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This week in Opportunities:

40.45 Million Americans to Travel over Fourth of July Holiday
Opportunities Watch!
Opportunities Networking!
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

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OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS

40.45 Million Americans to Travel over Fourth of July Holiday

For the first time this decade, AAA estimates a decline in the number of Americans traveling during the Fourth of July holiday travel period. However, AAA projects 40.45 million Americans will still travel during the July 4th holiday weekend, down 1.3 percent, or nearly 550,000 Americans, from the 41 million who traveled last year. This is the second consecutive travel holiday in 2008 where a year-to-year decrease was forecasted. AAA projected a nearly one percent drop in holiday travelers for the Memorial Day travel holiday in May. The forecast includes U.S. residents traveling 50 miles or more from home. "While the numbers of travelers are a bit off from last year's levels, it is important to note that there are still millions of Americans that plan to travel," said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. According to AAA, more than 13 percent of the U.S. population will be on the road this holiday weekend despite record gas prices. Many will be taking advantage of travel bargains that are being offered by hotels hoping to boost last minute business. More than 34.2 million Americans (almost 85 percent of all holiday travelers) intend to travel by automobile, a 1.2 percent decrease from the 34.6 million people who drove to their holiday destinations last year. Approximately 4.54 million Americans (11 percent of holiday travelers) expect to travel by airplane, a 2.3 percent decrease from the 4.64 million who flew last year. Nearly 1.7 million plan to travel by train, bus or other mode of transportation.

AAA's Leisure Travel Index (LTI), which is based on available rates this holiday, reveals that Fourth of July holiday travelers can expect increases in other travel costs when compared to last year. For instance, air fares over the holiday weekend have increased 13 percent over last year. In addition, AAA advises travelers that many airlines now charge fees for checked baggage and other services that were previously complimentary, so travelers should check with the airline or their travel counselor about any additional fees for their trip. Hotel rates for AAA 3 Diamond hotels are unchanged from last year's Fourth of July holiday travel period. AAA's LTI shows an average increase in car rental prices of 12 percent. However, car rental rates vary from location to location, with some cities in AAA's index showing significant increases, while others show decreases compared to a year ago. AAA's index for car rentals is based on the average lowest intermediate size car daily rate in 20 U.S. airport locations. The rates do not include sales tax, insurance or other miscellaneous charges.

The greatest number of Fourth of July holiday weekend automobile travelers will originate in the Southeast with 8.7 million, followed by the West with 8.5 million; Midwest, 6.5 million; Northeast, 5.7 million; and Great Lakes, 4.7 million. The West is expected to produce the largest number of air travelers with 1.78 million, followed by the Southeast with 813,000; Midwest, 727,000; Northeast, 695,000; and Great Lakes, 518,000.

OPPORTUNITIES WATCH!

Starwood Capital Group and Marine Drive Properties Announce 1 Hotel Vancouver Island at Wyndansea

Starwood Capital Group LLC and Marine Drive Properties Ltd. CEO, Elke Loof-Koehler, have announced the development of the a hotel-condominium at Wyndansea Oceanfront Golf Resort, home to the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club of Canada. The property is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia adjacent to the Pacific Rim National Park and will be known as the 1 Hotel Vancouver Island at Wyndansea. Located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the 1 Hotel site is within Wyndansea Oceanfront Golf Resort, a 370-acre master planned resort that features a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course and is home to the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club of Canada. Marine Drive Properties has designed the entire resort to meet LEED Gold Certification, the global rating system that is the benchmark for energy and environmental design. The 1 Hotel includes 180 hotel-condominium suites and 95 Beach and Golf Villas. The 1 Hotel will feature a full-service eco-conscious spa, fitness facility and salt water pools. The restaurant and wine bistro will feature locally sourced foods and wine. Other resort amenities are expected to include a deep-water marina for luxury yachts and seaplane service from downtown Vancouver, a resort clubhouse, and the Wild Pacific Trail The Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course will be a Certified Signature Sanctuary with Audubon International, which is dedicated to educating, assisting, and inspiring millions of people from all walks of life to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources around them. Wyndansea was envisioned in strategic alliance with S&P Destination Properties.

OPPORTUNITIES NETWORKING!

