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 our main Travel Job resource page.

This week in Opportunities:

Traveler Spending Expected to Grow in 2004
Industry's Top Association - CEO Opportunity
Airline Ticket Sales up 23% over April '03
Two New U.S. Homeports To Add New Jobs
Top CVB Jobs Can Offer Top Retirement Benefits
New Opportunities!
Networking Opportunities
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

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OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS!

Higher Overall Traveler Spending Seen for 2004

The U.S. travel business is primed for more growth, meaning the travel jobs picture could soon improve dramatically. Last week the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) reported that overall traveler spending by domestic and international visitors is predicted to increase nearly 6 percent in 2004 to $585 billion, up from $552 billion in 2003. Travel spending is expected to continue to improve in 2005, increasing nearly 5 percent to $613 billion and finally surpassing the record set in 2000. Increasing for the first time since 1999, U.S. residents are forecasted to take nearly 145 million business person-trips in 2004, up 4.6 percent from 2003. In 2005, business travel will increase 3.5 percent to nearly 150 million person-trips. TIA also is forecasting leisure travel volume to grow 3.4 percent this year to 961 million person-trips, up from a less than 2 percent growth in 2003. It will increase once again in 2005 by nearly 2 percent to 978 million person-trips. For the first time in three years, international inbound arrivals to the U.S. are on the upswing, with a forecasted 42.5 million international arrivals in 2004. This is an increase of 5.3 percent from the 40.4 million arrivals in 2003, though these numbers are still well below the high of 51 million arrivals in 2000. International traveler spending in the U.S. is forecasted to increase 6.6 percent in 2004, to more than $69 billion, and increase more than 7 percent in 2005 to nearly $75 billion. But once again, these spending levels are well below the $82 billion spent by international travelers in 2000.

The Industry's Top Association Seeks a New CEO

A top lobbying job in the travel industry will soon be vacant-and the search is on for a top candidate to fill it. William Norman, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), said he would retire at the end of the year after 10 years at the association. Norman is just the third leader of TIA in the past 40 years. The association was founded on Oct. 16, 1941 as the National Association of Travel Officials. In accordance with its bylaws, TIA's board of directors must approve the selection of a new TIA President and CEO. A search committee of the board will be appointed shortly and a consultant will be engaged to assist on an "as needed" basis. Norman joined TIA as president and CEO in December 1994 after serving for almost a decade on the TIA board and as national chair in 1987-88. A veteran of the travel industry since 1979, Norman began his career in 1961 as a mathematics teacher in Norfolk, Va. Prior to joining TIA, he was with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Amtrak, starting in 1979 as vice president of marketing, and two years later was promoted to group vice president. In 1986 he was promoted to executive vice president.

Higher Airline Ticket Sales Bode Well for Business

One of the best indicators of the health of the travel industry-but not necessarily the major airlines--is often the monthly airline ticket sales statistics. The Airline Reporting Corp.'s April statistics once again showed higher airline ticket sales and a dramatic increase in average weekly sales per travel agency location. Total sales were up 23 percent to nearly $5.516 billion, compared with $4.466 billion in April 2003, demonstrating the recovery the travel industry. For the second month in a row the number of transactions processed by ARC increased by a double-digit percentage, with international fares processed up 60 percent and close to 2000 levels. Average weekly sales per travel agency location rose 38 percent to $55,675, compared with $40,019 in April 2003. On the other hand, the number of travel agency locations is still consolidating. Authorized retail agency locations dropped 8 percent to 21,646, compared with 23,692 in the same month last year.

Two New U.S. Homeports Will Add New Jobs

Royal Caribbean International is joining the trend of developing new U.S. homeports big time. Last week the line put ships in two new homeports, Baltimore and the newly inaugurated Bayonne, N.J. facility. Royal Caribbean's revitalized Empress of the Seas, formerly Nordic Empress, was the first cruise ship to sail out of Cape Liberty Cruise Port, in Bayonne. The ship will begin with a series of Bermuda cruises. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas arrived May 10 in the Port of Baltimore. The cruise line's first ship to sail from Maryland's scenic and historic port, Grandeur of the Seas will offer a series of Caribbean, Bahamas/Orlando and Canada/New England cruises until Oct. 25. Royal Caribbean's new ports have already led to the creation of a new port director post for Bayonne, as well as a number of other top jobs.

