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This week in Opportunities:

Industry Defends Business Meetings and Events from Politicized Attacks
Survey: Companies That Maintain Travel Spending Could Gain Competitive Advantage
Opportunities Networking!
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

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OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS

Industry Defends Business Meetings and Events from Politicized Attacks

Earlier this month the U.S. Travel Association launched the "Meetings Mean Business" campaign, a major initiative intended to push back against the political demonization of business meetings and events. The campaign comes as companies - most of whom have not received taxpayer assistance - cancel thousands of meetings and events, often out of fear that they will be singled out by politicians. "Make no mistake, companies that have received taxpayer assistance must be held to a different standard and conduct their business in a transparent and responsible manner," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "But the pendulum has swung too far. The climate of fear is causing a historic pullback of business meetings and events, with a devastating impact on small businesses, American workers and communities." According to a new survey by Meetings and Convention Magazine conducted prior to last week's firestorm over Northern Trust, more than 20 percent of companies that have not received taxpayer assistance have cancelled events due to recent media and political attention. More than half (52%) claim the news coverage has been extremely or moderately influential on their companies' decisions to hold events. "Our campaign will challenge policymakers to tone down the dangerous rhetoric, embrace sensible guidelines for companies receiving assistance and promote travel as an economic solution." The "Meetings Mean Business" campaign - www.meetingsmeanbusiness.com - is a comprehensive effort, including extensive grassroots mobilization, paid advertising and new media strategies. Campaign components include:

• Development of local coalitions representing workers, small businesses and community leaders, who will speak out on the benefits of meetings and events;
• Groundbreaking research that demonstrates the return on investment of meetings, events and performance incentive travel;
• Economic impact analysis at the state and congressional district level in terms of jobs, economic growth and tax revenue associated with meetings and events;
• Aggressive print and online paid advertising that clearly identifies the value of meetings and events and the unintended victim of its demise; and
• The creation of a rapid-response war-room to counter-act false accusations against legitimate travel activities.

Meetings and events are responsible for nearly 15% of all travel in the United States and create $101 billion in spending, one million jobs and nearly $16 billion in tax revenue at the federal, state and local level. Without the jobs generated by travel for meetings and events, the unemployment rate in the United States would jump from 7.6% to 8.2%. U.S. Travel is conducting its campaign in partnership with the American Hotel and Lodging Association, Destination Marketing Association International, International Association of Exhibitions and Events, Meetings Professional International, National Business Travel Association, Professional Convention and Management Association and SITE (formerly the Society of Incentive Travel Executives). These associations recently released recommended meetings and events guidelines for companies receiving taxpayer assistance. The groups are strongly encouraging the U.S. Treasury Department to embrace these guidelines and, in so doing, establish transparent standards for those who have accepted federal government support.

Survey: Companies That Maintain Travel Spending Could Gain Competitive Advantage

A new survey of business leaders finds that while corporate travel budgets are often the first target of cost-cutting measures, a majority believe that companies that increase travel budgets during an economic downturn will be better positioned to build competitive advantage. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of businesses surveyed say that increasing travel while others are cutting back creates an opportunity to build market share and new customer relationships. Half (53%) also believe that companies that reduce their business travel will give an advantage to competitors who maintain their travel commitment. The findings illustrate the conflict within businesses that are under pressure to quickly identify cost reductions in the economic downturn. When making these reductions businesses may sacrifice longer-term strategic and competitive advantage. "It's a classic trade off between short term cost-reductions and long term value," said Kellogg Business School Professor Daniel Diermeier, a Distinguished Professor of Regulation and Competitive Practice. "During times like these, many companies will go too far, and actually cut back on the activities that would best position them to compete in the future."

The survey of business executives at companies with more than $50 million in annual sales found that:

• 82 percent of companies surveyed believe that business travel is important to achieving their business results;
• 81 percent believe that more client contact is necessary in a slow economy;
• A strong majority (59 percent) strongly agree that in-person contact grows their business; and
• 72 percent of businesses believe that increasing travel while others are cutting back creates an opportunity to build market share and new customer relationships.

"Travel plays an important role in business growth in a down economy, by helping businesses connect with their customers," said Dr. Suzanne Cook, U.S. Travel's Senior Vice President of Research. "It's also clear from our survey results that the old maxim remains true; if you don't take care of your customers, someone else will." The survey was commissioned by the U.S. Travel Association, and conducted by APCO Insight. Telephone and web-based interviews of 401 business executives were conducted from February 3-18, with a margin of error of +/- 5 percentage points.

OPPORTUNITIES NETWORKING!

HD Expo offers Insights Into A Changing Economy

Now more than ever, the hospitality industry is looking to turn today's challenges into tomorrow's bottom line solutions. To meet these demands, designers, purchasing agents, owners, operators and architects are turning to the Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference (HD Expo) held at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas on May 14-16, 2009. This year in particular, HD Expo has become the must-attend event for the industry's most significant players as the exposition and conference examine the critical tools, products and services that turn insight into opportunity and help gain a competitive advantage to move forward in the downturn economy. HD Expo draws more than 11,000 industry decision makers to offer tips on navigating the economy in information-packed, idea-generating educational sessions that cover all facets of design and innovation. Networking events and a trade show floor of more than 1,200 exhibitors in over 350,000 square feet of expo space offer attendees the opportunity to experience what's really new in product design and thought leadership. Despite the current economic climate, results from a recent survey administered by the Hospitality Design Group signal a strong demand for attending HD Expo. Over 90% of attendees surveyed indicated that participation at HD Expo is vital to business success. HD Expo easily outranked all other hospitality trade shows identified in the poll according to the importance of show attendance. Moreover, according to survey data, over 80% of attendees identified that they would still go to HD Expo regardless of the current financial climate. Reinforcing this popularity, Tradeshow Week magazine recently named the exposition and conference in its 6th Annual TSW Fastest 50 rankings. The TSW Fastest 50 recognizes leading shows that have experienced the greatest increase in net square footage over the past three years. For more information, visit: www.hdexpo.com.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

