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The Travel Career Connexxions Opportunities Newsletter
01/25/05 The only weekly newsletter detailing essential trends, news and top executive moves in travel. Opportunities is a free newsletter that provides you with the vision to "see" travel industry opportunities in the making. Whether you are in sales, business development, guiding your company's growth or managing your career, reading opportunities will give you the advantage to succeed. Opportunities is another innovative tool brought to you by Travel Career Connexxions. For more information, visit http://www.TravelExecutive.com This week in Opportunities:
Demand for "New Luxury" Boosts Travel Purchases To ensure that you always receive this newsletter and other communications from Travel Career Connexxions, please add our address to your Address Book (newsletter@travelexecutive.com). This will keep most email filters from misinterpreting and discarding these emails. Did you know? As of 01/25/05 there are 122 executive-level travel jobs published in the Travel Career Connexxions employment report. Positions include Director of Business Development (01/24), VP Regional Affiliate Advisor (01/20), V.P. Technology Services (01/18), Director Information Services (1/13), Director Revenue Mangement (1/18), CEO, Chief Marketing Officer and more. It only takes one person to fill the job of a lifetime - and that someone could be you! http://www.TravelExecutive.com OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS! Demand for "New Luxury" Boosts Travel Purchases The "New Luxury" phenomenon has become such a defining force in the consumer economy that it represented approximately $525 billion in sales in the U.S. in 2004, up from $450 billion in 2003, and will probably reach $1 trillion by 2010. That's according to research by The Boston Consulting Group. The phenomenon is, in part, a result of middle-market consumers' increasing, and now entrenched, pattern of "trading up" and "trading down" in order to acquire and enjoy New Luxury goods that matter to them. A consumer might buy grocery staples at Wal-Mart and sports clothes at Target in order to afford other goods that cost 200 percent more than average ones but have real technical benefits that satisfy emotional needs. These New Luxury items range from entry-level BMW cars, esoteric teas and Coach bags to spa vacations. New Luxury is affecting just about every category. Each consumer has her own personal calculator to help her trade up in a few categories and trade down in others. The upshot is that the traditional mass market category will hollow-out: Growth will be, nearly exclusively, in the New Luxury end and in the low- price, value end of the consumer market. Best of all for travel, of the more than half a trillion dollars that Americans spent on New Luxury goods last year, New Luxury travel (hotels, cruises, airlines, international travel) saw $130 billion in spending, tops in all categories, followed by Homes and New Luxury home renovations ($100 billion); New Luxury cars, SUVs and light trucks ($80 billion); New Luxury dining out ($60 billion); New Luxury home goods and electronics ($50 billion); New Luxury food, coffee, wine ($50 billion); New Luxury spas, cosmetic surgery and dentistry ($25 billion); and New Luxury fashion ($30 billion). HSMAI Selects Top 25 Sales & Marketing Pros Who are the top sales and marketing professionals in the hospitality profession? The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) polled senior executives throughout the marketplace to identify the "Hot List for 2004" of the industry's top professionals. The "Top 25" were invited to participate on stage in HSMAI's annual Adrian Awards on Monday, Jan. 24, 2005 in New York to present the annual Platinum Awards. HSMAI's 2004 "Hot List" of the 25 Most Extraordinary Sales & Marketing Minds in Hospitality & Travel includes: George Aguel, senior vice president, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; Fran Brasseux, executive vice president, HSMAI; Dale Brill, senior vice president of marketing, Visit Florida; Charlie Coniglio, vice president e-commerce, Dollar Rent A Car; Tim Claydon, vice president of sales and distribution, JetBlue Airways; Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president of marketing, Best Western International; Cindy Estis Green, managing partner, The Estis Group; Gino Giovanelli, vice president e-business solutions, Carlson Companies; Nicki Grossman, president and CEO, Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB; Richard Harper, vice president of sales, MGM Grand Hotel Casino; Nancy Hopkins, senior director of change management and communications for global revenue management, Marriott International; Richard Jackson, vice president of domestic and international sales, Universal Orlando; Allan Kane, vice president worldwide sales, Choice Hotels International; Betsy O'Rourke, senior vice president of marketing, Travel Industry Association; Dondra Ritzenthaler, vice president of sales, Celebrity Cruises; Kim Schaller, vice president/chief marketing officer, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts; Laura Snowert, vice president revenue management, Wyndham International; Robert Solomon, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts; Bob Stone, senior vice president, Royal Caribbean