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This week in Opportunities:

Starwood President Cotter Sets Plans to Retire
Hot Sector: Indian Gaming Made $18.5 Billion In 2004
Carnival Corp. Sees Bright Forecast for 2005
Hewitt Associates to Provide HR Services to Marriott
The Travel Institute Unveils Southern Europe Course
Opportunities Watch!
Opportunities Networking!
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

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OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS!

Starwood President Cotter Sets Plans to Retire

There's a change at the top at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Veteran hotelier Robert Cotter, Starwood's president and chief operating officer, said he plans to retire Dec. 31, 2005. Cotter, 53, joined Sheraton Hotels in 1973 right out of college and spent most of his career with the hotel giant and later with Starwood Hotels & Resorts when it acquired Sheraton in 1998. He made the announcement last week during a worldwide Starwood associates meeting with Steven Heyer, Starwood's CEO. and Barry Sternlicht, Starwood's founder and executive chairman. Cotter was named chief operating officer in 2000 and president in 2004, responsible for company operations and involved in shaping Starwood's strategic direction. Prior to that, he served as president-international operations, a post he was named to in 1999 after serving as president and chief operating officer, Europe. Prior to that, he served as senior vice president and president of the company's Asia-Pacific Division, based in Hong Kong. Heyer said there are no immediate plans to name a successor to Cotter. For now, his direct reports will report to Heyer. Cotter will remain with the company in an advisory role through the end of 2005.

Hot Sector: Indian Gaming Made $18.5 Billion In 2004

Here's one segment of the industry that's booming - Native American gaming. Tribal casinos pulled in nearly double the profits of Nevada's major gambling resorts last year. Indian gaming made $18.5 billion in 2004, up 10 percent compared with the year before. In fact, Indian casinos have marked double-digit growth for more than a decade. In comparison, major Nevada resorts took in $9.88 billion in gambling revenue in 2004. Overall revenue at Nevada resorts, including from hotel and restaurant income, was $19.59 billion in 2004. But the overall figure for Indian casinos was $21 billion. There are now 411 Indian casinos in the U.S. -- operated by 223 tribes in 28 states. More than half of federally recognized tribes in the continental United States operate gaming centers. The National Indian Gaming Association says such casinos have created more than 500,000 jobs, most of which, significantly, are for non-Indian employees. They also generated $5.5 billion in federal taxes in 2004. Because tribes are sovereign nations, they don't pay state or local taxes, and are also exempt from most zoning laws.

Carnival Corp. Sees Bright Forecast for 2005

The cruise industry is still doing box office business-and that isn't going to end anytime soon. Carnival Corp, the world's biggest cruise firm, just raised its 2005 forecast for net revenue yields, saying ticket price rises would more than offset high fuel costs and a major cruise cancellation. Carnival said it now expected net revenue yields to rise by 4 to 6 percent in 2005, compared with its previous forecast of 3 to 5 percent. The company said bookings during the key "wave season" around January, when most customers book their cruises, were slightly higher than during the same period last year, and that prices were running "significantly higher."

Hewitt Associates to Provide HR Services to Marriott

If you're looking for a post at mega-hotelier Marriott International, you might be interested in this bit of news. Hewitt Associates, a global human resources services firm, said it will provide human resources services to Marriott. Under a seven-year agreement, Hewitt will provide human resources business process outsourcing (BPO) services, including workforce administration, benefits, compensation, recruiting, domestic relocation, and learning and development services to Marriott's 133,000 employees. With more than 60 years of experience, Hewitt Associates is one of the world's foremost provider of human resources outsourcing and consulting services. The firm consults with more than 2,300 companies and administers human resources, health care, payroll and retirement programs on behalf of more than 300 companies to millions of employees and retirees worldwide.

The Travel Institute Unveils Southern Europe Course

Want to get a quick update on marketing European travel? The Travel Institute's newest addition to its series of popular Destination Specialist courses is Southern Europe. The course is available at the special introductory price of $59, a $20 savings. This special offer will be available through March 11, 2005, when the course ships. Destination Specialist Southern Europe complements Destination Specialist Northern and Central Europe and covers 11 countries and principalities including Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Gibraltar, Monaco, Italy, San Marino, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey. Each country is explored through maps, geography, climate and seasons, local transportation, accommodations, historical background, culture, celebrations, special events, dining, entertainment, shopping, and attractions. The course also includes sales strategies, sample itineraries, tour products, and a study guide. For more information, visit www.thetravelinstitute.com.

OPPORTUNITIES WATCH!