Top CVB Jobs Can Offer Top Retirement Benefits

Top CVB jobs may be more lucrative than you think, especially for the most tourist-focused destinations. Manny Cortez, outgoing president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), reportedly could get a proposed $79,977 severance gift that would raise his annual retirement benefits by more than $4,200 per year. Cortez's formally announced his resignation following nearly 13 years' service as head of the tourism board. If the proposed compensation is passed by the LVCVA board, Cortez would be eligible to collect 90 percent of his average base salary measured over the highest paying 36-month period of his tenure. He earns a base salary of $243,360, up from $234,000 a year ago and $221,957 for 2001. Taken at 90 percent, Cortez would earn retirement benefits worth about $219,000 per year. Without the added nine-month credit, Cortez stands to earn a maximum of approximately $214,800 per year. Rossi Ralenkotter, LVCVA's senior vice president, is likely to be named the authority's new president and chief executive officer upon Cortez's retirement, dependent on approval of the LVCVA board.

OPPORTUNITIES WATCH!

Prime Hotels & Resorts Grows Brand Locations

There's yet another growing brand in the hotel and resort business. Prime Hospitality Corp. just announced the conversion of the first of 12 Wyndham properties to its new upscale, full-service hotel brand, Prime Hotels & Resorts. The 381-room Prime Hotel Salt Lake City Convention Center becomes the fourth hotel in the developing brand, with 11 more Wyndham conversions transitioning over the next two months. The Wyndham conversions bring to the Prime Hotels & Resorts brand 12 new hotels in eight states, adding 2,321 more rooms and 48,229 square feet of meeting space. Upon completion, the hotel chain will boast 15 properties in major markets coast to coast, including Atlanta, Seattle, San Diego, northern New Jersey and Phoenix. Prime Hospitality launched the Prime Hotels & Resorts brand in January 2003 with the conversion of the Sheraton Saratoga Springs. In March of this year, the chain expanded with the re-branding of the Radisson Hotel & Suites, Fairfield, N.J., and the Radisson Suites, Secaucus, N.J. In December 2003, Prime Hospitality entered into a management agreement with Hospitality Properties Trust for 24 AmeriSuites hotels and 12 full-service Wyndham hotels to be re-branded under Prime Hotels & Resorts chain. For information on the new brand, visit www.primehotelsandresorts.com.

Kimpton Adds New York, Boston, San Diego Hotels

Kimpton Hotels, the boutique operator, is growing yet again. The company is set to open its first New York property on July 19 after a $19 million renovation of the former Doral Park Avenue Hotel. 70 Park Avenue Hotel, as it will be known, will have 205 rooms and a celebrity chef restaurant. Kimpton also isn't stopping there. It opened its second hotel in Boston this month and a San Diego property in 2005.

Here's a Top Job in a Real Tahitian Paradise

It just might be your dream job in paradise. Outrigger Hotels & Resorts returns to French Polynesia on July 1, when it takes over the management of 41-unit Te Tiare Beach Resort on the island of Huahine in the Society Islands of French Polynesia. Huahine is between Tahiti and Bora Bora. To manage the property, Outrigger is currently seeking an experienced general manager with five to 10 years of hotel experience and at least three years as a general manager of a similar facility or assistant general manager of a larger resort. Essential qualifications include Pacific experience, French language skills, and a proven record in guest, owner and employee relations and revenue maximization. Outrigger says the successful candidate will have the ability to promote the property as a quality deluxe resort within the world tourism market, and the stature to act as the primary representative of the company in the South Pacific. The candidate also must be willing to reside in French Polynesia for a minimum of three years. Competitive salary and benefits are offered. Submit resumes to Colleen Tanioka at colleen.tanioka@outrigger.com.

Once Troubled Le Meridien Is Growing Again

Le Meridien, which just a year ago was in financial difficulty, is now rapidly expanding in Asia. The hotel chain is set to manage Le MÈridien Chiang Mai and Le MÈridien Bangkok in Thailand and Le MÈridien Angkor in Cambodia Leading hotel and real estate owner, TCC Property Management Company Limited and Le Meridien jointly announced the signing of management agreements for the three new hotels located in Thailand and Cambodia. Le Meridien Angkor is a 223-room new build hotel currently in the final phase of construction in the heart of Siem Reap and due to open in early September 2004. Le Meridien Chiang Mai is a 400-room new build hotel due to commence construction on Chan Klan Road in the city centre and due to open in the fourth quarter of 2006. Le Meridien Bangkok is a 350-room new build hotel located on Surawong Road due to commence construction and scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2006.

