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This week in Opportunities:

Travel & Tourism upswing - 1st Quarter up 9%!
New Skills Assessment for Industry Professionals
Cruise Lines Forecast 2004 Business Boom
New Opportunities!
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

TOP NEWS & TRENDS!

TIA Index Shows Travel Upswing
Want more evidence that the travel and tourism business is shaking out of its doldrums? The Travel Industry Association of America's (TIA) Traveler Sentiment Index for the first quarter of 2004 now stands at 102.2, up nearly 9 percent over the previous quarter last quarter. TIA attributed the jump to travelers' more positive feelings about having enough money and time to take pleasure trips. Travelers also apparently feel that travel is more affordable than it was a year ago. TIA's quarterly Traveler Sentiment Index was conducted January 22 to February 1, 2004. "Americans' positive perceptions of the affordability of travel and the fact they feel they have enough money and time to travel are all positive signs as the industry continues its recovery," said TIA President William Norman. Among the five index components, there were double-digit increases in consumer perceptions about the ability to travel based on personal finances (up 20.5 percent) and the ability to travel based on their free time (up 19.8 percent). Those indices now stand at 93.4 and 102.3, respectively. Travelers also were very positive about the affordability of travel, with that index increasing 8.4 percent to 118.3. General interest in taking pleasure or vacation trips rose 5.5 percent to 100.6. When the overall Traveler Sentiment Index is examined on a regional basis, all four census regions showed gains over last quarter. The Northeast posted the highest gain, increasing 14.4 percent.

Travel Institute Debuts New Skills Test
The Travel Institute, which offers educational and training for travel industry professionals, has introduced a new SkillMap Assessments, an online program designed to help pinpoint the exact skills, habits and attitudes an organization needs to develop superior customer relationships and enhance productivity. The goal is to help travel companies improve the effectiveness of salespeople, customer service representatives, or any employee improve his or her effectiveness by determining the specific skills that need to be developed or enhanced. SkillMap Assessments can easily be integrated into any existing sales training program or used as a stand-alone training tool for facilitated group training sessions, self-paced individual learning or one-on-one coaching. The assessments currently available are Professional Selling, with versions for both B-to-B and B-to-C sales professionals, and Customer Service, with more assessments in development. SkillMap Assessments ensures that companies are investing training dollars in the areas where there is most room for growth, thereby providing individuals with a higher level of knowledge and a better understanding of their role and of the industry as a whole. It takes just 30-45 minutes to complete online and provide a graphical representation of each individual's unique strengths and growth opportunities. They also correspond to educational modules and reinforcement tools to ensure long-term success. For more information, visit www.thetravelinstitute.com or call 800-542-4282.

Cruise Lines Forecast 2004 Business Boom
CLIA reported a record 9.52 million worldwide guests enjoyed cruise vacations in 2003, a 10.2 percent increase over the 8.6 million who cruised in 2002. CLIA's member lines also posted significant growth among guests originating in North America. Nearly 8 million North Americans sailed aboard CLIA member line ships in 2003, up 6.9 percent compared with the nearly 7.5 million who cruised in 2002. CLIA member line ships also attained a 102.6 percent load factor in 2003, compared with 98.6 percent in 2002, demonstrating the robust demand for cruise vacations and the industry's ability to fill new capacity. The best news is 2004 is looking even brighter for the cruise industry, according to top cruise executives and analysts meeting at the annual Seatrade Convention in Miami last week. CLIA Chairman Mark Conroy, president and CEO of Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, CLIA's 20 member lines are expected to carry 10.5 million passengers in 2004, up 11.5 percent (or 1.1 million) from the previous year. Among those passengers, CLIA expects to see 5.3 million first-time cruisers. Many cruise lines have been reporting record booking volume during this year's Wave Period, while rates and yield have been steadily increasing. Carnival Corp. reported that bookings for "wave season," which runs January through March, have been up more than 50 percent from last year. CLIA member lines will introduce 12 new ships this year, compared with 15 in 2003 and 13 in 2002. But the 2004 ships represent a record number of berths--26,687 in 2004 versus 21,273 in 2003 and 21,074 in 2002--due to the larger ships being launched.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES!

