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This week in Opportunities:

Weak Dollar Likely to Benefit US Hotel Markets in 2008
Opportunities Watch!
Opportunities Networking!
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

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OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS

Weak Dollar Likely to Benefit US Hotel Markets in 2008

A weak US dollar may be the primary factor in the ongoing solid performance of the US hospitality sector in 2008, according to a report released last week by Ernst & Young's Global Real Estate Center. "The continued weakness of the dollar is producing multiple beneficial effects on the US hotel market which is likely to continue for the foreseeable future and which may pull the sector through current recessionary pressures," said Michael Fishbin, Ernst & Young's US Director, Hospitality & Leisure. Today, international tourists are looking to the US as a prime vacation spot and are spending more money, often upgrading to higher-end and even luxury accommodations because their local currency now buys, in some cases, more than twice what it did just a few years ago. Total arrivals in the US have witnessed 18 months of successive growth since April 2006, according to the US Department of Commerce, and in the first 11 months of 2007 international visitors spent US$111.6 billion, up 13 percent from the first 11 months of 2006. Fishbin pointed to a parity between the US and Canadian dollars, which has increased Canadian spending power south of the border, and to the euro, which has strengthened from one euro per dollar to 0.66 euros per dollar in recent months. The same exchange rate economics also benefit foreign business travelers who are now able to leverage the strength of their home currencies to take longer stays in US hotels, according to Fishbin. "As long as this exchange rate bonus exists for non-US travelers, the benefits will be seen at hotels from ski resorts in Vail and Aspen to cruise ports such as San Diego, Seattle and Miami and traditional tourist and business destinations such as New York, Orlando and San Francisco," Fishbin said. Second, US consumers are staying closer to home, and if they take vacations, they are more likely to travel within one of the 50 states. Third, the pipeline of new construction hit its peak in the fourth quarter of 2007, and with the economic slowdown and far tighter credit, some hotel construction projects have slowed while others have been shelved. A supply-demand imbalance is likely to benefit existing hotels and could result in higher room rates in cities such as New York, Miami, and San Francisco. "Last year, the hotel sector in this country showed solid gains in occupancy and average daily room rates (ADR)," said Fishbin. "Looking forward, we see the continuation of a prolonged upward cycle that began two years ago." The report also highlights the continued influx of foreign capital into the sector as a result of cash-rich international investors such as private equity, high net worth individuals and even sovereign funds, which are probing markets across the country looking for hotels to purchase. Now in its fourteenth year, Ernst & Young's 2008 US Lodging Report contains detailed analysis of the six main lodging sectors: luxury, upper upscale, upscale, midscale with food and beverage, midscale without food and beverage, and economy, as well as observations on 10 key trends facing the industry. In addition, the report includes detailed analysis and commentary on the hotel sectors in the 16 largest US hospitality markets: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Ft. Lauderdale, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Miami, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. For a full copy of the report visit www.ey.com/realestate.

OPPORTUNITIES WATCH!

Doubletree Returns to Downtown Chicago with $21 Million Transformation of 500-Room Hotel

The Chicago City Centre Hotel & Sports Club, the Magnificent Mile-area property purchased as the Holiday Inn City Centre in January 2007 by an investment group led by The Chartres Lodging Group, LLC, has begun a $21 million, hotelwide renovation that will ultimately transform it into the Doubletree Hotel Chicago Magnificent Mile this summer. The announcement was made by Phil Tufano, executive vice president and partner of Kokua Hospitality, LLC, an independent management affiliate of Chartres Lodging that is managing nearly 1,400 rooms in central Chicago for the San Francisco lodging investment firm. The Doubletree Hotel Chicago Magnificent Mile will feature 500 redesigned guestrooms; 17,000 square feet of updated meeting and event space; a refreshed lobby and public spaces; a new signature, three-meal restaurant; an updated outdoor pool and view deck; and a street-facing Einstein’s Bagels store. Renovation of the guestrooms has been completed, with the new lobby and public spaces to be unveiled by early summer, and the new restaurant to open in the fall. The remodel will bring a distinctively urban residential feel to the property in keeping with its Streeterville neighborhood equidistant to the Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, Millennium Park and McCormick Place.

