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This week in Opportunities:

Study Finds GLBT Travel Shows Resilience
Travelocity: Data Shows Travel Intentions Up as Prices Fall
Opportunities Watch!
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

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OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS

Study Finds GLBT Travel Shows Resilience

While Americans cope with new economic realities, many by shifting consumer priorities and curbing household expenses across-the-board, a new national survey conducted online by Witeck Combs Communications and Harris Interactive shows marked differences in travel expectations over the next four months. On balance, for all American adults sampled who also say they plan to travel in the next four months – gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) consumers report on average they are likely to spend about $2,300 between May and August 2009 for both leisure and business travel, while heterosexuals on average they are likely to spend about $1,500 during that same period.

The new nationwide survey of 2,401 U.S. adults, (ages 18 and over), of whom 146 self identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, was conducted online between April 13 and 21, 2009, by Harris Interactive, a global market research and consulting firm, in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing communications firm with special expertise in the GLBT market. Note that this survey was completed prior to the publicly reported cases of swine flu in Mexico City and the flu contagion.

The new survey also focused on ways that U.S. travel consumers plan to economize or to specifically reduce their leisure travel budget this summer – compared with their leisure travel last summer. For instance, when all adults who traveled a year ago were asked whether they would increase, decrease or take the same number of airline trips this coming summer – 6 out of 10 (62%) of GLBT respondents stated they would stay the same (55%) or increase (7%), while only 36% of heterosexuals also said they will stay the same (27%) or increase them (9%).

Likewise, both samples (that traveled last summer) were asked if they expected to spend more, less or about the same on travel this summer as they did a year ago. Nearly 6 out of 10 (58%) of GLBT adults reported plans to spend the same (53%) or more (5%) while 49% of heterosexuals reported plans to spend the same (39%) or more (10%).

What strategies, in addition, will travelers apply to cut leisure travel costs in the next four months and where will they find savings? Gay and non-gay travelers, not surprisingly, think slightly differently. For example, when those who are cutting down on leisure travel spending were asked which of these actions (if any) they will take to reduce leisure travel expenses, here are the responses:

• Find less expensive activities: 61% of heterosexuals agree, as do 51% of GLBT
• adults.
• Find less expensive meal options: 60% of heterosexuals agree, while only 42%
• of GLBT adults concur.
• Find less expensive accommodations: 69% of GLBT adults agree, while only
• 51% of heterosexuals say so.
• Cook own meals rather than dine out: 39% of heterosexuals think so, but only
• 24% of GLBT adults.
• Stay with friends or family instead: 39% of heterosexuals say fine, but only 26%
• of GLBT adults agree.
• Take a “staycation” instead of vacation: 32% of heterosexuals will stay home,
• but only 18% of GLBT adults will do the same.

Travelocity: Data Shows Travel Intentions Up as Prices Fall

Travelocity’s most recent poll shows a dramatic increase in travel intentions, indicating traveler confidence is on the rise. Travelocity’s first-ever Traveler Confidence Report shows that decreasing airfares and lower hotel rates have positively influenced 96 percent of overall respondents’ summer travel plans, inspiring stronger travel intentions for the season ahead. The Traveler Confidence Report gauges travelers’ plans and attitudes now as compared to six months prior.

Traveler Confidence Report Highlights:

• Travel Intentions Up: Travelers planning to increase travel in 2009 is up significantly, with 21% planning to increase travel when asked in April 2009 compared to only 10% planning to increase travel when asked in November 2008.
• Vacation Postponement Down: Travelers planning to decrease travel in 2009 is down significantly, from 34 percent in November 2008 to 24 percent in April 2009. Travelers are also more likely to decrease budgets as opposed to canceling vacations completely.
• Decreased Airfare and Hotel Rates Have Positive Impact: When asked how lower prices would impact travel plans, 25 percent said lower airfares would allow them to take a trip they had not expected, while 18% said lower hotel rates would allow them to stay at a hotel with higher star rating.
• Travel Budgets Strong: Two-thirds of respondents report their summer travel budgets will remain the same or increase as compared to summer 2008. Of the one-third planning to reduce budgets, the vast majority will do so by 50 percent or less.

OPPORTUNITIES WATCH!

