The only weekly newsletter detailing essential trends, news and top executive moves in travel. Opportunities is a free newsletter that provides you with the vision to "see" travel industry opportunities in the making. Whether you are in sales, business development, guiding your company's growth or managing your career, reading opportunities will give you the advantage to succeed. Opportunities is another innovative tool brought to you by Travel Career Connexxions. For more information, visit http://www.TravelExecutive.com

This week in Opportunities:

AAA Sees Boost in Lodging, Dining Costs
MGM Mirage Takes Stock of Diversity Initiative
Find Your Next Tourism Job inÖDubai?
Women's Forum Lauds Travelocity's Peluso
Starwood Taps Another Coke Exec
The Travel Institute Sets Spring Online CTA Study
Opportunities Watch!
Opportunities Networking!
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

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OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS!

AAA Sees Boost in Lodging, Dining Costs

Gasoline prices aren't the only expense increasing for vacation travelers this year. AAA's annual vacation costs survey shows lodging and dining costs set to increase by a combined average of 5 percent this year. AAA's survey shows that a family of two adults and two children can expect to pay an average of $247 per day for food and lodging. Lodging rates will average $129 a night, up 3.9 percent from last year. Meals will cost $118, up 6.5 percent. Rising travel demand has pushed hotel rates higher in many cities and other destinations, according to AAA. Increased dining costs can be attributed to higher prices for meat, dairy and produce due primarily to the impact of higher gas prices on transportation. The least expensive vacations in the United States this year are in Nebraska, where the daily cost of food and lodging for a family of four will average $184; North Dakota, $185; Kansas, $186; Oklahoma, $188; and Iowa, $189. The most expensive state for vacationers remains Hawaii at $518 per day. Other destinations with a high average daily cost include the District of Columbia, $441; Rhode Island, $307; New York, $307; and Massachusetts, $303. The increase in vacation costs plus record high gasoline prices makes it even more important to maximize vacation dollars by planning ahead and seeking out discounts wherever possible.

MGM Mirage Takes Stock of Diversity Initiative

Want to work for a gaming giant that's sensitive to diversity? The gaming industry's first company to launch a voluntary diversity initiative presented a four-year retrospective of its efforts during a meeting attended by more than 700 diversity partners, suppliers, contractors, company executives, elected officials, and business and community leaders. Alexis M. Herman, former U.S. Secretary of Labor and Chair of the MGM Mirage Diversity Committee of the Board, opened the meeting by presenting a global perspective on diversity. MGM Mirage's four-year journey since establishing its initiative reflects the passion of the company's more than 40,000 employees and the progress forged through new diverse alliances. In delivering his fourth annual diversity address, MGM Mirage Chairman and CEO J. Terrence Lanni reported significant milestones in employment, purchasing, construction and philanthropy spanning 2000 to 2004. "We have made great leaps in redefining ourselves through the prism of diversity -- reeducating ourselves; restructuring to weave diversity into our operations; expanding our market horizons; strengthening our ties to the communities in which we do business; and broadening our external relationships and collaborations," said Lanni. The company's workforce reflects the rich diversity of society, and MGM Mirage strives to be regarded as an employer of choice for people of all ethnic backgrounds. As of year-end 2004, the minority employee representation rose to a total of 54.38 percent, from 50.48 percent in 2001. The managerial and above positions held by minorities increased from 26.31 percent in 2001 to 31.16 percent in 2004.

Find Your Next Tourism Job inÖDubai?