OPPORTUNITIES NETWORKING!

Meeting Planners Need Cost-Saving Options In 2008

More than 75 percent of meeting planners attending the 8th Annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings Mid-America Conference & Exhibition April 9 - 10, 2008, at Chicago's Navy Pier, stated planning budgets remain the same for 2008, despite media coverage of an economic recession. Even though the slumping economy may not impact budgets, planners still feel a need for cost-saving options, according to the conference's pre-survey. In their responses, planners cited that they have more meetings to plan, an increase in responsibility, an expansion of their roles, and a need to accomplish more with the same budget. HSMAI's Affordable Meetings remains a top conference for meeting planners as they look for cost-saving advice as they go about their day-to-day responsibilities. 72.6 percent of attendees responded that they do not conduct business at any other industry show. At the conference, a majority of planners will seek hotel and resort (75.3 percent) or venue (60 percent) options. Others are in need of promotional items (58.8 percent), audio-visual services (50 percent) and meeting technologies (35.3 percent). More than 1,000 attendees, representing meeting and event planners from a variety of organizations and sectors are expected to visit HSMAI's Affordable Meetings Mid-America. Attendance at HSMAI's Affordable Meetings Mid-America is free-of-charge for qualified meeting planners. Booth space is still available at the Mid-America Show and can be obtained by contacting Beth Petersen, show manager, GLM, (804) 261-3929; fax (804) 918- 1547; e-mail: beth_petersen@glmshows.com. Other shows for 2008 include: HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) West, June 11-12, 2008, Long Beach Convention Center - Long Beach, CA, and HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) National and Event Technology Expo(TM), Sept. 10-11, 2008, Walter E. Washington Convention Center - Washington, D.C.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

AIRLINES: SkyWest Airlines, a subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc., is pleased to promote two of its leaders: Randy Mulvey as director - Midwest Connect and Pearl Perrin as director - Delta Connection, effective April 1, 2008. Both Mulvey and Perrin will report to Steve Black, director - stations. Mulvey will oversee daily ground operations of SkyWest's rapidly growing Midwest Connect system, including 168 daily departures at 28 stations. He will also continue to oversee SkyWest ground operations throughout the airline's Chicago region. Mulvey brings extensive industry knowledge and experience to his new role. In his tenure at SkyWest, he has served in several leadership positions, including station manager and most recently Chicago regional director. Before joining SkyWest, Mulvey worked in several capacities at United Airlines. As director - Delta Connection, Perrin will be responsible for SkyWest Delta Connection ground operations, focusing on continued customer satisfaction, exceptional on-time and baggage performance. She will also work closely with all internal and external partners to ensure industry-leading safe, efficient and quality operations at over 95 domestic and international airport operations. Perrin came to SkyWest as a station manager in 2001 and most recently served as regional director - Delta Connection ground operations. In this capacity, she oversaw the daily operations of 15 SkyWest stations. Prior to joining SkyWest, Perrin held various management positions at United Airlines... SkyWest Airlines, has also promoted Spencer N. Hyde as director of the company's enhanced multimedia and business development group, effective April 1, 2008. In the new position, Hyde will provide artistic and creative vision to support SkyWest's internal and external marketing and communication efforts, assist the company's operational divisions in the development and deployment of multi-media training materials for classroom and online learning and provide support and development of SkyWest Airlines and ASA web projects. Additionally, Hyde will oversee the development, integration and support of various business technologies related to the human resource function. He will report to Lori Hunt, vice president - people. Hyde began his SkyWest career as a graphic development coordinator in 1999. He has since held the positions of multi-media developer and most recently, manager - design and multi-media development. Hyde holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and will be awarded a master's of professional communication from Westminster College later this year.

