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The Travel Career Connexxions Opportunities Newsletter
08/17/04 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:
Travel Career Connexxions Sets Pact with ATME 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 8/17/04 there are 113 executive-level travel jobs published in the Travel Career Connexxions employment report. Positions include Vice President of Marketing (8/13), Director of Sales (8/13), Director of Purchasing (8/13), Director Retention & Loyalty Marketing (8/13), VP of Operations (8/09), Business Development Director (8/11), CEO, Chief Marketing Officer and more. It only takes one person to fill the job of a lifetime - and that someone could be you! http://www.TravelExecutive.com
*ATME Annual Conference & Trade Show Sept 21-22, 2004
OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS! Travel Career Connexxions Sets Pact with ATME Travel Career Connexxions, Inc., the travel industry's first executive-centric career development site, has announced an agreement with the Association of Travel Marketing Executives (ATME), the travel industry's leading marketing association for travel industry marketing professionals. The reciprocal pact provides ATME with an automated job listing system for travel job openings and career opportunities. "We are very excited about the relationship with ATME," said Matt Garton, president of Travel Career Connexxions. "The Association of Travel Marketing Executives provides networking opportunities that are critical to a successful executive career in the travel industry, and many of our readers and subscribers are looking for such opportunities to increase relationships that help them manage and further their careers. I'm encouraging everyone to attend ATME meetings and functions, as the industry's best travel marketing executives will be there." Beginning immediately, Travel Career Connexxions will provide information about events and meetings hosted by the Association of Travel Marketing Executives on the Travel Career Connexxions web site, www.TravelExecutive.com. In return, ATME will carry value-added career development and networking information on its web site and in the ATME newsletter, including discounts for Travel Career Connexxions subscription services. Web site visitors now receive 20 percent off all Travel Career Connexxions subscriptions. "Our relationship with Travel Career Connexxions provides excellent benefits for our members. I haven't found this type of information anywhere else," said ATME President Kristin Zern. DOT Reports Airlines Carried More Passengers in May Want more evidence that the travel industry is back from its doldrums? The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) just reported, in a release of preliminary data, that U.S. airlines carried 52.6 million domestic passengers in May, 6.3 percent more than in May 2003. These passengers were carried on 802,602 flights, up 0.6 percent from the flights operated in May 2003. Revenue passenger miles, a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 9.9 percent. Available seat-miles, a measure of airline capacity, were up 9.3 percent. Load factor, a measure of how many seats are sold and used, was up 0.4 percentage points. Flight stage length, the average non-stop distance, was up 7.4 percent. Passenger trip length, the average distance that passengers travel, was up 3.5 percent. Among airlines, Southwest Airlines carried 7.1 million domestic passengers in May, the most of any airline. Among airports, Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta continued in May to be the busiest domestic airport, with 3.3 million passenger boardings. Total Airline Sales Up 2%, Rise 10% Internationally Want more evidence that the travel industry is back? The Airlines Reporting Corp. reported total July airline ticket sales of $4.975 billion, up 2 percent from July 2003's $4.892 billion. Domestic sales were actually down 2 percent, to $2.636 billion from $2.783 billion a year ago, but international sales were up 10 percent, to $1.780 billion from $1.634 billion in the same month last year. Total sales and international fares both compare favorably to the year before, although less so than in recent months of relatively stronger growth. But average weekly sales per agency location were up 13 percent to $51,371, compared with $45,261 in July 2003. Australia Tops List of Places Americans Want to Visit So just where do Americans want to spend their vacation? For the eighth year in a row, Australia tops the list of countries where the most Americans would like to vacation if they did not have to worry about the cost. Australia is followed, as it was last year, by Italy, Britain, France, Ireland and Germany, in that order. These top six countries are followed by Canada (7), New Zealand (8), Spain (9) and Mexico (10). These are the results of a nationwide Harris poll of 2,242 adults surveyed online by Harris Interactive between July 12 and 16, 2004. While the top six places in this list of favorite vacation destinations have not changed since last year, several other countries have moved up and down the list: Canada has moved up from 12 to 7. However, last year's low ranking was an aberration. In all previous years Canada was 9 or higher. New Zealand slipped one place from 7 last year to 8 this year, though that is still higher than its ranking on previous years. Greece, in spite of (or because of) being the venue of this summer's Olympics has slipped from 10 last year to 14. Mexico