International; Peter Strebel, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Cendant Corporation; Jimmy Suh, vice president of revenue management, Kimpton Hotel Group; Jens Thraenhart, director Internet strategy, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts; Rob Torres, national director of product development, Expedia; Michael Troy, director of marketing and customer relationship management, Starwood Hotels Hawaii; Jim Young, senior vice president of global distribution, InterContinental Hotels Group. For more information, visit www.hsmai.org. PricewaterhouseCoopers Forecasts Record Hotel Profits According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the lodging industry will experience a 29.9 percent increase in profits in 2004 to $16.6 billion, a 25 percent increase in profits in 2005 to $20.8 billion in 2005 and record profits of $25.2 billion in 2006. According to PwC, in 2004, for the first time since 2000, the lodging industry experienced an increase in total industry profits (income before income taxes). Profits declined in 2001 to $16.8 billion from a high of $22.5 billion in 2000 (based on data from Smith Travel Research). The dramatic increase of 7.5 percent for RevPAR in 2004 and increases of 7.3 percent in 2005 and 6.3 percent in 2006 (based on PwC estimates) will translate to record high profits by 2006. Profit per available room will increase 28.7 percent from prior-year in 2004 to $3,728, another 23 percent from prior-year in 2005 to $4,585 and then 18.6 percent from prior-year in 2006 to $5,440 surpassing 2000 levels. Who's the Best Boss in the Gaming Segment? Gary Loveman, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., was just named the gaming and lodging industry's "Best CEO" by Institutional Investor magazine for the second straight year. Selections were based on the votes of more than 1,250 analysts and investment portfolio managers, who were asked to identify their picks for the top three CEOs in the industry sectors for which they had responsibility. What categorizes the winners? Some are notable for their highly sophisticated knowledge of customers' needs, which allows them to custom-tailor products; others stand out for their ability to seize growth opportunities with well-considered--and integrated-acquisitions. Various subsidiaries of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. own or manage 28 casinos in the United States, primarily under the Harrah's and Horseshoe brand names. The Travel Institute Offers Discounted Specialist Courses Want more education and training in niche travel opportunities? The Travel Institute's a good place to start, but you better hurry because the following offers all expire by Jan. 31. The Travel Institute is featuring a number of offers on its revamped web site, www.thetravelinstitute.com. Adventure Travel, the newest addition to The Travel Institute's Lifestyle Specialist series, teaches travel professionals how to define various aspects of the adventure travel market and the types of travelers who seek out adventure travel. The course, written by Helen Nodland, CTC, a 20-year veteran of selling adventure travel, explores some nontraditional strategies for marketing your specialty and selling both group and independent travel to a defined audience of adventure travelers. Travel professionals who complete this course will learn how to position their adventure travel business in such a way that appeals to the type of client they want to attract. Enroll before Jan. 31 for a special introductory offer of $59, a savings of $20. In 2004, The Institute introduced Destination Specialist St. Lucia, Destination Specialist Mexico, and Destination Specialist Northern and Central Europe. These titles join a popular line of courses that include: Africa, Alaska, Caribbean, East Asia, European Culture & Heritage, France, Hawaii, North America, South Pacific, and Spain. The courses explore each destination through geography, culture, attractions, activities, accommodations, and transportation and provide a wealth of resources to travel professionals who wish to become Destination Specialists. In spring 2005, The Institute will introduce Destination Specialist Southern Europe and also put a new emphasis on the Certified Travel Associate (CTA) and Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) certification programs. For more information, visit www.thetravelinstitute.com. The Travel Institute Launches Revamped Web Site The Travel Institute recently launched a revamped version of its web site, www.thetravelinstitute.com, with the goal of providing a more personal experience for its members and an easier way to find educational information for first-time users. The site has been re-organized to help you more directly reach your area of interest, whether you're just entering the industry and exploring certification, or are a seasoned executive seeking training for your organization or professional development for yourself. Log on to read the latest issue of Travel Professional, including feature articles such as the results from the Annual Salary and Compensation Survey; visit the career center to search for the latest travel industry job openings; or participate in the online forums where you can network with fellow travel professionals. For more information, visit the new web site at www.thetravelinstitute.com. Choice Hotels Debuts