RIU Hotel Chain Looks to Expand

Want to find out more about a company that's clearly on the growth track? Spain's RIU hotel chain will inaugurate a Palace hotel in the Portuguese Algarve in April and the ClubHotel Riu Funan·, its first resort in the Cape Verde Islands (western Africa), in September. The company building two new Palace hotels in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Other new properties planned for 2005 include one hotel in Benalm·dena (Malaga), two in Bulgaria, one in Croatia and one on the island of Malta. The chain concluded 2004 with 110 properties, 32,811 rooms, 15,500 employees and turnover of 900 million euros. Riu expects to end 2005 with 114 hotels, 35,000 rooms, 17,000 employees and turnover of approximately 1000 million euros. RIU foresees investments along the lines of 150 million euros in 2005. Furthermore, the chain kicks off the first quarter of 2005 with the construction of new Palace hotels in the Caribbean: the Riu Palace Riviera Maya in Mexico and the Riu Palace Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Both resorts will be inaugurated in the first half of 2006. For more information, visit www.riu.com.

One&Only to Open Reethi Rah Maldives Resort

Luxury resort group One&Only Resorts, part of Kerzner International, will open an all villa resort in the Maldives in May 2005. Named One&Only Reethi Rah, the resort is located in the North Male' Atoll and easily accessible by a 50-minute One&Only luxury yacht transfer, arranged around guests' personal flight details. The resort will complement the group's inaugural property in the island republic, One&Only Kanuhura. One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives will be one of the largest resort islands. For more information, visit www.oneandonlyresorts.com.

The TravelStore Launches New Luxury Division

The hotel sector isn't the only area of travel offering opportunity. The TravelStore, a travel agency that is a member of Ensemble Travel agency cooperative, announced the creation of TravelStore Platinum, a division within the company specifically designed with the luxury leisure traveler in mind. TravelStore Platinum specializes in designing complete trips for travelers seeking highly customized travel experiences, which are tailor-made to perfectly fit the clients' lifestyles. TravelStore Platinum boasts eight master travel planners who are each experts in particular destinations and/or types of travel, from the South Pacific to Italy, deep sea diving to high-end cruises. TravelStore Platinum is open to both existing TravelStore clients and new clients. Originally established in 1975, TravelStore is now the largest independently owned travel agency in California. Headquartered in West Los Angeles, the agency has more than 250 travel agents on staff in its 12 office locations throughout the state.

OPPORTUNITIES NETWORKING!

Travel Commerce's April Conference Set for New York

If you want to meet top travel marketers, especially those focused on the online space, a good place to start is the Travel Commerce Conference & Expo (TravelCom), a travel industry event for marketing and distribution strategies. The 2005 conference will be held April 27-29 at the Marriott Marquis, New York. This year's conference focus centers on the value of differentiation. TravelCom's 2005 keynote speakers include Henry Harteveldt, vice president-travel research, Forrester Research, providing Forrester's latest findings, and a "New Perspectives" keynote panel featuring Steven Heyer, CEO, Starwood Hotels & Resorts; Steven McArthur, president, Expedia North America; and Steven Rudnitsky, chairman and CEO, Cendant Hotel Group. "New Perspectives" will feature some of the travel industry's newest CEOs, providing unique perspective as recent transfers from senior positions at AOL, Kraft, and Coca-Cola to the dynamic and rapidly evolving, thin-margined travel industry. In this first-of-its-kind panel, TravelCom attendees will learn why these three executives chose to enter the travel industry, what they have learned that has surprised them, and where they see travel as being similar to their previous industries. Other speakers will include influential executives and decision makers from Amadeus North America, America Online, Inc., Carlson Hotels, Carnival Cruise Lines, Cendant Corporation, Emirates, G2 SwitchWorks, Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI), ITA Software, Liberty Travel/GOGO World Wide Vacations, Overture, Relais & Chateaux and Interstate Hotels and Resorts, Sabre Holdings, Seabourn Cruises, SideStep, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines Company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Travelocity Business and Travelzoo among others. TravelCom's agenda will once again include two high-powered, one-half-day events: The Search Forum for Travel Marketers and the one-of-a-kind Executive Women's Forum. These events will provide an opportunity for attendees to gather industry expertise and participate in a roundtable learning environment. For more information, visit www.travelcomexpo.com.

