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This week in Opportunities:

Major Hotel Chains' Internet Reservations Up 26.8% in 2005
Air Travelers Want Cleanliness and Comfort Most
Disability Travel Survey Identifies Most Popular American Cities
Opportunities Watch!
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

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OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS

Major Hotel Chains' Internet Reservations Up 26.8% in 2005

TravelCLICK has released its 2005 full-year eTRAK results, which indicate that Internet reservations received at the central reservation offices (CROs) of major hotel brands grew 26.8 percent in 2005 compared to the previous year. In 2005, brand websites grew again and gained share compared to third-party merchant and opaque websites. According to eTRAK, brand websites were the source of 75.2 percent of the brands' centrally booked Internet reservations, compared to 71.4 percent in 2004. Reservations booked through brand websites climbed 33.4 percent over the 2004 level. Bookings through merchant websites, such as Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity channels, grew by 34 percent over 2004. Opaque websites, such as Priceline and Hotwire, decreased by 10.2 percent. eTRAK is a quarterly benchmarking report that allows hotel chains to track booking trends on the Internet and GDS. The full-year 2005 eTRAK report highlights both the growth of electronic hotel bookings on the Internet and the continuing importance of GDS e-commerce for 30 major hotel brands and chains. eTRAK shows that 34.6 percent of CRO reservations came through GDS channels, while Internet sites contributed 35.2 percent of CRO reservations in 2005. In total, 61,248,204 bookings were made last year for these brands through the GDS and the Internet -- 30,410,234 GDS bookings and 30,837,970 Internet bookings. The 30 major brands also reported that, on average, 26.6 percent of their CRO reservations were received from their brand website (marriott.com, hilton.com, etc.) while slightly less than one-third, or 30.2 percent, of CRO reservations were made by phone. Combined, Expedia and Hotels.com had a 59.5 percent market share of merchant bookings received at the CRO of the major hotel brands. Travelocity and Orbitz had market shares of 21.8 percent and 10.1 percent, respectively. Priceline's share of opaque bookings at the 30 major hotel brands was 74.5 percent in 2005, while Hotwire's growth of 17.8 percent year-over-year secured a 25.5 percent share. The eTRAK report covers all central reservation office booking results including GDS, voice, and Internet bookings. For more information about TravelCLICK's eTRAK report, email etrak@travelclick.net.

Air Travelers Want Cleanliness and Comfort Most

According to a recent TripAdvisor survey of more than 2,300 travelers worldwide, 35 percent of respondents cited a clean and roomy bathroom as the most important comfort feature on board a flight, while 27 percent selected a clean blanket or pillow as their top priority. When asked what luxury they would be most likely to pay for, comfort was crucial as 54 percent of respondents picked larger seats and better legroom, and the second choice was a bed. It seems travelers are also health conscious. Bottled water was the most valued complimentary food or beverage, and fruits and vegetables was the second favorite option. When it comes to entertainment on board, a video screen at every seat was the most important feature, according to 47 percent of travelers. British Airways serves the best food, according to the worldwide panel, while Singapore Airlines was second for in-flight cuisine. American Airlines was chosen for serving the worst food. If travelers could select a restaurant chain to cater their next flight, the top choice (19 percent) was the Panera Bread Company. Travelers chose Starbucks (29 percent) as their favorite in-flight coffee brand. When asked which airline offers the best amenities overall, British Airways finished number one worldwide, followed by Virgin Atlantic and Singapore Airlines. Ryanair, Southwest and easyJet were named worst for in-flight amenities. For complete survey results, visit www.tripadvisor.com.

Disability Travel Survey Identifies Most Popular American Cities

Where do adults with disabilities commonly travel for leisure or business within the continental US? Until the recent study of U.S. adults with disabilities, conducted in February 2005 by Harris Interactive for the Open Doors Organization (ODO), there was really no answer to this question. Now American cities and their tourism bureaus can gauge how popular they are among this growing market segment. Topping the list of cities most traveled to by adults with disabilities were New York City (47%), Washington, DC. (45%), and Chicago (44%), edging out Orlando, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles (all tied at 42%). Rounding out the top ten destinations, in order, were San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas, and San Diego. General findings from this study, released in conjunction with the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), not only identified which cities these travelers have visited, but also explored their patterns of hotel, restaurant and transportation use. 40 major tourism destinations from every region of the continental US were included in the survey. But are American cities in general doing enough to ensure that this group of visitors also has a great travel experience? According to ODO Executive Director, Eric Lipp, often only a few minor steps can make a city more attractive to first-time visitors with disabilities and encourage repeat visits. He goes on to say that adapted transportation continues to be an issue, getting to and from the airport or just visiting local attractions. The survey, the second of two studies by ODO, was carried out in response to the growing population of adults with disabilities. It was conducted online and by telephone in February 2005 among a national sample of 1,373 U.S. adults with disabilities aged 18 or over. The question concerning U.S. destinations was asked only of online respondents, a sample of 871. The sampling error for the total sample and online sample results is plus or minus 3 percentage points. For more information, visit www.opendoorsnfp.org.

OPPORTUNITIES WATCH!