CRUISELINES: Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises named hospitality executive Wayne Wielgus senior vice president of Marketing. In his new role, Wielgus will be responsible for the two brands' overall marketing efforts, including brand strategy and development, advertising, web marketing and research. Wielgus will report directly to Dan Hanrahan, president and CEO of the brands. Wielgus has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 25 years. Previously, he was executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Choice Hotels International, where he provided strategic leadership for global marketing and reservations for more than 5,300 hotels in over 42 countries. Earlier, he was vice president of marketing for Best Western International, where he coordinated efforts at more than 4,100 hotels in 84 countries. Wielgus held various positions with Forte Hotels, Inc., Nendels Corporation, Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation, Ramada Inc., and Holiday Inns earlier in his career. Wielgus received an M.B.A. from Memphis University in Memphis, Tennessee, and a B.S. in Marketing in from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

HOTELS & RESORTS: Choice Hotels International, Inc. has announced that it has named Sandy Michel as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. Michel has over 25 years experience in leadership positions in large law firms and corporate legal departments, having led the legal function for three NYSE-listed companies in the hospitality and franchising arenas. Michel most recently served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc., which both owns and franchises retail stores around the globe. At Krispy Kreme, she implemented a new domestic franchising program and played an integral role in strengthening the company's financial and legal positions. From 2001 through 2006, Michel served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of La Quinta Corporation and La Quinta Properties, where she managed the legal department, directed franchise compliance operations, negotiated strategic acquisitions, and handled complex litigation matters. Her experience also includes leadership positions at Sunterra Corporation and W.R. Grace & Co., as well as over a decade in private practice with nationally recognized law firms. Michel holds a BBA from the University of Miami, where she graduated magna cum laude, and a JD from the University of Miami School of Law... Red Lion Hotels Corporation has announced that Anthony F. Dombrowik has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer of Red Lion, effective immediately. Dombrowik assumes the position from Anupam Narayan, who recently became President and Chief Executive Officer of the company. Dombrowik will be in charge of managing Red Lion's financial and administrative functions after most recently serving as the company's Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller. Dombrowik has been with Red Lion Hotels Corporation since May 2003. Prior to joining the company, he was employed as senior manager at the public accounting firm of BDO Seidman, LLP, where he served as an auditor, certified public accountant and consultant from 1992 to 2003. Dombrowik's public accounting practice focused on auditing and consulting for mid-market public companies, with particular attention to consolidations, capital and debt transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and the hospitality industry. While in public practice, Dombrowik represented BDO Seidman, LLP on the Red Lion Hotels Corporation audit engagement. The company also announced today that John Taffin, who has been Red Lion's Executive Vice President, Hotel Operations since September 2003, has been named Executive Vice President, Acquisitions and Development. In his new role,Taffin will focus on acquisition and development opportunities for Red Lion in the western United States. In addition, the company announced that industry veteran George Schweitzer has agreed to join the company as Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations. Schweitzer joins Red Lion from Unifocus -- a leading global provider of business intelligence applications and performance technology for the hospitality industry -- where he was Partner and Executive Vice President of Business Development since August 2006. Schweitzer previously founded and was President and CEO of LaborSage, Inc. -- a software and management consulting company focused on labor scheduling solutions for the hospitality industry -- from 2001 to 2006, when it was acquired by Unifocus. Before entering the hospitality software industry, Schweitzer served as President & COO of VenQuest Hotel Group in Irvine, CA. Prior to VenQuest, Schweitzer held the position of Vice President Operations for Sunstone Hotels and Regional Vice President for Doubletree Hotels. Schweitzer has worked for over 30 years in the hospitality industry, including nearly 20 years at Red Lion, where he served in various positions, including Vice President - Operations, Regional Vice President, and General Manager of various Red Lion hotels. Dombrowik, Taffin and Schweitzer will each be reporting directly to the company's President and Chief Executive Officer, Anupam Narayan.

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