AIRLINES: US Airways has announced that Stephen L. Johnson has been named as executive vice president, corporate and general counsel, effective March 16, 2009. In his new role Johnson will oversee the airline’s Legal, Corporate Real Estate, Labor Relations and Corporate Security functions. He will report to US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker. Since 2003, Johnson has been a partner at Indigo Partners LLC, a Phoenix-based private equity firm. Indigo specializes in acquisitions and strategic investments in the airline, aircraft finance and aerospace industries. Between 1995 and 2003, Johnson held a variety of positions with America West Holdings Corporation prior to its merger with US Airways Group, including senior vice president, legal and executive vice president, corporate. Between 1989 and 1994, Johnson also held a variety of positions, including senior vice president and general counsel, with GPA Group plc, which later was acquired by GE Capital Aviation Services Limited. His prior experience further includes serving as an attorney at Seattle-based law firm Bogle & Gates, where he specialized in corporate and aircraft finance and taxation. Johnson earned his Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Sacramento. This new position was recently created when the airline’s former general counsel left the company for a position outside the industry.

HOTELS & RESORTS: Las Vegas Sands Corp. has announced that effective April 1, 2009, Michael A. Leven, who has served as a member of the company's board of directors since August 2004, will assume the title of president and chief operating officer replacing William P. Weidner. The company stated that Weidner is no longer with the organization or a member of its board of directors. Leven is a veteran hospitality executive with 48 years of experience in the business and a distinguished and well-recognized record of success. He was formerly president and CEO of US Franchise Systems, Inc., the company he founded in 1995, which developed and franchised the Microtel Inns & Suites and Hawthorn Suites hotel brands. He was previously the president and COO of Holiday Inn Worldwide, president of Days Inn of America, and president of Americana Hotels. He has also served on the board of directors of Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Hersha Hospitality Trust. In his new role with LVS, Leven will supervise the overall operations of the company's U.S. and international locations... Marriott International, Inc. has announced significant new executive moves that it states will position the company to expand its industry leadership and drive long-term profitability. Effective May 1, William J. Shaw, currently president and chief operating officer, will become vice chairman of the company, an executive position reporting to J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman of the board and chief executive officer. Shaw will continue to serve on the board of directors. John Marriott III, chief executive officer of JWM Family Enterprises, L.P., a private partnership, will continue to serve as vice chairman of the board. Shaw has been pivotal in Marriott's rapid growth. Since joining the company, he has held key financial, development and operating positions in the company before being appointed president and chief operating officer in 1997. Since then, he has overseen operations as Marriott expanded from 1,500 hotels and 300,000 rooms in 54 countries to nearly 3,200 hotels and 560,000 rooms in 66 countries. Under Shaw the company has exited non-core businesses, protected hotel margins by deploying systems and technology to reduce costs, enhanced productivity and streamlined operations. Arne M. Sorenson, executive vice president, chief financial officer, and president, continental European lodging, will become president and chief operating officer of the company, reporting to Mr. Marriott. Sorenson joined Marriott in 1996, and in 1997, led the acquisition of the Renaissance Hotels and Resorts brand. He was named chief financial officer in 1998. Under Sorenson's leadership as CFO, Marriott has recycled over $5 billion of capital through the sale of assets, repurchased over 250 million shares of the company's common stock, and strengthened the company's balance sheet, which has been instrumental in driving Marriott's unit growth. He also has dramatically improved the efficiency of company-wide finance systems and controls. In 2003, Sorenson assumed responsibility for continental European lodging, where he has managed operations across more than 100 hotels and spearheaded the launch of the Courtyard brand there. Carl T. Berquist, executive vice president financial information and enterprise risk management, will become executive vice president and chief financial officer, reporting to Mr. Shaw. Berquist will retain his role as the company's principal accounting officer. Berquist, who joined the company in December 2002, led an initiative to significantly expand effectiveness and transparency in financial analysis and reporting across the company. As CFO, he will oversee global finance, including financial reporting, project finance, financial planning, treasury, tax, audit, and risk management... Langham Hotels International (LHI) has announced the appointment and promotion of Brett Butcher as its first Chief Executive Officer. Butcher will lead LHI in focusing on its expanding pipeline of hotel properties around the world. This planned growth will deliver Langham Hotels more than 30 operating properties within the next five years. He will continue the company's focus on Total Quality Management leading to accredited status in all properties while building a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Butcher's international hospitality management experience spans 30 years, covering roles in Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. He has held senior executive hospitality management positions with various hotel groups, overseeing operations, sales and marketing, and hotel development roles. For the past seven years, Butcher has held several senior roles within Langham Hotels International including those of Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Brands, as well as Senior Vice President of Langham Place Operations. He was also the Managing Director of Langham Place, Hong Kong overseeing the opening and initial operation of the hotel. Butcher is a native Australian and holds a Bachelor of Business Degree in Hospitality Management.

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