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This week in Opportunities:

Survey Reveals Trends in Business Travel
Report: Travelers Planning Summer Vacations Early
Survey: Most Consumers Not Buying Direct
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

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OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS

Survey Reveals Trends in Business Travel

Hotels are doing a much better job of providing personalized service than they have previously, according to results of a survey of business travelers released by Accenture. Nearly one-third (31 percent) of the more than 1,100 U.S. business travelers surveyed said that hotels recognize them as frequent customers and tailor reservations to fit their basic preferences, from room location to pillow type. This is a significant improvement from last Fall's business travel survey, when fewer than one in five respondents (18 percent) said they were recognized as frequent guests and received customized service. However, according to the latest business travel survey, 40 percent of respondents have not redeemed any points from airline reward programs and 56 percent have not redeemed any hotel reward program points. Half (50 percent) of those surveyed have not used hotel rewards because too many points are required. For airline travel, 42 percent of respondents said they have not redeemed any miles because of restrictive blackout dates. When asked what they would use airline miles for, 51 percent said they would redeem them for a free flight, while 32 percent said they would request a seat upgrade. When business travelers do dip into their points, most of those surveyed said they use them the same way they earned them, frequent flyer programs for free airline tickets and hotel reward points for free hotel stays. Online flight bookings continue to soar as 76 percent of those surveyed said they use the Internet as their primary method to make airline reservations, up from 57 percent in the 2003 survey. Business travelers continue to expand their use of the Internet to book hotel reservations. More than three-quarters (83 percent) of respondents said they had used the Internet to book a hotel room, up from 76 percent in the previous business travel survey. Other key business travel survey findings include: Chicago remains the city most respondents plan to visit, but its popularity is slipping, as 27 percent of respondents in the most recent survey cited it as their primary destination, compared with 32 percent in the previous survey. Close on its heels are New York (24 percent), San Francisco (21 percent) and Washington, D.C. (20 percent). Travelers embrace kiosks. Among the 89 percent of respondents using airport kiosks, more than two-thirds (68 percent) said they find it more convenient than checking in with an agent. Of those who have not used kiosks, 33 percent say they use online check-in instead, up from 22 percent in the last survey. Proximity to business meetings trumps price as the top factor influencing where business travelers stay. Respondents report that reward point accumulation is the least important factor. More than half (59 percent) of respondents said that convenient schedule is the top influencer in choice of airline, while one-third (34 percent) cited frequent flyer programs as most influential. More than three-quarters (79 percent) said they would increase their use of low-cost carriers if those carriers offered more flights into main airports. The Web-based survey of 1,128 U.S. business travelers who traveled more than 300 miles in the last six months was fielded in March 2006.

Report: Travelers Planning Summer Vacations Early

Expedia.com has introduced the first issue of its quarterly report, Expedia Travel Trendwatch, which focuses on the upcoming summer travel season. According to the report, an April Expedia.com survey revealed that the vast majority (85 percent) of U.S. adults who are planning to travel this summer have already booked or will book their travel plans at least one month in advance. In addition, the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) said one in every three U.S. travelers is planning travel earlier this year than they did in 2005, with many already committed to plans for their longest summer trip. Despite generally higher airline ticket prices, demand for summer travel remains steady. According to the Expedia report, 55 percent of U.S. adults plan to fly as much this summer as last summer and six percent say that they plan on flying more despite rising airline ticket prices in 2006. Additionally, the Air Transport Association recently reported that airfares in the U.S. rose 10.6 percent for January and February 2006, over the same period in 2005. Also despite higher prices, crowds and a relatively weak dollar, Europe remains a hit with Americans this summer. According to British Airways, bookings for spring and summer trips to the U.K. in 2006 are stronger compared with the same period in 2005. The report also asserts that summer vacationers are better informed and more prepared than ever, thanks to the Internet. A recent TIA survey indicated 78 percent of online travelers (79 million Americans) turned to the Internet for travel or destination information in 2005 -- a 15 percent jump over 2004. To view the full report or for additional information on these trends, please visit www.expedia.com/trendwatch.

Survey: Most Consumers Not Buying Direct

Though supplier Web site usage in the U.S. has gained momentum, more online travelers still use online travel agencies than buy direct, according to the latest consumer survey results from PhoCusWright Inc. But channel usage varies depending on the type of traveler, the destination, and the products being purchased. Online buyers have formed definite allegiances to certain types of Web sites when purchasing different leisure travel components. These findings and others are now published in a new research report from PhoCusWright Inc., The PhoCusWright Consumer Travel Trends Survey Eighth Edition. For example, consumers are much more likely to use an intermediary for combination purchases than supplier sites - three in 10 travelers who typically buy travel online use an online travel agency for these products, compared to one in 10 who use a supplier site. They're also more likely to use an online travel agency to purchase add-ons such as sightseeing tours and event tickets. Their behavior changes, however, when making individual air and hotel purchases. When purchasing these individual components, they often rely more on supplier Web sites than online travel agencies. Among online travelers who usually buy travel online, supplier Web sites are the top choice for their online hotel and car rental purchases. This suggests that online buyers still use multiple Web sites for individual components. Suppliers Offer More Luxury. Those online travelers purchasing direct from suppliers (either online or offline) are significantly more likely to stay at luxury accommodations than are online travel agency purchasers (39% vs. 30%). International Travelers Still, Slightly, Prefer the Phone. While the Internet is actively being used for domestic and international travel, offline channels remain the most popular means for international purchases. In fact, more than four in 10 online travelers usually purchase it offline, versus the one third who usually purchase international travel online. Because air is perceived as a commodity purchase, online travelers are easily swayed by lower prices to purchase directly from an airline. This "switching" occurs at a rate (55%) almost double that of other components such as hotels (31%) and car rental companies (24%). The number one reason why online travel shoppers switch sites is still, overwhelmingly, price. Half of all online shoppers (51%) switched to an alternative method when purchasing travel for this reason. The next two most influential forces, convenience and selection, were each at less than 10%. For the survey, online travelers are U.S. adults who have taken a commercial air trip in the past year, stayed at a hotel in the past year AND used the Internet in the past 30 days.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

