Audio Interview w/ Nancy Johnson, chairperson of AHLA’s Women in Lodging Council & Executive Vice President with Carlson Hotels Worldwide

Click here to learm more about AH&LA's Women in Lodging Council.

NANCY JOHNSON
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, SELECT SERVICE HOTELS
CARLSON HOTELS WORLDWIDE
Brand Leader for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn

As executive vice president, Select Service Hotels for Carlson Hotels Worldwide, Nancy Johnson serves as brand leader for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn hotels in the Americas. Johnson is responsible for brand culture; serving as the key contact for franchisee and partner relationships; serving as the brand champion; leading orientation, training and field service; and developing brand systems, processes and standards. She reports directly to Jay Witzel, president and CEO, Carlson Hotels Worldwide and Carlson Cruises Worldwide.

Johnson’s current position is an expansion of her most recent role as executive vice president and brand leader for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. Previously, Johnson served as senior vice president of development for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, where she was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the brand’s development efforts worldwide. Johnson joined the company in 1989 and has held the titles of vice president of development and senior director of franchise development for the mid-tier lodging chain.

Prior to joining Country Inns & Suites, Johnson was vice president/Chief Operating Officer at Hospitality Development Corporation, from 1986 to 1989, where she was responsible for the development and operations of highway planned units containing hotels, fuel stations, fast food restaurants and retail strip shopping centers. Johnson also was employed with Brutger Companies, Inc., where she held the positions of vice president of marketing from 1982 to 1986; director of staff services from 1978 to 1982; and general manager from 1976 to 1978.

In 2002, Johnson received a Carlson Fellows award for individual sales achievement. The Carlson Fellows award represents the company's highest career achievement honor and is presented to employees who best exemplify the qualities of leadership, creativity and dedication and who are considered to be true builders of the company. In 1999, Travel Agent magazine selected Johnson as one of the 200 Most Powerful Women in Travel. She is also a frequent guest speaker at several industry functions.

Johnson attended St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn., majoring in business marketing and St. Benedict College in St. Joseph, Minn., where she studied business management. She became a Certified Hotel Administrator in 1985 and received her Minnesota Real Estate License in 1988.

Minneapolis-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide includes five hotel brands, totaling nearly 900 locations in 69 countries. Hotel brands include: Regent International Hotels, one of the most respected brands in the luxury segment of the lodging industry; Radisson Hotels & Resorts(R), one of the world's leading upscale hotel companies with more than 430 locations in 61 countries; Park Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts, positioned in the mid-scale segment of the full-service hotel category, has over 30 hotels globally and is known for its great value and customer-focused service culture; Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(R), one of the fastest growing, mid-tier lodging chains with over 340 locations offering excellent value with a warm and comfortable atmosphere; and Park Inn(R), with nearly 80 hotels worldwide, is a unique emerging hotel brand offering a relaxed environment in the economy category and is poised for aggressive global growth. Carlson Hotels Worldwide is one of the major operating groups of Carlson Companies, a global leader in providing corporate solutions and consumer services in the marketing, travel and hospitality industries. Carlson Companies' corporate headquarters are in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

AH&LA is a 95-year-old dual membership association of state and city partner lodging associations throughout the United States with some 10,000 property members nationwide, representing more than 1.4 million guest rooms. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it provides members with advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other services to ensure a positive business climate for the U.S. lodging industry. Individual state associations provide representation at the state level and offer many additional cost-saving benefits.