OPPORTUNITIES RESOURCE!

New York Times Relaunches Travel Web Site

It's a web site designed for consumers, but it can also provide some very valuable information if you're thinking of working for a particular destination. NYTimes.com relaunched its travel section with a new design that lets readers explore New York Times travel articles at no charge and search for destinations by location or activity. Destination-related search results include articles, hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues. Horizontal navigation system showcases a new world map feature, giving readers visual navigation to find the information they want. The section's destination pages offer advice features that include: Travel Columns, Where to Stay, Where to Eat, What to Do and Readers' Ratings. Global travelers can get access to information resources that include Maps, Sights & Activities, Restaurants, Hotels, Entertainment, Shopping, Travel Tips, Exchange Rates and Weather. The section also offers up-to-date reviews and destination content from Fodor's, a leading travel information provider. Other features in the travel section include popular destination guides viewable by category, free access to past Times travel articles, over 20 interests and activities guides covering topics such as Golf, Food & Wine, Cruises, Hiking, Spas, Fishing, Birding and Beaches, flash photo slideshows offering photographs from top travel photographers at The Times and Lonely Planet Images, a Readers' Ratings tool connects travelers, allowing them to rate over 40,000 restaurants, hotels and venues, a Travel Forum that lets readers share their thoughts and opinions about travel-related topics ranging from the best books on travel to airplane etiquette, a Deals and Booking page offers hotel information for select destinations provided by premium advertisers. For more information, visit www.nytimes.com.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

AIRLINES: United Airlines realigned responsibilities among its senior management team. Peter McDonald is now executive vice president and chief operating officer, having previously served as executive vice president-operations. John Tague is now executive vice president-marketing, sales and revenue, having previously been executive vice president-customer. Douglas Hacker, executive vice president-strategy, will focus exclusively on corporate strategy development and competitive positioning. Jake Brace, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will continue to serve in that role and as chief restructuring officer, leading the company's efforts to emerge from bankruptcyÖAlaska Airlines has promoted Scott Ridge to managing director of technical operations and support in the company's flight operations division. Ridge will be responsible for dispatch, air traffic, operations engineering, technical publications and technology development. He also will support the airline's route and aircraft analysis. An Alaska employee since 1998, Ridge previously served as director of flight operations and technical support. Prior to that he spent nine years at American Airlines in a similar position and five years at Boeing as an aerodynamic engineerÖ

Sam Sperry, a veteran Seattle newspaperman and public relations consultant, has joined Alaska Airlines as director of corporate communications. Sperry will focus primarily on internal communications for Alaska employees and will support other communications activities as needed. Sperry comes to Alaska from the Seattle public affairs consulting firm Gogerty Stark Marriott, where he provided communications counsel to a wide variety of private business and public agency clients. He worked 13 years at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, serving as associate editor/editorial page, and as metro editor. He also worked as an off-camera editor at KING 5 News and as a reporter at the Seattle Times. His private business experience includes service as vice president for community affairs at the Seattle Mariners. Sperry also brings experience in government, having served as executive policy director for Gov. Gary Locke, as press officer for former King County Executive Randy Revelle and as director of the City Energy Office for former Mayors Wes Uhlman and Charles RoyerÖPinnacle Airlines said Nikki Tinker will join the airline as vice president-labor relations. In this post, Tinker will oversee labor policy for Pinnacle employees represented by collective bargaining agreements, as well as employment law and contract administration. Tinker previously served as an attorney for Ford & Harrison LLP working in all aspects of labor and employment law. In addition, she serves as principal campaign strategist for United States Congressman Harold E. Ford, Jr. Pinnacle operates an all-jet fleet of Canadair 44 and 50-seat regional jets as Northwest Airlink from Northwest hubs at Detroit, Memphis and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Pinnacle Airlines maintains its headquarters in Memphis, Tenn., and employs more than 2,200 people.

