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This week in Opportunities:

American Express Results Shows Travel's Strength
Nothing Prevents Americans from Taking Vacations
U.S. Lodging Industry Sees Boost in 2004
Opportunities Watch!
Opportunities Networking!
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

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OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS!

American Express Results Shows Travel's Strength

Travel industry bellwether American Express reported quarterly earnings of $896 million, compared with $763 million a year earlier. Spending by card holders rose 17 percent, helped by 4.9 million net new cards. Revenues rose to $7.8 billion in the quarter, up 10 percent from a year earlier. Travel-related services quarterly net income rose 20 percent to $729 million, due in part to a rise in commissions and fees, which increased 9 percent, resulting from a 14 percent growth in travel sales. For the full year, American Express reported record income before accounting changes of $3.5 billion, up 17 percent from $3 billion a year ago.

Nothing Prevents Americans from Taking Vacations

So you want to know about the stability and growth prospects of companies in the leisure travel arena. If a new survey is correct, you shouldn't be worried. Orbitz, the online travel site, found that Americans are determined travelers when it comes to vacations. In a survey conducted by Harris Interactive, nearly one-third of U.S. adults will first make sure their work is in order yet won't think twice about finding someone to handle routine tasks before taking vacations or weekend getaways. The Orbitz survey reported that 30 percent of U.S. adults will let "nothing prevent" them from "taking vacations when they want to." Nearly half (47 percent) of these determined travelers live in the Northeast and Midwest. When asked for the "barriers or obstacles" in "planning or taking a vacation or a weekend getaway," the top response (28 percent) was "taking care of work schedule(s) or responsibility when away," followed by "arranging for someone to take care of pets" (23 percent). Meanwhile, neither "arranging for someone to take care of my home or apartment" or "setting aside time to make plans or reservations" were major impediments to travel as both were indicated as barriers by only 11 percent of adults. The survey also revealed another example of how serious Americans are becoming about taking time off. Ninety-one percent of employed adults used all of their allotted vacation time or made arrangements to roll it over in 2004. These findings come at a time when online travel continues to grow. More than 10 percent increases in both online travel booking and spending took place last November compared with the same month in 2003, according to Nielsen/NetRatings. The desire for vacationing also ranked high with U.S. adults when asked for their New Year's Resolutions. The traditional personal promises of "losing weight" and "spending more quality time with family and friends" were most popular at 41 percent and 22 percent, respectively, closely followed by "taking a vacation or multiple vacations" at 21 percent.

U.S. Lodging Industry Sees Boost in 2004

Just how healthy is the hotel industry segment? Very, according to Smith Travel Research, which released 2004 U.S. lodging industry results that found full year industry occupancy was at 61.3 percent, up 3.7 percent versus 2003. Average room rate increased 4 percent to $86.41 and revenue per available room (RevPAR) the combination of occupancy and average room rate and a key industry productivity measure gained 7.8 percent to $52.93. Industry room supply increased 1 percent in 2004 while demand (room nights sold) gained 4.6 percent. Full year 2004 room revenue increased 8.8 percent to $86.2 billion. In the fourth quarter of 2004, industry occupancy reached 56.9 percent, an increase of 3.5 percent versus fourth quarter 2003. Average room rate was $86.23 in the quarter, a gain of 4.8 percent and revenue per available room improved by 8.4 percent. "Industry operating performance was very good in 2004", said Mark Lomanno, president of Smith Travel Research. "Good growth in group demand helped fuel the industry's gains. Also, mid-week performance improved, likely a result of increased business travel. We expect another good year in 2005. Continued moderate room supply growth should underpin industry performance. Room rate increases should be the primary driver of RevPAR growth this year. Occupancy improvement should continue, although probably at a somewhat slower pace."

OPPORTUNITIES WATCH!

