrived as a child in Minnesota while his mother Leatha Carlson was born in Downing,
Wisconsin to a Danish Father and a Swedish mother. Curt’s father was a grocer. He grew up in
Minnesota. At the age of 9 years, he was a gulf lover and at 11, he had his first newspaper and
immediately added other two while operating his own newsstand at a busy junction. At the age of
12years, he organized paper routes and employed his brothers to manage them. This is where his
business acumen began.
As a young employer (especially to his brothers), he saw school as an important part of the
process. He attended the West High School. He worked his way through college by driving soft
drink truck and also engaged in a little bit of loan sharking. As an 18year old summertime bank
messenger, he would lend cash - strapped tellers 5usd on a Friday and would collect back 6usd
on payday the following Monday. The interest rate for those 3 days became an annual interest
rate exceeding 2400. Carlson earned a BA in Economics in 1937 from the University of
Minnesota .He then began his career as $110-a-month soap salesperson with Procter and
Gamble. He did not stay there for long though.
In 1938, Carlson founded the Gold Bond Stamp Company. It was at a time when local
department stores were seeking to assure repeat business by giving customers security red
trading stamps exchangeable for premiums. Carlson then discovered that such stamps would be
good for grocery stores whose identical products left them little room to distinguish themselves
from the pack. He used $55 loan to create the company and paid a department store $10 for a
copy of the security red stamp master contract which now became his blueprint. The grocer
would pay Carlson $14.50 for products that cost $10 wholesale but of higher retail value (Ryan,
2009). Carlson’s trick was to sell the program to enough stores to create a sizable float. It is this
business that grew well after the World War II and it became one of America’s biggest private
firms. It was the proceedings from this which he used to finance most of his other important
ventures. This was around 1962, when he acquired real estate in suburban Minneapolis and a site
in Minnetonka which became its $300 million headquarters. He also acquired the downtown
Radisson Hotel which expanded into a 350-hotel chain .From there, he acquired TGI Fridays,
Carlson Leisure Group and other hospitality businesses. In 1970, Carlson changed the name of
his companies to Carlson Companies. He grew his companies’ revenue from $1million in 1952 to
$10billion in 1993.This was as a result of diversification. In 1960, Carlson bought Radisson
Hotel downtown Minneapolis and built it into a national chain. From there, he acquired TGI
Fridays, Carlson Leisure Group and other hospitality businesses.
Carlson also created an estate in Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin for his family gatherings
especially important holidays. The family referred to it as the Lodge while the public referred to
it as Minnesuing Acres after the lake it is located on and was later converted to a business resort
for corporations. Up to date it is still a business resort and it still hosts the family gatherings. He
also acquired an 85-foot yacht. For decades, his business was a $7.8 billion driving force in
travel, marketing and hospitality with over 50,000 employees (Ims & Grønhaug, 2018). His
holdings included Radisson Hotels, Country Kitchen International, Country Inns, T.G.I. Fridays
and many more. At the University of Minnesota, The Carlson School of Management is named
after him. He died from complications of a stroke at age 84. However He had a lot of
achievements and among them include; he won the Viking Baron Award, international citizen of
the year award among others.
Section Two: Personality Profile
There were will many resources that you can use to determine the “type” of person the leader is
based on what they say about themselves or what other people say about the leader. Use
personality traits and Big-Five personality dimensions from your readings and class discussions.
Carlson was a hands on person who made all decisions regarding his holdings. Carlson from a
young age was open to experience. He was curious and inventive as he wrote his newspapers and
went ahead and opened a new stall on a busy street. He also began his company from a scratch
with small amount of money, only $55 and it became one of the largest USA Private firms. For
conscientiousness, he was very efficient and organized. He would not have acquired all the
companies were he not organized. Carlos was also an extrovert. He was outgoing and energetic
and that’s why he started a business from almost nothing. He is a risk taker as well .He had the
audacity to be a soft drink truck driver so as to finance his college studies. Agreeableness was
seen from how he donated his millions to the University of Minnesota (Toomer, 2016). He is also
compassionate as he donated his money to charities.
For Neuroticism, he was secure and confident. He would not have come all the way from nothing
to something were he not confident. Leadership style/behavior. What “type” of leader is he/she?
How did other people say he/she led? (Example: Autocratic, Relationship-oriented, Participative,
Power, Influence tactics etc.).
Section Three: Leadership Style
Curtis was an initiative person that his employees called him the hands-on boss. As such his
executives made fewer major decisions and this shows how willing he was to take responsibility
for every direction the company took.
He treated his staff fairly, paid them well that they hardly complained. He was good natured and
a charitable leader that he gave away millions in donations to the University of Minnesota and
other charities. He was also flexible, he could hand over responsibilities when not in good
condition to work, like the instance he relieved himself of company duties when he had
quadruple bypass heart surgery from which he resumed work on recuperating.
Conclusion
Conclusively, Carlson Curt made a huge impact in the hospitality industry. From his biography it
is evident that he contributed a lot towards the sector of hospitality and any aspiring hospitality
leader can emulate.
References
Carlson, R. (2004). What's social about social psychology? Where's the person in personality
research?. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47(6), 1304.
Ims, K. J., & Grønhaug, K. (2018). Responsible Hospitality: Carlson Rezidor. In Progressive
Business Models (pp. 241-262). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Ryan, P. M. (2009). “A dancer must be perfect all over”: Greta Nissen on stage and screen.
Dance Chronicle, 12(3), 285-332.
Toomer, C. (2016). Life of Dr. Augustus J. Pearson Jr.
Turkel, S. (2016). Great American Hoteliers Volume 2: Pioneers of the Hotel Industry.
AuthorHouse.
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CURTIS LEROY CARLSON 1

CURTIS LEROY CARLSON

hospitality industry leader.

Section One: Biographical background

business acumen began.

Gamble. He did not stay there for long though.

$10billion in 1993.This was as a result of diversification. In 1960, Carlson bought Radisson

Fridays, Carlson Leisure Group and other hospitality businesses.

the year award among others.

Section Two: Personality Profile

compassionate as he donated his money to charities.

Power, Influence tactics etc.).

Section Three: Leadership Style

for every direction the company took.

quadruple bypass heart surgery from which he resumed work on recuperating.

leader can emulate.

research?. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47(6), 1304.

Business Models (pp. 241-262). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.

Dance Chronicle, 12(3), 285-332.

Toomer, C. (2016). Life of Dr. Augustus J. Pearson Jr.

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