Dow Hotels Eyes Management Opportunities in Luxury Segment

The Dow Hotel Company, LLC, (DHC) a hotel ownership, investment and management company, today announced plans to expand into the beleaguered luxury hotel segment, the hardest hit segment in the current economic downturn. The company plans to add up to five new management contracts to its portfolio over the next year, including a substantial portion of four- and five-star level hotels. "Historically, we have been thought of solely as a leader in the upper, upscale segment," said Murray Dow, president of DHC. "While accurate, this perception overlooks the fact that our senior executive team has more than 50 years of highly successful management expertise in the luxury segment, including branded and boutique hotels, resorts, conference centers, spas and golf courses. We successfully have worked through a number major downturns and have the systems and infrastructure in place to take on a select number of luxury properties." According to Smith Travel Research data, luxury hotel RevPAR declined 28.2 percent in April. "Maintaining RevPAR by lowering costs and building top line revenues is a more delicate operation at the luxury level," Dow noted. "Cost cutting in the luxury segment must be handled like a surgeon with a scalpel, not a chainsaw, so that long-term guests are not scarred by the process. We have carefully selected and groomed our senior management team to excel in these circumstances, and have the experience and results to prove it." Dow said that the company's decision to expand into the luxury segment was a result of a growing number of requests for assistance from existing clients who owned luxury properties not managed by Dow. In response, the company took a number of proactive steps to accommodate the requests. In addition, the company has received a number of calls from lending institutions who have or are about to become reluctant owners, but do not have hotel expertise in-house. "We have added quality depth to our senior management team with the addition and promotion of highly experienced operations and marketing executives. We have added bench strength while others are cutting. We also have built in-depth expertise to assist lenders and others with bankruptcies and distressed inventory." DHC's team has operated more than 20 luxury properties, including such renowned brands as Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons. Additionally, the company has overseen top four- and five-star independent and boutique hotels and resorts, as well as upscale conference centers.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

AIRLINES: Frontier Airlines has announced that it has named Daniel M. Shurz to the position of Vice President of Strategy and Planning. Shurz will oversee management of Frontier's route planning and aircraft scheduling. He also will have responsibility for forging and managing the Company's strategic alliances and joint venture efforts. Shurz joins Frontier from Air Canada, Inc, where he was most recently Vice President, Network Planning and Alliances. In that position, he directed network design and scheduling of the company's 350 aircraft, including 150 belonging to the carrier's regional partners. Shurz also has held a number of other senior-level positions in the transportation and airline industries, including with the Chicago Transit Authority and United Airlines. Shurz received a BA degree from Queens' College, University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England, and an MBA in Strategy, Economics and International Business from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business... Alaska Airlines has announced the promotion of Kelley Dobbs to vice president of human resources and labor relations. A 22-year veteran of Alaska Airlines, Dobbs previously served as vice president of human resources, strategy and culture. She is a member of the Alaska Air Group Executive Committee, which is responsible for leadership and strategy for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. She also is a key proponent of the airline's diversity and inclusion initiatives. In her new role, Dobbs will add responsibility for the airline's labor relations function, working with Alaska's six union groups representing a majority of the airline's employees, and will direct the airline's employee benefits, employee relations, training and development, recruitment, workers compensation and employee travel services departments. Dobbs is replacing Dennis Hamel, who will retire Oct. 1. A 25-year veteran of Alaska Airlines, Hamel served as manager of employment, assistant vice president of employee relations and, since 1995, as vice president of human resources. His responsibilities were expanded to include labor relations in 2004. He led the airline's effort to restructure its labor agreements to reflect post-9/11 market realities and was responsible for Alaska's recent successful negotiation of a new four-year contract with its pilots and two-year contract extension with its flight attendants. He also helped create the company's Employee Assistance Fund to support Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air employees in need due to a medical or financial crisis. Dobbs has served in a variety of roles in her career with Alaska Airlines, on the frontline and in management. She holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Washington. She serves on the Port Jobs Board of Directors and the United Negro College Fund Pacific Northwest Advisory Board. She also serves on the Central Washington University Advisory Board and is a mentor for the MBA program at the University of Washington.

HOTELS & RESORTS: Davidson Hotel Company has announced the promotion of Steven A. Margol to chief investment officer as part of its strategic growth plan. Prior to his 15-year tenure with Davidson, Margol spent 10 years in the real estate investment, finance and consulting industries and was involved in more than $3 billion in hotel acquisitions, dispositions and management contracts. Previously, Margol was vice president of appraisal and consulting with Grubb & Ellis Company, with national responsibility for hospitality industry assignments. Earlier in his career, he was a hospitality industry specialist with Merrill Lynch Capital Markets' Real Estate Investment Banking Department, as well as with Laventhol & Horwath. Margol received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Emory University... Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. has announced the appointment of David Ragland as General Manager for the 158 guest room Hilton Garden Inn BWI Airport, Maryland. Ragland joins Crestline Hotels & Resorts from LTD Management where he was General Manager at the Hilton Garden Inn, Glen Allen, VA. He brings more than 14 years of hospitality industry management experience to this new role having also been the General Manager at the Residence Inn by Marriott Washington, DC and the Dulles Airport Courtyard by Marriott. Ragland served in the U.S. Air Force and has taken several industry training courses.

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