New Hotel Group to Manage Luxury Properties

There's a new hotel company born out of the ashes of London-based The Savoy Group. Quinlan Private, an international property investment and advisory group, has formed a new super-luxury hotel company, Maybourne Hotel Group, that will own and manage The Berkeley, Claridge's and The Connaught, which, together with The Savoy, were bought last year by a group of investors led and advised by Quinlan Private. These properties were previously managed by the Savoy Group, which has been dissolved following the sale of The Savoy. Geraldine McKenna, previously executive vice-president of the Savoy Group, will be chief executive of the new group. Maybourne Hotel Group is actively seeking other opportunities to acquire and develop super-luxury hotels globally. It will operate from newly-acquired offices in Mayfair, London. The new brand has been created by Landor, the international brand identity consultants.

Le Meridien Continues Growth with 21 Hotels

Want to work for a company that's on the growth path? Le Meridian has 21 new hotels in the pipeline to open during 2005, after opening 10 new properties in 2004. The hotels are located throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Some of Le Meridien's newest hotels include those in Vienna, Hamburg, Turin, Hong Kong and Minneapolis. This year, Le Meridien will open the Abuja, Nigeria (June 2005--570 rooms); the Le Meridien Ibom Resort, Nigeria (December 2005--151 rooms); and the Le Meridien Marhaba-Casablanca, Morocco (four quarter 2005--300 rooms).In America, the Le Meridien Sunny Isles Beach, Miami, will open this spring, featuring 210 units. In Asia Pacific, the group will open the Le Meridien Kathmandu, Nepal (first quarter 2005--68 rooms plus four cottages with eight rooms each); Le Meridien Karachi, Pakistan (second quarter 2005--320 rooms); and Le Meridien She Shan, China (fourth quarter 2005--325 rooms). In Europe, the company will open Le Meridien St Julians, Malta (summer 2005--280 rooms). The Grosvenor House Hotel and Apartments by Le Meridien, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (second quarter 2005--400 rooms); Le Meridien Hurghada, Egypt (third quarter 2005--520 rooms) and Le Meridien Dahab, Egypt (third quarter 2005--200 rooms) are planned for the Middle East region. Other planned openings in 2006 and beyond include Le Royal Meridien Shanghai, China (first quarter 2006--770 rooms); Le Meridien Salmiya, Kuwait (January 2006--80 rooms); and Le Meridien, Split, Croatia (first quarter 2006--381 rooms).

JW Marriott Opens New Tucson Resort & Spa

The JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson, Ariz., and the first new Marriott property there in 18 years, has opened with 575 guest rooms, including 35 deluxe suites; a 20,000-square-foot full-service spa with 23 treatment rooms; seven dining venues; a 27-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course; and more than 88,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Owned by Starr Pass Resort Development, LLC and managed by Marriott International, Starr Pass is the 34th property to join the JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts collection.

St. Regis Hotel San Francisco Sets Summer Opening

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts has projected a July 2005 opening for St. Regis Hotel and Residences San Francisco, a 40-story landmark comprising a 260-room luxury hotel and 102 private residences. Located at Third and Mission streets, the St. Regis Hotel and Residences San Francisco is located near the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Yerba Buena Gardens, the financial district, Union Square shopping, and an array dining. The St. Regis Hotel San Francisco will include 201 guest rooms and 59 suites.

Shangri-La Hotels Steps Up Growth in Asia

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts announced the opening of its 19th hotel in mainland China, the Shangri-La Hotel, Fuzhou. The hotel is the first international five-star standard hotel in the city, the capital of Fujian province. Elsewhere, the company will open a new hotel in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of the Republic of Mongolia, at the end of 2007. It will be Shangri-La's first hotel in the Republic of Mongolia and the country's first hotel by an international hotel group. Shangri-La also will open a new spa resort in Boracay, Philippines, in mid-2007. The beachfront resort on Boracay Island will be designed by Hawaii-based architectural firm WATG, and the interior design will be completed by Singapore-based designer Dan Bube, who is designing the group's Maldives resort. All the resort's 170 guestrooms and 50 deluxe villas will feature ocean views, and balconies or porches.

New Online Gay Travel Agency Makes Debut

A new Internet-based travel agency with a philanthropic mission hopes to capture a piece of the estimated $54 billion gay travel market. eDIRP.com Travel, Inc. recently launched its online portal with a pledge to give 10 percent of annual profits to organizations working for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights. The company's web site combines online booking engines for mainstream travel products and a database of gay travel options including lesbian and gay cruises, tours and resorts available through the travel agency. In addition, the web site has real-time booking capabilities for flights, cars, vacation packages, last minute deals, and mainstream cruises. eDIRP.com Travel, Inc. is an Internet based travel agency specializing in travel for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. For more information, visit www.edirp.com.