More Tribal Resorts Equal New Jobs
Look for high-level opportunities among the ever-growing number of Native American-owned resorts and casino properties being developed nationwide. The Pueblo of Pojoaque and Hilton Hotels Corporation, for example, recently broke ground on construction of a $250 million destination resort that will feature a 387-room Hilton full-service resort, a 79-suite Homewood Suites by Hilton, an upscale extended stay hotel, a spa, convention facilities, entertainment venues and a new casino. The new Buffalo Thunder Resort is on 92 acres of Pojoaque tribal land, located 12 miles north of Santa Fe, N.M., , adjacent to the Towa Golf Resort, a 36-hole golf course (27 holes currently open). Both hotels will be owned by The Pueblo of Pojoaque and operated by Hilton Hotels Corporation under a 20-year management agreement. Elsewhere, Hard Rock Cafe International has opened the 250-room Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, a $100 million tribal-owned hotel and casino restaurant. The property, with rooms from $125 to $1,600 a night, features the company's well-known rock memorabilia and rock-star prints. Other tribal-owned resorts and casinos are in development in California, New York, Pennsylvania and other states-and most will need dedicated sales, marketing and operational executives.

Spirit Air Sticks to Growth Plans
Low-cost airlines continue to be on a growth spurt, meaning more top jobs should open up in the sector soon. The latest news comes from Spirit Airlines, once an also-ran in the low-fare segment, but now a budding superstar. Spirit last week said it would place an order with Airbus for 95 new airplanes in a deal that could be worth $5 billion. The airline currently operates 32 older MD-80s, which will be phased out. Spirit has already committed to buying 35 of the new Airbus. Spirit CEO Jacob Schorr said the new aircraft will allows the airline to more than double its size.

EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

AIRLINES: American Airlines said 18-year veteran Sue Oliver, senior vice president-human resources, is leaving the company to accept a post as senior vice president of people for Wal-Mart Stores, USA, at its headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. Jeffrey Brundage, who has guided all of American's relationships with its labor unions as vice president of employee relations, was named to succeed Oliver. Brundage joined American in December 1999 as managing director of employee relations for the Flight Department, where he had primary liaison responsibility between the airline and the Allied Pilots Association, which represents American's pilots. For seven years prior to joining American, Brundage worked for the Airline Pilots Association International, most recently as the senior collective bargaining coordinatorÖScott Cammell has been appointed sales and marketing manager-Australia for Hawaiian Airlines, which plans to operate four weekly flights between Sydney and Honolulu, commencing May 18. Cammell was previously sales and marketing Manager for Concorde SmartFares, the largest air fares database for the travel industry in Australia and New Zealand. Prior to that, he spent more than 20 years in the tour wholesaling sector, most recently as managing director of Insight Vacations in Australia and New Zealand.

CRUISES: Premium cruise line Celebrity Cruises, a division of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., named 11-year company executive Brad Miller as vice president of brand development, a new position created to drive brand growth. Miller now will spearhead brand development, product innovation, better-business practices and performance measures. He also will oversee Celebrity Xpeditions, the brand's new exotic vacations product, and manage the newly centralized brand finance and administration group. He will report to President and COO Jack Williams. Miller most recently served as vice president of guest sales and services. Celebrity also named Bill Rammos as associate vice president of Celebrity Xpeditions and general manager of the company's Galapagos operations. Rammos previously served as director of international sales and marketingÖLori McCloud has joined Oceania Cruises as vice president of agency sales. McCloud replaces Andrea Corman, who left the company. She will be in charge of sales administration, agency services, overseeing the company's 12 regional sales directors, new business development and special projects. McCloud will report to Jeff Drew, senior vice president-sales, and Bob Binder, executive vice president-sales and marketing. She was previously a vice president at Will, a call center operations group in Miramar, Fla. Before that, she served as director of air-sea operations at Renaissance CruisesÖ