Looking to work in a country where the prospects for travel and tourism are booming? Philippe Rossiter, chief executive of the Hotel & Catering International Management Association (HCIMA), pointed to Dubai as "a world-class example of how to build a sustainable economy with tourism as one of the foundation stones." Rossiter was in Dubai to meet with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) chapter of HCIMA. His visit included site tours of the upcoming Grosvenor House West Marina Beach by Le Meridien (opening summer 2005) and the Palm Island development, as well as the newly opened Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, operated by Jumeirah International. Government figures have targeted 15 million visitors to Dubai by 2010, with annual figures already reaching over 5 million. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) named Dubai as the fastest-growing destination in 2002 and its Tourism 2020 Vision report predicted that the Middle East will be the second fastest growing region in the world in terms of inbound tourism, forecasting 26 million visitors by 2010 - and 15 million in Dubai alone. These figures are expected to increase to 69 million by 2020. Tourism is now only a few percentage points behind the traditional revenue earners in Dubai - retail, manufacturing, transport and oil. Indeed, much of the city's non-oil trade (90 per cent of GDP) can be attributed to tourism, either directly or indirectly. Rossiter said that to feed this growing sector, Dubai may need another 30,000 tourism and hospitality sector employees within the next three years.

Women's Forum Lauds Travelocity's Peluso

The Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and Executives (FWE), the premier organization for women building and leading high-tech and high-growth companies, said Michelle Peluso, president and CEO of Travelocity, will receive the organization's 11th Annual Entrepreneurial Achievement Award at the FWE Annual Dinner and Auction, on Wednesday, June 22. Peluso oversees Travelocity, which had $4.9 billion in gross travel bookings last year and more than $500 million in revenue. She joined Travelocity after the company she founded, Site59, the online last-minute travel leader, was acquired by Travelocity, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sabre Holdings in 2002. Peluso, who founded Site59 in 2000, held several senior executive positions in Travelocity prior to being named president and CEO in December 2003. The Wall Street Journal ranked Peluso #4 on its "50 Women to Watch" list in November 2004 and prior to that, Peluso was awarded the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2002. Travel Agent Magazine selected her as one of the Most Powerful Women in Travel on several occasions and Peluso was named to Fast Company magazine's "Fast 50," an annual survey that recognizes 50 leaders, innovators and technology pioneers. The FWE Entrepreneurial Achievement Award was established in 1995 and past recipients include Donna Dubinsky, Carol Bartz, Judy Estrin and Pat House. Founded in 1993, the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and Executives (FWE) is the premier networking, educational and social organization for women entrepreneurs and executives and their eco-system partners who are building and leading high-growth companies. For more information, visit www.fwe.org.

Starwood Taps Another Coke Exec

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. named former Coca Cola and Procter & Gamble executive Javier Benito as executive vice president and chief marketing officer. Benito, 42, will report to Steven Heyer, Starwood's chief executive officer, who also came from Coca Cola. In his new role at Starwood, Benito will be responsible for all aspects of marketing worldwide. He will work closely with Heyer to redefine brand positioning for Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, The Luxury Collection, St. Regis and W Hotels. Starwood has embarked upon several new marketing collaborations unique to the hotel category that Benito will now lead. In an effort to leverage the emotional and cultural influence of entertainment, Starwood recently engaged Creative Artists Agency, a leading entertainment, talent and marketing agency, to strategically infuse pop culture into Starwood's brands and properties. In addition, the company hired brand architect Scott Bedbury, a former Starbucks CMO and Nike marketing executive, to serve as a brand advisor and consultant to the company as it revamps its marketing and brand strategies. Benito was previously U.S. retail division president and chief marketing officer for Coca Cola North America. He joined Coke in 1994 and served in a variety of global positions including division marketing director for Central and Eastern Europe, senior vice president of marketing and operations for Brazil and division president of the Nordic and Baltic division. During his seven years at Procter & Gamble, he held positions in the United States and Spain managing brands including Tide, Bold and Mr. Clean.