OPPORTUNITIES NETWORKING!

EyeforTravel Sets San Francisco Sales & Marketing Conference

If you want meet top executives representing the leading hospitality and online travel companies, EyeforTravel's Sales & Marketing in Travel USA 2005 Conference and Exhibition is the place to network. This two day conference and exhibition is billed as bringing together top sales and marketing executives from the leading hoteliers, airlines, online intermediaries and destination management organizations in the US. The even takes place March 31-April 1 at the Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. The conference will examine offline and online marketing strategies, the positive and negative effects of "travel search" web sites, destination marketing, optimizing CRM and loyalty campaigns, integrating distribution and marketing channels, and evaluating the effects of group travel moving online. Both speakers and attendees represent the key players in sales and marketing in the U.S., which is why networking is integral to the format of this agenda. Lunches, social events and discussion sessions are all designed to help optimize networking over the two days. Register now and take advantage of the special early bird rate of just $995 a saving of $500 until Feb. 25. Register directly on the secure web site at secure.firstconf.com/travel/smusa2005/secure.asp or email laura@eyefortravel.com.

ResExpo 2005 Takes Place March 1-3 in Atlanta

With the theme "Big Ideas in Travel Distribution-From Revolution to Execution," ResExpo 2005 unfolds March 1-3 at Atlanta's Omni CNN Center. A $100 discount applies to all registrations booked by Jan. 31. Terry Jones, founder of Travelocity and current partner of Essential Ideas, will give the conference keynote address, sharing his vision of what's to come for online travel. The emergence of alternate global distribution systems will take center stage as keynote speaker Jeremy Wertheimer, president and CEO of ITA Software, discusses his company's forthcoming GDS alternative and what it means for travel suppliers, travel agents and other distributors. Also keynoting the conference is former Orbitz executive Alex Zohglin, president and CEO, G2Switchworks. Additional speakers include Paul Bahnick, vice president of technology for Travel Impressions; Brian Barth, president and CEO of Sidestep; Mitch Gross, president and CEO of Galileo; Steve Hafner, CEO of kayak.com; Kevin Healy, vice president-planning and sales for AirTran Airways; John Ische, president and CEO of Trisept Solutions; Mike Kistner, CIO and senior vice president of information services, for Best Western International, Inc.; Debbie McGrath, vice president of distribution marketing for Marriott International; Sue Powers, CIO and senior vice president of worldwide product solutions for Worldspan; John Slater, managing director of distribution planning for Continental Airlines; Shirley Tafoya, senior vice president of sales for TravelZoo; and Greg Webb, senior vice president of marketing at Sabre Travel Network. For more information and to register, visit www.res-expo.com.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

AIRLINES: Song, Delta Air Lines' low-fare service, has named Joanne Smith as president. A 25-year aviation industry veteran, Smith previously served as Song's vice president of marketing and customers, playing a vital role in the creation and launch of Song, as well as the development and execution of Song's marketing strategy and customer service approachÖATA Holdings Corp., parent of ATA Airlines, has named John Denison as co-chief restructuring officer. Denison will work with ATA management to restructure the company's operations, and help prepare a plan of reorganization, a requirement for emergence from bankruptcy. Denison retired from Southwest Airlines as executive vice president of Corporate Services in 2001, after 15 years with the low-cost carrier. He also held the position of chief financial officer. Prior to joining Southwest, Denison held various finance positions with the LTV Corporation and Chrysler Corporation. In addition, Douglas Yakola has been named senior vice president of customers and ground operations. Yakola will be responsible for most of the company's front-line employees who deal with customers, including flight attendants, reservations, customer service, ramp and cargo employees. In addition, he will be responsible for real estate and airport affairs functions. Yakola, who joined ATA in 2003, has served as vice president of station operations. Prior to joining ATA, Yakola worked for nearly two decades at Northwest Airlines in finance and operations positions. Captain John Graber has been named senior vice president of flight operations and maintenance. Graber will be responsible for the company's flight operations, maintenance, security and safety employees. He joined ATA in 1993, and is a Boeing 737 instructor pilot. Graber has held the position of director of flight standards and training, and most recently served as system chief pilot. Glen Baker has been named vice president and chief information Officer. Baker will be responsible for all corporate information systems and strategies. Baker, who joined ATA in 1982, has held numerous technology management positions including his most recent role as vice president of information services. Rick Barnett has been named vice president of strategic sourcing. Barnett will manage most of the company's purchasing activities. As a part of this role, Barnett will be responsible for refleeting the airline as it restructures its routes. Barnett, who joined ATA in 1996 as director of aviation materials, most recently served as director of supply chain management where he led all corporate and technical procurement activities.

