Our Company
Carlson's roots are set in 1938, when Curtis L. Carlson took an idea for a loyalty program and a $55 loan from his landlord and founded the Gold Bond Stamp Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Today, the Carlson enterprise operates in nearly 150 counties and territories around the globe, and is in its third generation of closely-held family ownership.
Carlson has a proud 80-year history of operating businesses. The foundation of the Carlson portfolio is the premier business and travel management company CWT. With a mission to connect people and help businesses succeed, we provide corporate and government travelers with a consumer-grade travel experience, combining innovative technology with vast experience in travel management.
In 2018, Carlson launched Carlson Private Capital Partners, a private investment firm in the Twin Cities that invests family capital in businesses best served by an investment partner focused on long-term value creation. We partner with exceptional management teams to build great businesses.