It finally registered on me that the original news about this said that Friday's is working with Carlson Marketing to develop its new frequent-guest program. That's the subsidiary of Carlson that runs goldpointsplus.
This is only natural, as Carlson Marketing, TGI Fridays, and the Carlson hotels all are subsidiaries of Carlson, as is the Carlson Wagonlit business travel. agency. A couple of weeks ago Carlson announced that all its leisure travel agency brands, which operate under the umbrella of the Carlson Liesure Group, are being spun off to CLG's management.

Interesting to speculate on the nature of a frequent-guest program involving that collection of companies.

http://www.carlson.com/brands/index.cfm

Carlson comes by frequent-guest programs honestly - it was originally founded as the Gold Bond Stamp Company, a competitor of S&H Green Stamps, according to the company history on the web site.

PS - At fridays.com there is a coupon for $5 off $15 or more purchase, valid through Feb 29.
http://www.fridays.com/Feb2008_5off15_home.htm

PPS - they appear to be correctly sweeping goldpoints into the associated goldpointsplus account, at least in my case. Points from a January 29 visit to the TGI Friday's at DCA moved over to my goldpointsplus account on Feb 5.