CRUISES: Lori McCloud will be joining Costa Cruises in Florida as senior vice president-passenger services. She starts Feb. 14 and will overlap temporarily with David Christopher, who is retiring on March 31 after a decades-long travel industry career. McCloud is wrapping up as vice president-agency sales at Oceania Cruises through early FebruaryÖRichard Wainio has been selected to lead the Port of Tampa as port director and CEO effective in March. Wainio has served in the maritime industry his entire career. In 1997, he retired as the director of executive planning for the Panama Canal Commission, where he worked for 23 years and oversaw the hand-over of the canal to the Republic of Panama.

HOTELS & RESORTS: Carlson Companies has promoted Paul Kirwin to the newly created position of president, Carlson Asia Pacific. Kirwin will be responsible for leading the coordinated development of all of Carlson's business interests in the Asia Pacific region. A longtime veteran of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, Kirwin relocated to Singapore after he was named president and managing director of Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific in 2002. Kirwin also will retain his title of president, Carlson Hotels-Asia Pacific. He will establish a Singapore office that will serve as headquarters for Carlson hotel, marketing and restaurant operations in the region and begin establishing a shared-services model to handle the common human resources, information technology, finance and strategic sourcing processes for Carlson's regional businesses...Noble House Hotels & Resorts has appointed Al Petrone as chief marketing officer. In this role, Petrone will oversee all Noble House matters related to marketing, branding, advertising and public relations. Petrone has over 20 years of experience in the luxury hospitality and global marketing fieldsÖAccor named Evan Lewis as the new director of marketing-Asia. In his new position, Lewis will oversee all marketing activities for Accor hotels in 12 countries around Asia. He has been with Accor for over six years, and prior to his appointment he was general manager of Novotel Glen Waverley in AustraliaÖThe Disneyland Resort announced that Claire Bilby has been promoted to senior vice president, sales and distribution marketing. In her new role, Bilby will continue leading all sales efforts and work closely with a variety of travel industry partners to maximize resort sales opportunities. Bilby leads the sales and marketing efforts for all Disneyland Resort sales channels, both domestically and internationallyÖSusan McIntosh has been named CFO for AFM Hospitality Corporation. Since joining AFM in June 2004, McIntosh has been responsible for accounting and financial reporting for AFM and its subsidiaries; directing divisional controllers; integrating new acquisitions into AFM accounting and reporting; and most importantly clearing AFM from issuer defaults related to the late filing of financial statements. Her other responsibilities have grown to include treasury, risk management, compliance reporting, and internal auditÖJorge Gutierrez has been named general manager of the Hilton Villahermosa & Conference Center, a new 220-room property currently under construction that is scheduled to open in April 2005. Gutierrez, whose hospitality career spans more than 20 years, will come to the Hilton Villahermosa & Conference Center from the Hilton Cancun Beach & Golf Resort, where he has served as hotel manager since July 2003Ö