The Travel Institute Sets Spring Online CTA Study

Want to start your professional certified training? The Travel Institute announced that starting April 13, 2005, it will offer a nine-week online interactive CTA (Certified Travel Associate) Study Group covering the eight core courses that make up the certification as well as a CTA Test Preparation session. The group, designed for those enrolled in the CTA program, will meet each Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Participants can choose to attend all nine sessions, or can select only those sessions that they feel they want to discuss in the small group setting. All sessions include access to session notes, a dial-in number to join the discussion, and the services of a licensed facilitator. Individual sessions can be purchased for $9.99 each or the whole series of nine sessions for $59. The Study Group option has been created to help those professionals who want to set a goal for completion - and who enjoy the interaction of fellow candidates from different areas of the industry. For more information or to enroll in the Study Group visit www.thetravelinstitute.com, and use the Quick Find box to visit the CTA Program page.

OPPORTUNITIES WATCH!

Royal Caribbean to Build Another Ship

The cruise lines keep adding ships, though at a somewhat slower pace these days. But last week Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. formalized its order today with Finnish shipbuilder Aker Finnyards for a third ship in its Freedom class of vessels. Destined for the Royal Caribbean International fleet, the three 158,000-GRT ships will carry 3,600 guests double occupancy when completed. The third vessel will enter service in early 2008.

Riu Expands with New Palace Resorts

If you're looking to work for another growth company, all-inclusive Riu Hotels & Resorts may be a good bet. The company features three levels of resorts - Classic, ClubHotel and Palace - and will be opening two new Palace level resorts in 2006: Riu Palace Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and Riu Palace Punta Cana in Dominican Republic. The Riu Palace resorts are the upscale resorts of the group. There are currently 14 Riu Palace resorts around the world. Riu Hotels & Resorts, a family owned business, was founded in 1953 in Mallorca, Spain. Riu operates more than 110 hotels worldwide. The all-inclusive resort chain offers affordable vacations with elegant accommodations and friendly service. For more information, visit www.riu.com.

Omni to Build Convention Hotel in Fort Worth

Omni Hotels won approval from the Fort Worth City Council to build a $90 million luxury hotel adjacent to the city's convention center. The approved plans call for a multi-story hotel with approximately 600 guest rooms, 48,000 square feet of meeting space, two restaurants, a pool, an exercise facility and an underground parking garage. Luxury condominiums could be included on the building's top floors, depending on market studies conducted by Omni Hotels. Omni Hotels said it hopes to break ground on the project by the end of the year and to open the hotel in 2008. For more information, visit www.omnihotels.com.

Marriott Opens Louisville Marriott Downtown

Marriott International, Inc. opened the Louisville Marriott Downtown. The 17-story convention hotel features 616 rooms, including 25 suites and two Presidential suites, and is located at 280 West Jefferson Street. Ideal for business and social occasions, the 17-story hotel is one of the premiere convention hotels in the central United States. The property is connected to the 300,000-square-foot Kentucky International Convention Center via an enclosed skywalk. For more information, visit www.marriott.com.

OPPORTUNITIES NETWORKING!

Connect at TravelCom 2005

This April, Travel Commerce Conference and Expo will be bigger and better than ever before, with more exhibitors, an exciting new venue, and a comprehensive executive level conference program that has been created for the industry, by the industry! Opportunities subscribers also can save 20% on TravelCom 2005! - Simply use the following discount code when registering at TravelComExpo.com: GTC2L. TravelCom runs April 27-29, 2005 at the Marriott Marquis in New York, NY.

Network with Hotel Distribution Pros at HEDNA!

If you are involved in any aspect of hotel electronic distribution, the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA) invites you to attend their 2005 Conference, May 8-10 in Barcelona, Spain. The HEDNA Board has acknowledged the members' desires and they are on target to deliver a program that will be educational, interactive and thought provoking. Building on the success of the new interactive conference format launched at the 2004 HEDNA Conference in London, attendees will see this format enhanced in Barcelona. A combination of Point/Counter Point, Panels and Presentations allow speakers and the audience to tackle the industry's hottest issues: MetaSearch (TravelSearch) Sites - Is it Good For the Industry?; Emerging Technologies in the Distribution World; Tour Operators and Electronic Distribution; Corporate Online Booking Tools; Dynamic Packaging; GDS and IDS Presentations with Moderated Q&A Forums. Henry H. Harteveldt, Vice President, Forrester Research return as opening keynote speaker. Industry leaders from the following companies will be represented in the program: Galileo International, Worldspan, Amadeus Global Travel Distribution, Sabre Travel Network, Ebookers, Travelocity.com, Opodo, SideStep, JumpStart, Marriott International, Gullivers, Pegasus Solutions and Carlson Hospitality Worldwide. Register before April 13th and take advantage of the special early bird rate. You can register directly online via www.hedna.org.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

