Former Best Buy CEO Bradbury H. Anderson Elected to Carlson Board of Directors

MINNEAPOLIS, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Bradbury H. Anderson, who recently
retired as chief executive officer of Best Buy, a leading consumer electronics
retailer, has been elected to the Carlson Board of Directors, Carlson Chairman
Marilyn Carlson Nelson announced today.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090129/CARLSONLOGO)

"We are pleased to have Brad on our board, and we welcome the opportunity to
make use of his extensive experience in customer service and business
operations. As a family owned hotel, marketing, restaurant and travel company,
Carlson, like Best Buy, values high-quality customer service, which gives us
an advantage in the global marketplace," Nelson said.

"All of us look forward to working with Brad as we continue to guide Carlson
for continued success in the future," said Carlson President and CEO Hubert
Joly, who recently joined the Carlson board.

Anderson joined Best Buy in 1973 as a commissioned salesman at the fledgling
Sound of Music, a small chain of stereo stores that was the precursor to Best
Buy.

In 1986, Anderson was promoted to executive vice president and was elected to
Best Buy's Board of Directors. In April 1991, he was promoted to president and
chief operating officer. He was named vice chairman in 2001 and continues to
serve in that role. In June 2002, he assumed the position of chief executive
officer.

Anderson earned an associate degree from Waldorf College, a liberal arts
college in Forest City, Iowa, and a bachelor's degree from the University of
Denver.

His charitable and volunteer efforts include his participation on the boards
of the American Film Institute, Minnesota Public Radio and Minnesota Early
Learning Foundation. He serves on the Waldorf College Board of Regents, the
General Mills Board of Directors and the Mayo Board of Trustees.

Other members of the 11-person Carlson Board of Directors are: Lee A. Chaden,
retired chairman, Hanesbrands Inc.; Dr. Harald Einsmann, operating partner,
Equity Partners; Barbara Carlson Gage, president, Carlson Family Foundation;
Edwin C. "Skip" Gage, chairman and CEO, Gage Marketing Group; Richard C. Gage,
founder of Nebulous/YourMLSsearch.com; Diana L. Nelson, trustee, Curtis L.
Carlson Family Foundation; Glen D. Nelson, M.D., chairman, GDN Holdings, LLC;
and Lawrence Perlman, retired chairman and CEO of Ceridian Corporation, and
former chairman of Seagate Technology.

Carlson is a global hotel, marketing, restaurant and travel company
headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Carlson brands and services include:
Regent Hotels & Resorts(R), Radisson Hotels & Resorts(R), Park Plaza Hotels &
Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(SM), Park Inn(R) hotels, Carlson
Marketing, T.G.I. Friday's(R) and Pick Up Stix(R) restaurants, and Carlson
Wagonlit Travel(R). Carlson's brands and services employ more about 160,000
people in more than 150 countries. www.carlson.com

SOURCE Carlson Companies, Inc.

Sam Macalus of Carlson Companies, Inc., +1-763-212-2477, smacalus@carlson.com