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:

AMEX: More Small Business Owners Taking Vacations to Relieve Stress
Study Finds Online Hotel Bookings Continue to Shift to Supplier Sites
U.S. Travel Goods Sales Hit Record High of $22 Billion in 2007
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

To ensure that you always receive this newsletter and other communications from Travel Career Connexxions, please add our address to your Address Book (newsletter@travelexecutive.com). This will keep most email filters from misinterpreting and discarding these emails.

Did you know? As of 06/04/08 there are 220 executive-level travel jobs published in the Travel Career Connexxions employment report. Positions include Travel Technology Consultant (05/29), V.P. of Marketing (05/28), Director of Leadership Programs (06/02), Director of E-Commerce (06/04), VP & Senior Counsel (05/22), Executive Director of Corp. Clients (06/04) and more. It only takes one person to fill the job of a lifetime - and that someone could be you! http://www.TravelExecutive.com

OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS

AMEX: More Small Business Owners Taking Vacations to Relieve Stress

Despite economic challenges, the same percentage of small business owners as last year (59%) are planning a summer vacation of at least a week, according to American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor, a semi-annual survey of business owners. How do small business owners decide when to go on vacation? Thirty-four percent take a break when they’re stressed or have had enough, up 10% from spring 2007. Of those surveyed, 20% say that they take a less expensive vacation in an uncertain economy. Interestingly, 27% of female entrepreneurs reduce their vacation budget compared to 18% of their male counterparts. “The fact that most small business owners will vacation again this summer may not seem so remarkable, until you factor in that 56% are experiencing cash flow issues and 86% are being squeezed by rising energy and gas costs,” said Alice Bredin, American Express OPEN small business advisor. “For all of us and especially entrepreneurs, a vacation even if downscaled, is a necessity not a luxury; especially when times are stressful.” Entrepreneurs who are 60 and older are most likely to have summer vacation plans (72% compared to 55% of their younger counterparts). Business size is also a factor in deciding whether or not to break away: small businesses with 50 to 99 employees are more likely to have vacation plans for a week or more (73% versus 59% of companies with fewer than 50 employees).

A decline in optimism, the lowest in the six-year history of the Monitor (from 21% in 2007 to 9%), won’t prevent those planning a summer break from getting away with a clear conscience. Seventy-one percent don’t feel guilty taking a vacation, with 77% of those owners 50+ less burdened by guilt compared to 62% in the 18-49 age group. For most entrepreneurs though, guilt-free doesn’t mean worry-free given that two out of three entrepreneurs worry while on vacation. Among their chief concerns are client care (36%), a missed business opportunity (31%) and employees slacking off (30%), followed by equipment/operational breakdowns and staff judgment calls (29% each), finding someone to manage their business (23%), and security (19%).

One-third of small business owners are looking to save time and money by linking their vacation to a business trip. One-half of owners in the 50-54 age group are taking advantage of such opportunities compared to 34% overall. But, small businesses with 50-99 employees are least likely to link a vacation with business to save time and money (24% versus one-third of companies with less than 50 employees). Sixty-three percent of small business owners from the South plan to take at least one full week’s vacation this summer (about the same as last year) followed by 60% in the North Central states (up 10% from 2007), 59% in the Northeast (down 8%) and 51% in the West (down 5%). More owners from the Northeast say they plan a vacation when they’ve had enough or are stressed out (43%) than their counterparts in the West (33%), North Central (31%) and South (30%). Further, numbers for all regions have increased this year over last with the greatest jump in the Northeast, 16% over last year; followed by North Central states with a 12% increase; the West up 7% and the South up 5%. In an uncertain economy, fewer owners in the Northeast (14%) are likely to take a less expensive vacation than those in the South (17%) and North Central and West (24% each). While owners in the West are less likely to take a summer break, most owners who are planning to get away will do so with a clear conscience. In fact, the percentage of those in the West who responded “no” when asked if they feel guilty about taking vacation is up 10% from last year (75% vs. 65%). By contrast, 73% in the South and 70% in the North Central region said, “Not guilty.” However only 66% of owners in the Northeast said not guilty, a 12% drop from last year (78%).

The American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor, released each spring and fall, is based on a nationally representative sample of 627 small business owners/managers of companies with fewer than 100 employees. The survey was conducted via telephone by Echo Research from March 10-March 21, 2008. The poll has a margin of error of +3.9%.

Study Finds Online Hotel Bookings Continue to Shift to Supplier Sites

comScore, Inc. has released a study of the online travel industry, which showed that supplier websites account for 72 percent of online hotel spend as of first quarter 2008, a 3-percentage point increase in dollar share from the previous year. Hotel market share through online travel agency sites (e.g. Expedia and Orbitz) is now 28 percent, 3-percentage points down from a year ago. The increase in dollar share among supplier sites is being driven by several economy brands, such as Best Western (up 1.2 points) and Choice Hotels (up 0.6 points). Marriott, which includes both economy and premium brands, experienced the most significant increase of 1.3 points. Meanwhile, online travel agency sites lost dollar share as consumers booked directly on the supplier sites. "The current economy has many consumers and business travelers tightening their belts, and the travel industry is certainly feeling the impact," said Kevin Levitt, comScore vice president. "Customers are becoming more cost-conscious, seeking modestly priced alternatives for their hotel stays."