HSMAI Holds Airline & Hotel Strategy Conference

A conference designed to bridge the gap between airline and hotel executives? That's what the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is offering with its second annual Airline & Hotel Contracting Strategy Conference in Phoenix, March 2-4, at the Crown Plaza Phoenix Airport. The program is designed to facilitate communication and understanding between the hotel and airline industries as it relates to managing airline crew and distressed passenger agreements. Airlines have unique needs for hotel accommodations, and in a sellers market, carriers are looking to work with hotels. Hotels interested in selling to and servicing this highly specialized market segment need to stay abreast of the constantly changing dynamics of the airline industry. As both industries are currently under severe pressure for profits and cost savings, better communication between these managers should lead to greater efficiencies on both sides. This exclusive forum will be a results-oriented, educational and information packed day-and-a-half event, with keynote addresses, panel discussions and break-out brainstorming sessions. From a networking perspective, this conference will feature national sales managers of hotel corporations and management companies, as well as management at individual hotels in key airport markets. Last year, 21 airlines participated in the event. This year, 20 airlines have already confirmed their attendance and another eight carriers are planning to attend. They include international, legacy, freight, low-cost, and regional carriers: Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, America West Airlines, ATA Airlines Inc., British Airways, Capital Cargo International Airlines, Cargojet/Starjet Canada, Chautauqua Airlines, Inc., Delta Airlines, FedEx, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Horizon Air, Jazz Air Inc., JetBlue Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Northwest Airlines, TACA International, United Airlines, and Qantas. For more information, visit www.hsmai.org.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

AIRLINES: UAL Corporation, parent United Airlines, named Cindy Szadokierski as vice president of corporate real estate. In her new role, Szadokierski is responsible for United's domestic and international real estate holdings, airport relationships and construction activity. She succeeds Kathryn Mikells, who was recently named vice president and treasurerÖSpirit Airlines appointed Barry Biffle as senior vice president and chief marketing officer of the company. Biffle will be directly responsible for Spirit's planning, revenue management, marketing, sales and distribution reporting to Spirit's president, Ben Baldanza, who recently left US Airways for Spirit. Biffle most recently served as managing director of marketing at US Airways, where he was responsible for advertising, direct marketing, the frequent-flyer program and product ÖSentient Jet, a leading provider of private jet membership, named John Bax as chief financial officer. Sentient provides corporate and individual travelers access to a nationwide network of premium executive class aircraft without the upfront capital or time commitments associated with full jet ownership or fractional jet programsÖHonolulu-based Island Air appointed Robert Mauracher as chief executive officer. Mauracher, who joined the commuter carrier on Feb. 14, has a quarter-century of experience in the aviation industryÖ Following a recent restructuring at Air Jamaica a number of executives have departed. Both Kingston, Jamaica-based John Lewis, former executive vice president and chief revenue officer, and Bryan Shilling, former president of Miami-based Air Jamaica Vacations, have left the airline. Handling the day-to-day operations at Air Jamaica Vacations is Mike Norton, vice president of sales and marketing. Shilling has since moved to US Airways Vacations in Orlando where he is now vice president and general manager.

HOTELS & RESORTS: Marriott International, Inc. announced the appointment of three new corporate officers: Amy McPherson, executive vice president, sales and marketing; James Fisher, senior vice president, owner and franchise services; and Norman Jenkins, senior vice president, development for North America. The appointments are effective immediately. As executive vice president of sales and marketing, McPherson is responsible for the company's global sales, marketing, revenue management, reservation sales and e-commerce efforts. She joined Marriott in 1986, and most recently served as senior vice president of global revenue management and reservation salesÖHost Marriott Corporation announced the appointment of Gregory Larson as treasurer of the company effective Feb. 4, 2005. Larson has been with the company since 1989, holding various positions in corporate finance, accounting and acquisitions. Prior to his new role, he was the company's senior vice president of investor relations. He will continue to lead the investor relations department in addition to fulfilling his new responsibilities as treasurer. Host Marriott is a lodging real estate company that owns or holds controlling interests in upscale and luxury hotel properties primarily operated under premium brands, such as Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, Four Seasons, Fairmont, Hilton and WestinÖInterstate Hotels & Resorts, the nation's largest independent hotel management company, said Thomas Hewitt has been named chief executive officer of the company. Steven Jorns, the former CEO, will become the full-time managing director of the Interstate Real Estate Investment Fund, which currently is under development. Jorns has served as CEO of the company since October 2003. Hewitt was the chairman of the board and CEO of Interstate Hotels Corporation from 1999 until 2002, when the company merged with MeriStar Hotels & Resorts, Inc., to form Interstate Hotels & ResortsÖInterContinental Hotels Group named Chris Pfohl as vice president, business development, Western Region. Based in Los Angeles, and reporting to Kirk Kinsell, senior vice president, Americas franchising and business development, Pfohl will be the regional team leader responsible for development through acquisition, joint venture, management contract and franchise of the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts brands in the western U.S. states and western CanadaÖHard Rock Cafe International Inc. named industry expert Michael Soll as vice president of casinos. Soll, charged with overseeing the Orlando-based entertainment company's future in casinos both domestically and overseas, such as in the U.K., spent the last three years at Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas, where he was vice president of planning and development. Soll previously worked in New York for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Before that, he was an equity analyst following the gaming industry for Bear Stearns & CoÖ