FCCA Conference & Trade Show

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association will host its keynote event -- the 15th Annual Cruise Conference & Trade Show -- in Trinidad, October 27-31, 2008. The Hyatt Regency Trinidad, located in the heart of Port of Spain, has been named the official hotel. The hotel boasts state of the art conference facilities including two spacious ballrooms, one of which will host the annual Trade Show. The Trade Show is the perfect opportunity to showcase your destination and/or product to key cruise executives from the Operations, Purchasing, Marketing and Shore Excursion areas that will be in attendance and committed to work with you. Cruise Executives from the member lines represent a variety of destinations spanning the globe from Europe to the Caribbean. You can benefit from their extensive experience in dealing with the world's leading cruise destinations. Topics ranging from port development and expansion to the creation and selling of tours can be recounted first-hand and passed on to your generation. Similar strategies can apply throughout the globe -- wherever ships can sail. Trade show booths are available on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to availability. For more information on the FCCA Conference & Trade Show, please contact Terri Cannici at (954) 441-8881.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

AIRLINES: Alaska Airlines has announced that Lane Kemper has been named managing director of customer service - call centers, where she will oversee the carrier's customer call centers, including Reservations and Customer Care. Kemper, who has 24 years' experience with Alaska Airlines, started her career as a part-time employee in the Accounting Department while completing her college degree. Kemper served in various positions, including manager of credit collections, before moving into Reservations, where she worked in Phoenix and, most recently, in Seattle as director of reservations. Kemper holds a bachelor of science degree in marketing from Central Washington University. She also is involved in the community, including volunteering at the annual fundraiser for Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle... Frontier Airlines announced that it has promoted Edward (Ted) Christie III to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Christie had been serving as Senior Vice President of Finance for the airline. Christie joined Frontier in December 2002. He was appointed Vice President of Finance in May 2007 and was promoted to Senior Vice President in February 2008. Prior to joining Frontier, Ted was Vice President of Finance at a Denver asset-based finance institution. He had also served as a revenue economist for the taxing authority in Arizona.

HOTELS & RESORTS: Red Lion Hotels Corporation has announced that Paul Bolton has joined its team as Vice President, Design, Construction and Engineering. He assumes the responsibility for all aspects of hotel facilities including design, construction, engineering services and development of existing and newly-converted Red Lion hotels. He will report to George Schweitzer, the company's Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations. Red Lion Hotels Corporation also announced today that John Rogers joined the company as Vice President, Hotel Operations. He will be assuming responsibility for operations at some of our key hotels including those in Spokane, Denver, and Salt Lake City. He also reports to Schweitzer... JAL Hotels Co., Ltd., which operates Nikko Hotels International, a group of luxury hotels, and Hotel JAL City, a mid-priced business hotel chain in Japan, announced at its annual shareholders meeting and board of directors meeting the appointment of Katsumi Chiyo as president and CEO. He will succeed Mamoru Tsutsumi. Chiyo's previous position was as president and CEO, JALways Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (JAL), JAL Hotels' parent company. He has been with JAL for 38 years, since graduating from Waseda University with a degree in Political Science and Economics. He has held numerous executive positions both inside Japan and in the United States over the years, including serving on the board of directors of JAL... La Quinta announces Temple H. Weiss has been selected as executive vice president and chief financial officer to succeed Robert Harshbarger, who retired in May. Weiss will report to Wayne Goldberg, La Quinta's president and chief executive officer. Weiss, who has more than 15 years experience in the hospitality industry, joined La Quinta in 2001. Since then, he has held increasingly senior executive roles and has been significantly involved in the Company's financial activities. Previously, he served as vice president of finance and investor relations where he had responsibility for capital markets, corporate acquisitions, financial analysis and strategic planning. Most recently, he was executive vice president of acquisitions & development where he led the Company's $450 million expansion program. In his new role, he will be responsible for the full range of finance activities including accounting, financial reporting, planning and analysis, payroll, treasury, tax, internal audit and purchasing. In addition, he will continue to lead the Company's acquisition and real estate efforts... Barcelo Crestline Corporation has announced the appointment of John Rhodes Peto, C.H.A., as Director, Asset Management. Peto joins Barcelo Crestline with more than 20 years of experience in hospitality and real estate asset management. In his new position, he will report to Thomas G. Baker, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for Barcelo Crestline. Peto will asset manage Barcelo Crestline's portfolio of nearly 100 leased and owned hotels throughout the U.S. Peto joins Barcelo Crestline from a private venture where he managed a residential real estate portfolio. Prior to that, he was the Director of Operations for the U.S. for CTF Hotels & Resorts. He has also held senior management positions with La Costa Resort & Spa, Encinitas Resort Corporation, and the Capitol Hotel Group, Inc., among others. Peto attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Hotel & Restaurant Management program. He has earned several industry accolades and certifications including Certified Hotel Administrator (C.H.A.)... Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. has announced that Edmund L. Quatmann, Jr. has been named senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, subject to certain regulatory approvals. Quatmann joins Isle of Capri Casinos from iPCS, Inc., a NASDAQ-traded telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, where he served as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. Additionally, Quatmann previously represented the Company as legal counsel while an attorney with Chicago-based law firm Mayer Brown LLP. While at Mayer Brown, Quatmann represented the Company in a variety of corporate transactions. Quatmann will replace Allan Solomon as General Counsel. Mr. Solomon will continue to serve as executive vice president.

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