Hilton Grand Vacation Club Opens Property in Waikoloa, Hawaii

Hilton Grand Vacations Company, LLC has announced the official grand opening of the 120-unit Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Waikoloa Beach Resort in Waikoloa, Hawaii. The new HGVClub property is situated within the Waikoloa Beach Resort, near the Hilton Waikoloa Village and is adjacent to the HGVClub-affiliated Bay Club resort. Views of two golf courses complement the two-bedroom condominium-style accommodations. On-property amenities include a heated swimming pool with children's area; whirlpool spa; a pool bar; and picnic areas with barbeque grills.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

AIRLINES: AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, has announced the appointment of Thomas W. Horton as Executive Vice President - Finance and Planning and Chief Financial Officer. Horton returns to AMR and American from AT&T, where he most recently had been Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer after joining that company from AMR as CFO in June 2002. In his new role, Horton will also be CFO, responsible for all of the Company's finance functions, including financial planning, treasury, corporate development, accounting, tax, investor relations, a business unit that provides investment services, and purchasing. In addition, Horton will have overall responsibility for all planning functions led by Henry C. Joyner, American's Senior Vice President - Planning. These include capacity planning, revenue management, corporate real estate, international planning, activities related to American's membership in the global oneworld alliance, and fleet planning. With the expected retirement of two key executives in the next few years, American has also announced other major appointments. Craig S. Kreeger was named Senior Vice President - International, and C. David Cush was appointed Senior Vice President - Global Sales. At present, Kreeger is responsible for all sales and ground operations activities in Europe and Asia as Vice President - Europe and Pacific Division, based in London. Cush currently is Vice President and General Sales Manager, responsible for leading American's domestic sales team and for developing all sales policies worldwide, including those relating to key distribution systems. Kreeger will become responsible for all ground operations in Latin America, Europe and Asia, and Cush will be responsible for all sales activities worldwide, including those in Latin America, Europe and Asia. Douglas G. Herring, currently American's Vice President and Controller, will become President of American Beacon Advisors. Isabella (Bella) Goren was named Senior Vice President - Customer Relationship Marketing and Reservations. In this new role, Goren will continue to oversee the full range of on-line customer interactions, including expanding customer relationships through personalized service via the AA.com Web site, and the operation of American's reservations centers. In addition, Goren will be responsible for the airline's industry-leading AAdvantage travel awards program, led by Kurt Stache, President of AAdvantage. Brian McMenamy was appointed Vice President and Controller to succeed Herring. McMenamy is currently American's Managing Director - Airline Profitability and Financial Analysis.

HOTELS & RESORTS: Hersha Hospitality Management has announced that Jeffrey A. Wade has been named vice president of human resources. All of the company's HR functions at the corporate and property levels will be under his leadership, including training, recruitment, compensation and benefits compliance and employee relations. Wade spent the past five years with Ivy Planning Group, a full-service management consulting and training firm based in Rockville, Md., where he provided strategic and HR leadership development for such Fortune 100 companies and government agencies as Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Marriott International, Hilton Hotels, Harrah's Entertainment, Nike, MetLife, JP Morgan Chase and the U.S. Justice and Labor offices. Prior to that, Wade spent more than 10 years with MeriStar Hotels and Resorts in human resources. As senior director of human resources for MeriStar's Inns Division, he was responsible for all HR services provided to the company's 8,000 associates. Wade holds a BA in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina. He is also a member of the Society for Human Resources Management and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)...MGM MIRAGE has announced the appointment of Teresa Reynolds as Chief Procurement Officer. In this newly created position, Reynolds will be responsible for leading a strategic sourcing team that will leverage procurement activity throughout the company. She will report to Heidi Sealy, Senior Vice President for Corporate Services and will be based in Las Vegas. Reynolds joins MGM MIRAGE from Health Net, Inc., one of the nation's largest publicly traded managed health care companies based in Woodland Hills, California. As Chief Procurement Officer, she led the effort for the national centralization of purchasing systems, policies and procedures, strategic sourcing and supplier contracting activities. Previously, Reynolds served as Vice President of Purchasing and Supply Management at Kinko's Inc. She managed strategic sourcing, distribution, purchasing systems, environmental affairs and retail store design and construction. Prior to joining Kinko's Inc., she led the corporate purchasing and material teams at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Reynolds has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington... Brown Hotel Group (BHG) and Hotel Brokers International (HBI) have announced, that Kristi Andrew, Vice President Sales, has joined the BHG hotel brokerage family. Andrew started her career with Brown Hotel Group in 2000 as office manager providing support to the sales staff. Andrew has been directly involved with all sales transactions through Brown Hotel Group since 2000 from the marketing of a new listing to close of escrow. She earned her Sales Person License in August 2005. Now going on six years exclusively in the hospitality division of commercial real estate, Andrew will specialize in mid-market Motels...Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants has announced Greg Wolkom as the company's new Chief Financial Officer. Wolkom brings to Kimpton a wealth of expertise in both corporate finance and in mergers and acquisitions. During his comprehensive career in banking and investment banking he has completed a wide range of transactions for some of the most preeminent lodging and leisure companies in the United States. In his most recent position as managing director of corporate finance and global head of the lodging and leisure group for Banc of America, Wolkom was responsible for leading the bank's lodging investment banking practice.

TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY: Caribbean Online Marketing and Management Group (COMM Group Inc.) has announced that Susan Black has joined the company as Chief Marketing Officer. Formerly Executive Vice President, Marketing, for LibGo Travel (Liberty Travel and GOGO Worldwide Vacations), Black will develop and execute integrated marketing strategies, adding traditional media including print, radio, broadcast and public relations, as well as CRM programs for COMM Group's growing channels of distribution and hundreds of supplier partners.

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