Langham Hotels International announced the appointment of John Dick as general manager for its newly rebranded five-star property, the Langham Hotel, Auckland, effective Feb. 22. Dick has extensive general management and hospitality consulting experience both in the United Kingdom and New Zealand and is very close to the five-star hotel market in AucklandÖThe Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong's Central district has named David Kwok as director of sales and marketing. Kwok is an award-winning marketer who has worked for leading hotel brands for almost 20 years. Previously with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group as group marketing services manager, Kwok has also worked with other prestigious hotel brands such as Conrad International and Shangri La International Management. He returns to Mandarin Oriental from Hilton where he was director of business development/chief commercial officer in Dalian, China, and regional marketing coordinator for Greater ChinaÖCSM Corporation, a diversified real estate development and acquisition company, said Alan Hatfield has joined CSM Lodging as regional vice president of hotel operations-western region. Previously, Hatfield served as vice president of operations for Intercontinental Hotels Group, where he was responsible for 10 hotels in the western United States. In his new role, Hatfield will supervise general managers at 17 hotels in CSM Lodging's portfolio and act as an intermediate between CSM Lodging's corporate offices and each hotel to facilitate operationsÖ Emmanuel Marion has been named vice president of finance and administration-Greater China for Accor Hotels. His new position is based in Shanghai with a special emphasis on hotel operations in China. Marion has been with Accor for nine years and he was previously based in Bangkok office as corporate finance manager-Operations AsiaÖCrestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. appointed Len Wasserman to general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn BWI Airport, Maryland. The Hilton Garden Inn at BWI Airport is a 158 guest room property serving guests in the vicinity of the Baltimore Washington International AirportÖ Andrew Lee, who has served as vice president of food and beverage for the Turning Stone resort since December 2003, has been named vice president of hospitality for the resort. In his new position, he oversees the resort's spa and lodging operations, as well as the food and beverage operations, including menu and restaurant concepts, human resource management and daily operationsÖIsland Capital Group, LLC has named former Saks Fifth Avenue marketing veteran Sheri Wilson-Gray to build the brand essence of its Yacht Haven initiative, a new lifestyle destination concept designed for the affluent customer drawn to the boating lifestyle. Plans are underway for the first Yacht Haven in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands (USVI), where a world-class mega-yacht marina will be enriched by an upscale destination center including shopping, dining, entertainment and leisure activities for tourists, yacht owners and residents alike. The facility is directly adjacent to one of the busiest cruise-ship destination ports in the western hemisphere, where almost two million passengers per year come to visitÖAlex Kompier has been named to the newly created position of chief financial officer of Golden Tulip Hospitality B.V., the owning company of Golden Tulip's hotel franchising and management companies. Kompier, 35, originally joined Golden Tulip in 2002 as director of finance and administration.

TOUR OPERATORS: Pawtucket, R.I.-based Collette Vacations promoted Kevin Kramich to executive vice president. Formerly vice president of global sales, Kramich has been with Collette since 1985 and is based at the company's headquarters in Pawtucket. Among his many accomplishments at Collette, Kramich was instrumental in establishing the company's first international office in Toronto, and has served on the Executive Committee of Collette Vacations since 2002. He has also helped to establish sales territories in Australia and the United Kingdom.

DESTINATIONS: Kenley Moy has been promoted to regional director of sales, Eastern Sales Office, for the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB). Moy joined the SFCVB as national sales manager, Convention Center Accounts, in October 2000. Previously, he was director of sales at the Hotel Monaco; national sales manager at the Westin St. Francis; corporate sales manager with Bristol Hotels & Resorts; and regional sales manager with Hyatt Hotels of San Francisco. Moy will oversee the SFCVB Eastern Sales Office in downtown Washington, D.C. He replaces Patricia Kraft Hilpl who has re-joined the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau as vice president of convention sales.

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