CRUISES: The NCL Group has named William Hamlin as executive vice president-fleet operations effective June 1. In this new role for the company, Hamlin will oversee marine operations and hotel operations for the ships of Norwegian Cruise Line, Orient Lines and NCL America. Hamlin will report to Colin Veitch, president and CEO of the NCL Group. Hamlin joins NCL from APL Limited where he served as president-Americas region. APL is part of the NOL group based in Singapore. He has also served as president of North America, vice president of operations-Americas Region and president of Eagle Marine Services, which operates terminals on the West Coast. Hamlin also served on the Board of the Pacific Maritime Association, the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association and the University of Denver Intermodal Transportation Institute, and served as chairman of the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association based in Washington, D,C. Before APL, Hamlin worked for Sea-Land Services for 13 years in a number of key operations and management positionsÖ Silversea Cruises promoted Aris Zarpanely to executive vice president-sales for the U.K., Far East and emerging markets. Meanwhile Franco Pellicari joined Silversea as senior vice president-sales for Continental Europe. Zarpanely, who has been with Silversea since it was formed, established a London office in 1995 and quickly established the U.K. as one of the line's most important markets. More recently he oversaw Silversea's strategic expansion into the Far East. Pellicari, who was previously with Costa Crociere and several other lines, will the expansion of sales in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Portugal, Holland, Austria and Monaco.

HOTELS & RESORTS: There's an opening for a CFO at Caesars Entertainment Inc. The Las Vegas-based gaming resort operator said Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Harry Hagerty has submitted his resignation, effective May 12. The company named Senior Vice President and Controller Wesley Allison as interim CFO. Hagerty will be available to consult on financial matters during a transitional period that is scheduled to end on May 31. Hagerty said he decided to resign as he entered the final year of his three-year contract to afford Caesars President and CEO Barr the opportunity to name his own chief financial officer. Hagerty was appointed to his position by Barr's predecessorÖFelCor Lodging Trust Incorporated, the nation's second largest hotel real estate investment trust (REIT), named Ken Cunningham as vice president-asset management. Cunningham was most recently general manager of the 309-room Hampton Inn in Dallas, Texas. He also has held management positions with Hilton Hotels, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn and American General Hospitality. Mr. Cunningham's prior experience includes multi-unit roles in operations, sales and marketing. FelCor is the nation's second largest lodging REIT and the largest owner of full service, all-suite hotels, with a consolidated portfolio of 155 hotels, located in 33 states and Canada. FelCor owns 71 upscale, all-suite hotels, and is the owner of the largest number of Embassy Suites Hotels and Doubletree Guest Suites hotels in the U.SÖ.CuisinArt Resort & Spa in Anguilla has hired Betty Jane Grieco-Bruce, as its new spa director, overseeing all spa activities as well as the entire spa operation. Grieco-Bruce comes to CuisinArt from the Ritz-Carlton Spa in Naples, Fla. Prior to that she was spa director of the Admiral Lehigh Health and Fitness Spa in Lehigh, Fla., from 1998 to 2001. From 1994 to 1998, she owned and operated her own spa, Teatree's Day Spa, in Millbrook, N.Y.

TRAVEL AGENTS: Carlson Wagonlit Travel has named Hubert Joly, deputy chief financial officer at Vivendi Universal, as chief executive. Joly will replace Herve Gourio when Gourio retires in July after four years as chief executive of the corporate travel agency giant, a joint venture of Accor and Carlson Companies. A former technology specialist at McKenzie Consulting, Joly spent three years as head of French operations at EDS, before joining Vivendi in 200 as head of its games division.

TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY: SideStep, Inc., a travel search engine, named Matt Johnson as vice president-product management. In his new role, Johnson will oversee product planning and design, as well as business analytics. Prior to joining SideStep, Johnson was president and co-founder of revenue management software developer PriceWorks. Previously, he served as senior vice president at PROS Revenue Management, a pricing and revenue optimization software company. In that role, he led the development and deployment of revenue management systems for more than 60 customers, including travel providers such as Continental Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Lufthansa and Air CanadaÖVince Bourke, one of the founding members of travel web site Opodo, will join lastminute.com, the U.K.-based online travel site, as group operations director reporting to Chief Operating Officer Ian McCaig. Bourke, who spent over three years as operations director at Opodo, will start on Aug. 1. Bourke's responsibilities will involve the continued delivery of industry-leading performance standards across the lastminute.com Group as well as increased consistency in group operations. He also will support the integration of acquisitions, such as recently acquired Online Travel Corporation, and assume leadership of operational change management programs.

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