Carlson Travel, Tourism, & Hospitality Chair

Initiated in the mid-1980s and fiscally cemented in 1995, The Carlson Chair has been used to support a variety of research and education efforts across Minnesota. The Chair is managed by the University Foundation Investment Advisors who seeks a 6.0% minimum rate of return (net inflation).

Decisions about fund use are made by the director in consideration of established criteria, advice from the Advisory Committee, and approved by the Dean and Director of Extension.

2008 Call for proposals

Due 12:00 p.m., Friday, October 3, 2008

2007 project support

2006 project support

For the first time, the Tourism Center issued a request for proposals (.pdf) to expend Carlson dollars. Several interesting projects were reviewed by a sub-committee of the Tourism Center Advisory Committee and a handful of these projects were recommended for funding. Check back for their reports!

  • Dog-powered events
  • Meetings market in Minnesota
  • American Indian Tourism in Minnesota
  • Northcentral/Northwest Visitor Profile

2005 project support

Research: Economic impact of tourism in Minnesota. In partnership with Explore
Minnesota Tourism and the state tourism associations, the Chair supported data collection and analysis on tourism economics and visitor profiles. These reports will provide county level economic impact of tourism in Minnesota, as well as provide a statewide visitor profile.

In addition to economics, a statewide assessment of resident’s attitude toward tourism was funded through Chair dollars.

Beyond primary data collection, Chair funds enabled dissemination of research information through print and verbal presentations.

2004 project support

Research: Two visitor profile studies, Leech Lake (.pdf) and I-90 (.pdf), leveraged Chair dollars with state and private funds.

Education: The Travel Counselor Certification was created in part by Chair supported personnel.


adobe acrobat icon Download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader® to view PDF files.
Adobe also offers free online accessibility tools.