Cambria Suites All-Suites Brand Choice Hotels International launched Cambria Suites, a lower-upscale, select-service all-suites hotel brand designed to maximize return on investment for developers. Cambria Suites' introduction as a lower-upscale lodging product could not be at a more opportune time for development within the segment. According to Smith Travel Research, for the 12 months ending in September 2004, demand in the segment has increased 5.6 percent, compared with a 1.4 percent increase in supply for the same time period. RevPAR forecasts for the segment show increases through 2006, and existing pipelines indicate a healthy appetite among developers for product that fits into the lower-upscale category. Sonesta Sets Deal to Redevelop Key Biscayne Resort Sonesta International Hotels Corporation has entered into agreements to redevelop its Sonesta Beach Resort, in Key Biscayne, Florida, through a partnership between Sonesta and Fortune International, a Miami-based real estate development and brokerage firm. The purpose of the partnership is to redevelop the Sonesta Beach Resort site as a five-star Sonesta condominium hotel. Sonesta contemplates that the existing resort, which has operated under the Sonesta flag since it opened in 1969, will remain in operation through August 2006, when construction of the new Sonesta is expected to begin. It is anticipated that the new resort will include up to 300 super luxury hotel condominium units. InterContinental's Hotel Indigo to Open in Sarasota InterContinental Hotels Group announced the development of its first new build Hotel Indigo hotel, scheduled to open in Sarasota, Fla., in early 2006. The new hotel will be located in the northeast quadrant of U.S. 41 and Sixth Street (known as the Boulevard of the Arts), near the Sarasota Opera House. Hotel Indigo was designed to address the desires of style conscious guests who are seeking experience and quality over pure, mundane functionality when traveling. The first Hotel Indigo opened in Atlanta in October 2004 and the second is set to open in Chicago in March 2005. Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls to Open Spring 2006 Here's yet another planned new property: Ripley Entertainment and Great Wolf Resorts Inc. said construction is on schedule for the newest and largest family resort destination in the northeast, Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls, Canada, which is scheduled to open in spring 2006. The resort, part of a $200 million family entertainment destination, is situated on a 25-acre site which will also include the world-class Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, set to open in 2007. Get Early Bird Rates for The Travel Institute's National Forum Want to get an early jump on one of the best networking conferences in the industry? Top travel agents and suppliers are expected to attend The Travel Institute's 2005 National Forum in Boston, Sept. 9-11, 2005 at the historic Boston Marriott Copley Place. The Institute is offering an early bird rate of $245 for the conference. Visit www.thetravelinstitute.com OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS! AIRLINES: UAL Corporation, parent of United Airlines, named Jeff Foland as its new vice president of North America sales, effective Feb. 1, 2005. Foland is joining United from ZS Associates, where he is a principal at the global sales and marketing consulting firm. At United, Foland will lead the North America Sales organization and oversee United's sales transformation strategyÖAmerican Airlines has named Oliver Martins as vice president of engineering, quality assurance and planning in the Maintenance and Engineering (M&E) organization, effective Feb. 1. Martins will oversee the power plant, airframe and component engineering functions, M&E maintenance planning and the M&E Quality Assurance/Inspections departments from American's principle overhaul base in Tulsa, OklaÖUAL Corporation, parent company of United Airlines, named Kathryn Mikells as its new vice president and treasurer. In her new role, Mikells is responsible for United's treasury department, including corporate finance, risk management, cash management, insurance and corporate tax. Jeff Kawalsky, who has been responsible for United's treasury department for the past six years and has been vice president and treasurer for almost three years, has chosen to retire from United to take the treasurer position at Culligan International. CRUISES: Gerry Ellis, the former Cunard executive who served as project manager for the Queen Mary 2, has joined Carnival Corp. & plc as director of port development projects. In this newly created position, Ellis is based at the company's Miami headquarters and responsible for development projects and operational activities associated with Carnival's homeports and ports of call. Among his first projects is developing shore excursion programs for Carnival's new cruise terminal in Grand TurkÖJohn Sumanth, manager of strategic planning at Norwegian Cruise Line, is leaving to accept a research and development position at Burger King's Miami headquarters. NCL is in the process of filling Sumanth's positionÖEuripides Gavrielides has resigned as CEO of Louis Cruises, effective Jan. 19. He has been replaced by his predecessor, Stelios Kiliaris, who has remained a consultant to the company and a Louis board member since