AIRLINES: Northwest Airlines has announced that it is making several executive appointments and increasing the responsibilities of three other officers as it reorganizes its operations group. Crystal Knotek has been named senior vice president-ground operations. She replaces Robert Isom, who left Northwest for another position. Knotek is now responsible for customer service and ground operations at Northwest, reporting to Andrew Roberts, executive vice president-operations. She had been serving as vice president-reservations and customer care. Chris Collette has been named vice president-finance and staffing for the airline's ground operations and will report to Knotek. He replaces Glenn Woythaler, vice president-customer service planning, who has decided to leave Northwest. Collette formerly was managing director-technical operations finance and planning. Northwest also announced that Tim Rainey has been named to a broader role as senior vice president-flight and in-flight operations, consolidating the two organizations into a single function. Rainey formerly was senior vice president-flight operations. In addition, Ken Hylander, vice president-safety and engineering and chief safety officer, has now assumed responsibility for all safety and quality activity within the operations group...US Airways Group, Inc., has announced that Brad Beakley has been named vice president, reservations and inventory services. In his new position, Beakley will oversee worldwide reservations, customer call centers and inventory services, which provides the intermediary between front line reservations, airport operations and revenue management. Beakley previously held the position of managing director, revenue management at US Airways. The airline also appointed Tom Trenga to the position of vice president, revenue management. Trenga's new responsibilities include managing the airline's revenue management functions, including pricing and tariffs, yield management and revenue analysis. Trenga was previously a managing director in the airline's revenue management department. Prior to joining US Airways in 2003 Beakley spent more than 10 years in revenue management related positions at American Airlines, SABRE and AMR Services. He began his career at American working in reservations. Beakley holds a bachelor's of business administration from Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas. Trenga joined US Airways merger partner America West Airlines in 1996 as a route planning and scheduling analyst. Throughout his tenure with America West he has served as director, Internet distribution, senior director, pricing and tariffs and senior director, yield management. Trenga holds a master of business administration from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. and a bachelor of arts in economics from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York...UAL Corporation, parent company of United Airlines, has named Sean Donohue vice president-customer experience, a newly created position that will refine and improve how United interacts with its customers, and further the company's strategy of developing targeted products and services for them, with the ultimate goal to drive greater customer satisfaction. Donohue launched Ted, the company's low fare service, and explus, United's new regional jet service featuring first class and Economy Plus. During his 22 years with United, Donohue has held various leadership positions in sales and operations. The company did not immediately name a replacement for Donohue. In the interim, Donohue's former organization, including United Express, Ted and operations functions, will report to Pete McDonald, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

HOTELS & RESORTS: Officials of Noble Investment Group, an owner/operator of upscale and premium branded hotels, has announced that it has named Susan E. Benshoff corporate director of revenue management and Nelson F. Garrido vice president of information technology. A 17-year hospitality technology veteran, Garrido joined Noble from Dolce International Hotels, Resorts & Conference Centers, where he held a variety of positions culminating in senior director of global technology. In his new position, he will be responsible for the technology strategy and systems for Noble's asset portfolio. Garrido received his B.B.A. in Business Computer Information Systems from Hofstra University. Prior to joining Noble, Benshoff was central director of revenue management for Wyndham International. She has received numerous awards for property performance, including the Excellence in Revenue Management Award and the Circle of Excellence-Achiever's Circle in 2003, 2004 and 2005 for the Wyndham portfolio. Benshoff was awarded her Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications from Shippensburg University...Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. has announced the appointment of Stanley A. Winnie as Director of Sales and Marketing for the Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront Hotel. Winnie joins Crestline Hotels & Resorts from Gold Key/PHR Hotels & Resorts in Virginia Beach, VA, where he held several management positions including senior director of regional marketing and corporate director of marketing and sales. His 17 year hospitality management experience also includes several sales and marketing positions with Vista Host Hotels, as well as operations management. Winnie is a graduate of the State University of New York, Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome, NY. He is active in the hospitality industry and has won numerous accolades for his business achievements... FelCor Lodging Trust Incorporated has announced Daniel A. Jorns as Vice President of Asset Management. Jorns was most recently Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations/Full Service Division for Interstate Hotels and Resorts, Inc. During his tenure with Interstate, he held various management positions including Executive Vice President of Hotel Operations/Inns Division. Jorns began his 20-year hospitality career with American General Hospitality in 1982 and served in multiple roles including Vice President of Hotel Operations, General Manager and Regional Director of Sales and Marketing. Jorns received both a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oklahoma State University...Crescent Hospitality Corporation announced that it has named William F. Driscoll vice president of business development. In his new role, Driscoll will oversee the company's business development strategy, which includes hotel management, investment and acquisition opportunities. Prior to joining Crescent, Driscoll served as vice president of operations for Merritt Hospitality, an independent hotel management company and a wholly- owned subsidiary of HEI Hospitality, LLC. In that position,he oversaw a portfolio of full-service, upper upscale hotels with annual revenues in excess of $140 million. Prior to that, he held a number of positions with MeriStar Hotels & Resorts and its predecessor companies, culminating with vice president of operations. Driscoll received his Bachelor of Science in Hotel Restaurant Institution Management from Penn State University.

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