Leisure Sports, Inc. announced that David Wong has accepted the position of general manager of Renaissance ClubSport in Walnut Creek, Calif. Wong has over 14 years of management experience with Marriott and Renaissance Hotels & Resorts. He recently moved to California from Orlando, where he served as the director of food and beverage at the 1,000-room JW Marriott Grand Lakes in Orlando since it opened in March 2003. Wong replacing Thomas Foti, who has accepted the position of general manager overseeing the Renaissance Pere Marquette Hotel and the Renaissance Arts Hotel in New Orleans. Leisure Sports, Inc., is a prominent developer and operator of high-end sports clubs and hotels. Based in California, the company has pioneered the "fitness resort" concept by building clubs that combine function with aesthetics and practicality with luxury. The company currently operates clubs in California, Nevada, and Oregon serving over 30,000 members. The company has developed and operated eight clubs under the ClubSport brand as well as the 300-room, full-service, Pleasanton Hilton HotelÖRocco Forte Hotels has created two new senior roles that will considerably strengthen the corporate team based at the company's head office in London. Sarah Browne has been appointed international sales director, reporting to Moreno Occhiolini, managing director of operations-Europe, while Sue Heady has been appointed head of media relations, reporting to Sir Rocco ForteÖRandy Gantenbein has been named general manager of the Britt Scripps Inn, San Diego's newest luxury nine-room inn opening February 14, 2005. With more than 28 years of hotel management and development experience, Gantenbein will work closely with the inn's staff to ensure guests receive a wide array of sophisticated amenities and highly personalized service during their stayÖThe Maho Group of St. Maarten has appointed Mel Logan as director of sales and marketing for the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino, the Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino and La Terrasse Suites-Maho Village. Logan, who is based in the ownership's New York office, oversees sales, marketing and revenue management. His resort experience includes executive sales and marketing positions with Hilton International Caribbean and Latin America, Hyatt International Mexico and Allegro Resorts. He also held director of marketing positions with the New York Palace. Maho Group of St. Maarten also named Donna Michaels as director of travel industry sales for the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino, the Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino and La Terrasse Suites-Maho Village. Michaels is based in the ownership's New York office. She joins The Maho Group of St. Maarten from New York-based Travel Impressions, where she first served as executive assistant to the CEO for three yearsÖPhilip Bryson has been appointed as the general manager for the Renaissance Mumbai Hotel and Convention Centre and Lakeside Chalet Marriott Executive Apartments in India. He was the general manager of the new five-star Renaissance Resort in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, for three years. Philip is a Marriott veteran who has served in various general manager positionsÖGreat Hotels Organisation has appointed Yunna Takeuchi as sales and marketing director, e-distribution, a new role developed to address the increasing pressure to remain at the forefront of electronic distribution technology. Takeuchi's key role is to promote the growth of business through Great Hotels Organisation's GDS code (GW) and ADS Channels.

TRAVEL AGENTS: Rich Worldwide Travel, a full-service travel agency organization with six offices throughout New York, Connecticut and California, has appointed Jim Hayes, formerly of Delta Air Lines, as the organization's new vice president-business development and sales. Hayes will be responsible for overseeing the agency's entire sales operation and will work to implement new business development strategies. His responsibilities involve vendor and corporate agreements, new agencies/affiliates, incentive and affinity groups and coordination of all sales team efforts.

DESTINATIONS: South African Tourism has made two key appointments to the posts of portfolio manager-the Americas and the U.K., based at its head office in Sandton; and country manager-USA, based in New York City. Claude Pretorius will take up his new position as portfolio manager-the Americas and the U.K. on Feb. 1, 2005. Dr. Felicia Mabuza-Suttle will be joining South African Tourism on March 1, 2005, strengthening the U.S. team as its new country manager. In 1992, Pretorius was part of the founding team of Made in USA, a U.S.-South African-sponsored trade development office, whose goal was to market South Africa and springboard 23 Sub-Saharan countries as viable trade partners with the individual States and companies in the US. The private company was responsible for the return to South Africa of such household names as Ericcson and Boeing. Mabuza-Suttle is well known for having produced and hosted The Felicia Show on South African TV, a program that was ranked in the channel's top 10 programs, before returning to the U.S. to be closer to her family. She brings extensive marketing communications experience to her new position, having headed up the corporate communications team at South African Airways. She also held several senior management positions between 1979 and 1992, including one with the City of Atlanta that included liaising with the Olympic Committee that secured the 1996 Olympic Games.

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