he was succeeded by Gavrielides four years ago. Louis owns a fleet of 10 ships, of which three are out on charter, five operated under the Louis brand outside Cyprus and two in Cyprus itself. Gavrielides said he is now investigating different options in the international cruise market. HOTELS & RESORTS: Trudy Rautio was named executive vice president and chief financial officer of Carlson Companies by Carlson Chair and CEO Marilyn Carlson Nelson. In her new role, Rautio will direct all financial operations of the company, report to Nelson, and join Carlson's executive committee. Rautio will be the first female corporate CFO in Carlson's history. Rautio's current position with the company is president, Carlson Hotels Worldwide-the Americas, with overall responsibility for the operation and growth of the company's five hotel brands in North and South AmericaÖFairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. appointed John Carnella as executive vice president and chief financial officer effective March 1, 2005, reporting to William Fatt, Fairmont's CEO. Carnella brings over 16 years of finance, capital markets and real estate investment experience to this positionÖHilton Hotels Corporation said Ralph Pickett has been named vice president of managed development, Western Region. Pickett will be responsible for sourcing new deals and negotiating terms and contracts for managed hotel opportunities in the Western United States, including California, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, and ArizonaÖOmni Hotels selected John Rosen to serve as its vice president of acquisitions and development, where he will direct the expansion of Omni Hotels as the company enters into a period of aggressive growth throughout North America and internationally. Rosen joins Omni Hotels as it leads the hospitality industry in an economic resurgenceÖCendant Hotel Group International named Daniel Del Olmo as vice president of international marketing and Marc Stanley as vice president of international sales. Del Olmo, who will be responsible for marketing Cendant's Ramada, Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Wingate and Super 8 brands outside North America, formerly served as director of marketing for the Wingate Inn and AmeriHost Inn brands. TOUR OPERATORS: Cynthia Holmes, CTA, and Gerry Cooper have joined Pleasant Holidays' outside sales staff as account executives. Based in Lancaster, Mass., Holmes will serve the New England territory of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut. , based in Dallas, will serve the Southern Region of Texas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Southwest Missouri. Duties for both include helping travel agencies effectively market Pleasant Holidays' products, attending trade shows, and conducting agent training on Pleasant Holidays' new, dedicated agent web site. TRAVEL AGENCIES: Industry veteran Kevin Weisner has been named vice president and general manager of Cruise Holidays. Most recently, he had been serving as vice president of marketing for the Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate Division. Weisner will succeed Charles Dunwoody, CTC, who as senior vice president has led Cruise Holidays since 2001, when the Carlson Travel Franchise Group acquired the Cruise Holidays brand. Weisner joined Carlson in March, 2001 from ByeByeNow, which at the time included Cruise Holidays as one of its key components. TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY: Sabre Holdings Corporation announced that Joseph William (Bill) Nicholson, a recognized hotel industry and IT expert, has been appointed president and general manager of SynXis, the Sabre Holdings business that provides reservation management, distribution and technology services for hotels. The company also announced the successful completion of the acquisition of SynXis Corporation. In his role as president and general manager, Nicholson is responsible for all aspects of managing the SynXis business. The SynXis reservation system has gained significant marketplace traction as its hotel base has expanded to about 6,000 hotel propertiesÖ RideOnTime.com has announced the appointment of co-founder Travis Giggy as chief technology officer. RideOnTime.com aggregates ground transportation for the online travel industry. In his new role, Giggy will be responsible for developing and maintaining RideOnTime.com's technology strategy and implementing such into the ongoing refinement and updating of the product to enhance travelers' experience. DESTINATIONS: Amy Vaughan has been named executive director of the Indiana Office of Tourism. Vaughan, 37, has led Hamilton County's tourism bureau for 12 years. Indiana's Office of Tourism, which currently falls under the Department of Commerce, would become a separate office under the jurisdiction of the lieutenant governor if legislation pending before the General Assembly is passed. Vaughan, a Fort Wayne native, is past president of the Association of Indiana Convention and Visitors Bureaus...Veteran Florida tourism marketer Bill Vervaeke will join The Meridian Group, a Virginia Beach, Va.-based marketing communications firm, as vice president of its travel and luxury team. Vervaeke is leaving Fahlgren Benito in Tampa, where he has been the managing director and senior vice president.
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