Carlson Hotels Worldwide President and CEO Jay Witzel opened the 2008 Global Business Conference by stressing Carlson was in a “unique position to succeed and win in this ‘Golden Age of Global Travel’.”

Carlson Companies welcomed a new CEO, Hubert Joly, said farewell to former CEO Marilyn Carlson Nelson and discussed several leadership changes on the hotel side during the company's 70th anniversary celebration and annual business meeting in Las Vegas at the end of February.

Witzel said the long-term outlook of the hotel industry shows “unstoppable momentum” as travel increases around the world. Martin Rinck, new president of Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific, pointed out that 48 new airports are due for completion in China by 2010.

Rinck stepped into his new position as former Asia Pacific leader Paul Kirwin returns to Minneapolis as president of Carlson Hotels in the Americas, replacing Yvonne LaPenotiere, the new chief branding officer.

Witzel said Carlson Hotels, with five brands in 70 countries, had record system-wide revenue of $7 billion last year, up 13 percent. Seventy-four new properties were added globally with 141 more projects in the pipeline.

The biggest news of the event was Carlson Nelson stepping aside for the first non-family member to head Carlson. Joly, who had been the president and CEO of Carlson Wagonlit Travel since 2004, brings a wealth of global experience to the job.

“He's worked around the world, which none of the family has, and to be global you have to be global,” Witzel said.