Carlson is a global hotel, marketing, restaurant and travel company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The company was founded in 1938 as the Gold Bond Stamp Company. In the 1960s, when the trading stamp market reached its peak, Gold Bond expanded into the hospitality industry with the purchase of the original Radisson Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Later, the company acquired dozens of additional businesses, including the highly successful T.G.I. Friday's restaurant brand and internationally renowned Ask Mr. Foster travel agencies. In 1973, Gold Bond changed its name to Carlson Companies to better reflect its diversification. Since 2006, to demonstrate that it is one company serving a variety of needs, it has become known as Carlson.

The Carlson family of brands and services includes: Regent Hotels & Resorts®, Radisson Hotels & Resorts®, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Park Inn® hotels, Carlson Marketing, T.G.I. Friday's® and Pick Up Stix® restaurants, and Carlson Wagonlit Travel®.

Carlson's brands and services employ more than 160,000 people in more than 150 countries.