Given the current economic conditions, some hotel groups are shifting their online ad dollars away from premium brands. Consider as an example the Intercontinental Hotels Group, which owns both premium and economy brands. Its economy brand, Holiday Inn Express, increased its total number of paid search link exposures by 16-percent, while its premium brands, like Crowne Plaza (down 41 percent) and Intercontinental (down 26 percent), reduced exposures. "With consumers shifting their spending toward lower-cost alternatives, it makes sense that marketers would be shifting their ad spending accordingly to achieve better marketing ROI," added Mr. Levitt. Additional results from the comScore study will be presented during a live webinar on Thursday, June 5 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT. For more details, visit: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/688791902.

U.S. Travel Goods Sales Hit Record High of $22 Billion in 2007

Even as the economy started to slow in 2007, Americans continued to realize the benefit of using travel goods as part of their everyday lives, leading to yet another record year for sales in 2007, according to a new report from the Travel Goods Association (TGA). Travel goods are defined as luggage, backpacks, travel/sports bags, business cases/computer bags, handbags, personal leather goods, and travel accessories (the report does not include the category of travel accessories in its sales figures). TGA's report estimates that U.S. consumers spent a record $22.2 billion on these items in 2007, fueled by burgeoning consumer demand in virtually all travel goods categories. "Whether they are flying to Hong Kong or commuting to work, consumers today want to carry more with them wherever they go," explains Michele Marini Pittenger, TGA's President. "The average consumer today not only carries a cell phone, but they also have a BlackBerry, an iPod and possibly a laptop. If they're traveling, they need space for all of these things as well as their clothes, while complying with the airlines' ever-increasing restrictions on the size, weight and number of items they can bring onboard. And, for everyday use, consumers are now carrying all of these electronic items plus what they need for work or school, and often workout clothes as well." As consumers' demands grow on the travel goods they use to meet these changing needs. "Consumers want to buy travel goods that meet all of these demands. That want has translated into continued pressure for the U.S. travel goods industry to continue to create products that are more versatile and functional, yet at the same time are smaller, more stylish and more lightweight. Of course, consumers want all of this at a good price. Record travel goods sales in 2007 show that we have succeeded," commented Pittenger.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

HOTELS & RESORTS: Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. has announced the appointment of Garriann Young as Director of Sales & Marketing for the Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens in Los Angeles. The hotel, which recently completed $8 million in property improvements, is located in downtown Los Angeles near the Civic Center in 'Little Tokyo.' The hotel, which is managed by Crestline Hotels & Resorts, offers 434 guestrooms as well as meeting space and a traditional Japanese garden. Young joins Crestline Hotels from Sunstone Hotels where she was the Director of Sales & Marketing for the Sheraton Cerritos in Los Angeles. She brings 20 years of experience in sales with a concentration over the past 10 years in the hospitality industry. Young has also held sales management positions at the Embassy Suites LAX North and the Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Resort. Young attended the University of Texas and Southwest Texas State University... Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. has also announced the appointment of Cathryn Giff as Director of Sales for the 198 guestroom Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Detroit's historic Harmonie Park. The hotel is managed by Crestline Hotels & Resorts. It is located just one block from Comerica Park, the Detroit Tigers' Stadium; Ford Field, the Detroit Lions' Stadium and Compuware's corporate headquarters. It is also within walking distance to the Detroit Opera House, the Greektown Casino and in close proximity to many restaurants. Giff joins Crestline Hotels & Resorts from Marriott International where she was a director of market sales in their Detroit regional office. Prior to that she was with Merritt Hospitality where she was Director of Sales & Marketing for the Detroit Airport Marriott. Giff brings nearly 15 years of hospitality industry management experience in sales, marketing and operations to her new role.... Barcelo Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Michael R. Pericas, Jr., as Director of Meeting & Incentive Sales for the Northeastern Region of the USA and Eastern Canada. Mr. Pericas joins Barcelo from the InterContinental Hotel Group where he was most recently Director of Sales for The Holiday Inn Select in College Park, GA. He previously held international positions with IHG with sales positions in Panama, Guatemala, and Caracas, Venezuela. Pericas brings more than 13 years experience in hospitality sales to his new role, having also held positions with Hyatt Place Perimeter hotel in Atlanta, the Sheraton Hotel Old San Juan, Puerto Rico and Sol Melia Hotel Corporation in Mexico City, Mexico and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Pericas was on the founding Board of Directors of MPI's Mexico Chapter and also served as that chapter's President. He is currently an active committee member of the MPI Georgia Chapter and will continue to participate in SITE and NYSAE. Pericas, a native of Puerto Rico, is fluent in both English and Spanish... Clement K.M. Kwok, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH) has announced the appointment of Neil Galloway as Finance Director and Chief Financial Officer of the Group with effect from 1 September 2008. Galloway has been appointed as a member of the Group Management Committee and Finance Committee of the Company and will also be appointed as a Director in most of the Group's entities with effect from 1 September 2008. Galloway joins HSH from ABN AMRO Bank in Hong Kong, where he had been Managing Director, Head of Mergers & Acquisitions/Equity Capital Markets, Asia. He joined ABN AMRO Bank in 2000 where he had held a range of senior positions in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, including the positions of Managing Director, Head of Asian Telecoms and Managing Director, Head of European Telecom, Media & Technology Banking. Prior to that, Galloway worked for ten years with HSBC Investment Bank in London with subsequent postings in France, the Philippines and Hong Kong. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a Bachelor of Laws degree (Honours). In his new capacity, Galloway will be overseeing the Group's corporate finance and will play an integral role in HSH's expansion and redevelopment plans.

Looking for more?
Subscribe to Travel Career Connexxions' Executive Employment Report where you will find executive job listings throughout the travel industry, meet connectors, recruiters and read compelling articles, salary surveys and advice to help you manage your career for growth! Are you a Human Resources professional, hiring manager or recruiter? Sign up today for the free travel job listing and database search service.