AIRLINES: Frontier Airlines announced that Greg Aretakis, vice president of planning and revenue management, has resigned to accept a vice president of planning management and revenue position at Milwaukee-based Midwest AirlinesÖHawaiian Airlines announced that Dave Kolakowski, a 27-year airline training professional, has been promoted to senior director of corporate training. In his new role, Kolakowski oversees The Learning Center at Hawaiian and is responsible for airline operations raining, specifically involving pilots, flight attendants, customer service agents, and ramp personnel. He also provides guidance on regulatory and leadership issuesÖPinnacle Airlines, Inc., which does business as Northwest Airlink, has selected Clive Seal as vice president-flight operations. Seal will join the airline effective April 18, 2005. In this position, he will be responsible for the administration and management of Pinnacle's more than 1,000 pilots, the Pinnacle Airlines Corporate Education Center and System Operations Control.

CRUISE LINES: Shinji Imasaki has moved up from executive vice president to chairman of Crystal Cruises, according to Seatrade Insider. Before joining Crystal a year ago, Imasaki was general manager of Nippon Yusen Kaisha's Nagoya branch in Japan. Imasaki replaces Mitsuhiko Takahashi, who held the chairman's role for two years and, before that, served as executive vice president. Takahashi, one of Crystal's original team of senior executives, is continuing on in a consulting capacity. Crystal parent company NYK has changed executives in the chairman's role and at the Tokyo-based NYK Cruise Group every few years.

HOTELS & RESORTS: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts named Chris Luedi as new regional vice president for Hawaii. Luedi is currently the general manager of the Fairmont Kea Lani Maui and will retain that position in addition to taking on the role of regional vice president. Effective April 15, Luedi will oversee the two Fairmont luxury resorts located in Hawaii; The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui, located on Polo Beach in Wailea, Maui, and The Fairmont Orchid, located on the Big Island on the Kohala CoastÖ Wyndham International, Inc. appointed Paul Ingebretsen as general manager of the Wyndham Resort & Golden Door Spa at Weston, Fla., which will open upon completion of a $70 million property transformation. A 20-year veteran of the hotel industry with extensive international hotel operations experience, Ingebretsen will manage the day-to-day operations of this new luxury condominium resort and spa facilityÖ Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. promoted Todd Cleveland to general manager for the new Hilton Garden Inn in Albany, Ga. The hotel, which will be the largest conference and catering facility of its kind in Albany, is schedule to open in August. Cleveland was formerly resident manager at the Emory Conference Center Hotel in Atlanta. Both hotels are managed by Crestline Hotels and Resorts. He joined Crestline in 1997, and has worked in various operations and rooms divisions positions at the Emory Conference Center HotelÖInterContinental Resorts and Spa French Polynesia announced the appointments of Silvio Bion and Thierry Brovelli. Bion will be assuming the role of general manager of the new InterContinental Resort & Thalasso Spa Bora Bora, which is scheduled to open on May 1, 2006. For the past eight years, Bion has been the general manager of the InterContinental Resort & Spa Moorea. He will be replaced by Thierry Brovelli, who will become the new general manager of the resort on April 1, 2005ÖWyndham International, Inc. announced the appointment of Maureen Lauden as general manager of The Whitney-A Wyndham Historic Hotel. With more than 25-years in the hospitality industry, Lauden is taking the helm of this historic 93-room landmark hotel located in the heart of New Orleans' central business districtÖCoral Hospitality, a Naples-based full-service hospitality management company, selected Jamie Bruce as the company's new vice president of sales and marketing. In this new role, Bruce will oversee all sales and marketing efforts on behalf of Coral Hospitality with a focus on the hotel and resort division, The Coral Collection of Fine Hotels & ResortsÖ