SeaDream Yacht Club has named Ana Maria Fisher as manager-sales and marketing programs, a newly created post. Fisher will be based in the company's Coconut Grove, Fla. headquarters and report to Bob Lepisto, senior vice president-sales and marketing. Fisher's responsibilities will include organizing sales training conference calls, annual road show seminars and electronic marketing; overseeing telemarketing, collateral materials distribution and inventory; managing databases, direct mail, internal and external communication of promotions, and prospecting for new travel agencies and group and full-ship charter opportunities. Fisher previously served as a director with MultiVision Video & Film, a Florida-based company that produces DVDs and other sales materials. Prior to that she helped create sales presentation materials for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line. SeaDream also named Jennie Goldie Foster as director of business development for the Northwest U.S., based in San Francisco. Foster formerly served as director of business development, focused on the non-profit and association markets in the Northeast as well as on FIT business in the Mid-Atlantic region. Her new territory will include Northern California, Oregon, Washington and several nearby states. She will continue her work in the non-profit and association field. Lucille DePerro, director of business development-Northeast, will now assume additional responsibility for Washington, D.C.; Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Shannon Crowther, director of business development-Midwest, will assume Foster's previous responsibilities in Ohio.

DESTINATIONS: Ana Maria Viscasillas has been named acting executive director of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, which is the marketing and sales agent for the island's new convention center. The slot has been vacant since Jorge Pesquera left the post last month to head the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association. Viscasillas has been with the bureau 10 years, most recently as vice president of marketingÖPilar Bush, former deputy director of tourism for the Cayman Islands, has been named acting director of tourism and replaces Lania Rittenhouse, who joined Norwegian Cruise Lines. A selection committee plans to pick a director by July 1.

HOTELS & RESORTS: Highland Hospitality Corporation appointed Terry O'Leary as senior vice president-asset management. O'Leary most recently served as senior vice president of business development for Prime Hospitality Corp. in Fairfield, N.J.. Highland Hospitality is a newly formed, self-advised lodging real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on hotel investments primarily in the U.S.. The company currently owns seven hotel properties with an aggregate of 1,725 rooms in five statesÖ.Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels said Peter Borer, currently group general manager of the Peninsula Hong Kong, will become chief operating officer of The Peninsula Hotels and a director of Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels effective April 15. Borer will oversee all hotel operations and lead the development of brand image. David Williams was appointed head of audit and risk management, reporting directly to the company's chief executive. Williams is currently the general manager for operational financial control.

TRAVEL AGENTS: Carlson Travel Franchise Group-which includes Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates, Cruise Holidays and Results Travel retail franchised brands-named Carlson veteran Mark Masuda as vice president overseeing the franchise group's preferred supplier relationships, travel technology for the franchise group, negotiated vendor programs and support services provided to franchisees of the three brands. Masuda previously served as senior director of supplier relations and travel technology for the Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate Division. Prior to that he spent 10 years in multiple leadership positions at Northwest Airlines.

TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY: SideStep, the travel search engine, has named Jim Barnett to its board of directors. Barnett is former president and CEO of AltaVista. He most recently was the president and CEO of the search division of Overture Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Yahoo! Inc. Sidestep searches dozens of sites to provide consumers with air, hotel, and rental car bargains.

TOUR OPERATORS: Mike Scott, a former executive for defunct Far & Wide, is now executive vice president for Discovery Travel Systems, based in Alexandria, Va. A 20-year industry veteran, Scott was chief information officer for Far & Wide in Miami. At Discovery, Scott will oversee implementation of new e-commerce solutions for the vacation travel market and expansion of the business in North America and Europe.

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