Omni Hotels appointed Scott Stuckey as general manager for the Omni Jacksonville Hotel. As general manager, Stuckey will oversee the successful management of the hotel, including operations, sales and marketing, associate services and guest satisfactionÖCheeca Lodge & Club, the luxurious condominiums and private club at Cheeca Lodge & Spa, has signed on a new management team. The Club hired David Helin as director of real estate sales and James Johnson as director of club membershipÖ The Ritz-Carlton, Bali Resort & Spa has named Troy Clarry to oversee culinary operations at the resort in the position of executive assistant manager, food & beverageÖBenchmark Hospitality International has appointed Matthew Hoffmann as general manager for The Council House, an exclusive international conference center for SC Johnson, a Family Company, and Wingspread, a private conference center for the Johnson Foundation. Both properties are located in Racine, Ill.

TOUR OPERATORS: Certified Vacations Group, Inc. has announced that Michael Going will join the company as its chief marketing officer beginning the first week of April. In this new position, Going will be responsible for overseeing the marketing efforts for each of Certified's four brands: Continental Airlines Vacations, Delta Vacations, Future Vacations, and Song Travel Vacation Packages. He comes to Certified Vacations with over 20 years of experience and an excellent track record as a senior marketing and sales executive.

TRAVEL AGENCIES: Ensemble Travel added travel marketing veteran John Jessey to the newly created position of senior director of e-marketing and special projects for the 1,300-member travel agency organization. Jessey is responsible for creating, managing, and implementing the Consumer Direct Response Program, which includes partner marketing promotions and all e-marketing programs. In addition, he oversees special projects such as the creation of all materials and supplier participation for the annual Ensemble Travel International ConferenceÖJoystar, Inc., a growing travel agency network, has named Jeannine Godsey, ACC, as vice president of agent services. Godsey brings over 14 years of travel sales, marketing, and communications experience to her position of overseeing Agent Services for Joystar's over 1,200 independent travel agents.

TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY: TripAdvisor, a leading travel information site owned by IAC/InterActiveCorp., appointed Eric Rosenzweig as senior vice president of sales and business development. For the past two years, he served as executive vice president at SideStep and prior to that he was at Travelocity for two-and-a-half years, most recently as vice president of business and corporate developmentÖAmadeus North America's Airline Business Group (ABG) named industry veteran Amanda Finch as director of unique airlines. In her new post, Finch will develop and execute corporate strategies for niche carriers including low cost, low fare and regional carriers which represent an important and growing market for the Miami-based unit of the global distribution system.

TRAVEL REWARDS: Rewards Network Inc., one of the nation's leading providers of loyalty and rewards programs, named Ronald Blake as president and CEO, effective immediately. He replaces George Wiedemann, who has resigned to pursue other interests.

DESTINATIONS: The board of directors of the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association (PRHTA), after a lengthy and exhaustive search, has announced the appointment of Clarisa Jimenez as executive director and CEO of the association effective April 1, 2005. She replaces Erin Benitez who left her post as of March 17. In her new position, Jimenez will oversee all activities of the PRHTA, including administrating and implementing the objectives set forth by the Board of Directors. She will also attend to the needs of the 500-membership base of the associationÖEduardo Chaillo, formerly executive director of the Mexico Convention Bureau, began this month as regional director of the Mexico Tourism Board's Midwest marketing office in Chicago. Chaillo will be responsible for leading Mexico's promotional efforts in 12 states throughout the Midwest as well as spearheading promotions in the meetings and conventions sector. He will also supervise the activities of the MTB's other seven North American marketing offices, located in Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal, New York, Toronto and Vancouver.

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