has moved up two places from 12 to 10. Jamaica (13) and China (15) which were not in last year's ranking move up in to this year's top 15 list. This is the first time China has made it into the top 15 favorite tourist countries. Overall, half of all adults (51 percent) chose a European country, a quarter (26 percent) picked a country in Asia or the Pacific region, and 13 percent pick a country in the Americas or the Caribbean. Survey Shows Top Travel Firms in Customer Satisfaction So you want to work for a travel company that recognizes the importance of customer satisfaction. But just what are the top travel industry brands in terms of customer satisfaction? The new Market Metrix Hospitality Index (MMHI) survey for the second quarter of 2004 shows Four Seasons, JetBlue Airways and Enterprise Rent-A-Car ranked number one in hotel, airline and rental car industry customer satisfaction, respectively. Four Seasons returns as the top rated hotel brand in the country after falling in the rankings for the two previous quarters. Jet Blue and Enterprise have both won seven out of the last eight quarters in their industry categories. First-time winners include Executive Inn Hotels in the "Midscale with Food & Beverage Services" category and AmericInn in the "Economy" category. Other top rankings for the second quarter 2004 survey include Four Seasons (Luxury Hotel), Walt Disney World Resorts (Upper Upscale Hotels), SpringHill Suites (Upscale), Drury Inns (midscale without food and beverage service), Homewood Suites (Extended Stay Hotels), Rio (Casino), Bellagio (Upscale Casino), Residence Inn by Marriott (Hotel Brand Reservations Web Site), and Hotwire.com (Hotel Reservations Web Site). The Market Metrix Hospitality Index is a quarterly report of customer satisfaction with hotel, airline and car rental companies based on 35,000 in-depth consumer interviews. For more information, visit www.marketmetrix.com. Luxury Hotels See Major Gains in Second Quarter The luxury segment continues to be hot! Luxury hotel companies are reporting major improvements in revenues and net income. Last week, for example, Four Seasons Hotels Inc. reported net earnings in the second quarter were $17.3 million, as compared to a net loss of $1.4 million ($0.04 basic and diluted loss per share) for the second quarter of 2003. Adjusted net earnings increased 118 percent to $19.2 million, as compared to adjusted net earnings of $8.8 million for the second quarter of 2003. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) worldwide at core hotels increased 22.7 percent on a U.S. dollar basis. Both the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest and Four Seasons Resort Whistler opened during the quarter. "Our second quarter financial results reflect the continued recovery in business and leisure travel demand. This recovery, together with the contribution of ten new Four Seasons managed properties over the past 24 months, translated into a 47 percent increase in our management earnings in the second quarter, as compared to the same period in the previous year," said Isadore Sharp, Four Seasons' chairman and CEO. " This year, we have opened four new Four Seasons properties, bringing the total number of Four Seasons properties under management to 63, and we expect to open another eleven projects over the next 18 months." Gaming Sector Continues to See Greater Revenues Yet another hot sector is gaming. Major gaming companies have all reported gains in revenue and net income in the most recent quarter. And one of Las Vegas' independent players is not different. Las Vegas Sands, Inc., owner and operator of The Venetian Casino Resort in Las Vegas, and the Sands Macao Casino in Macao, a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, reported second quarter consolidated adjusted property EBITDAR of $105.9 million, compared to $61.5 million in the year-ago quarter, an increase of 72 percent for the quarter. Income from operations during the second quarter of 2004 was $493.2 million, compared with $42.5 million reported in the second quarter of 2003. Current quarter results benefited from the company's $419.9 million gain on the sale of the Grand Canal Shops on May 17, 2004, the opening of a new 1,013-room hotel tower at the Venetian at the end of the second quarter of 2003 and the opening of the Sands Macao on May 18, 2004. Las Vegas Sands reported net income in the second quarter of 2004 of $454.6 million (including the gain on sale of the Grand Canal Shops of $419.9 million) as compared to $9.6 million for the second quarter of 2003. The company also reported net revenue in the second quarter of $251.1 million as compared to $150.4 million for the second quarter of 2003. Casino revenues at the Venetian were $76.2 million in the second quarter of 2004, an increase of 20 percent when compared to $63.4 million in second quarter of 2003. Food and beverage revenues at the Venetian were $31.8 million in the second quarter of 2004, an increase of 53 percent, when compared to $20.8 million in the second quarter of 2003. New Hotel: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island S.C. The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, a new luxury resort in South Carolina, will officially open Aug. 20. Owned and operated by Kiawah Island Golf Resort, The Sanctuary has been designed to reflect the style of a grand southern seaside mansion and is located along 10 miles of beach only 30 minutes from Charleston. The 255-room, $125 million oceanfront resort features some of the largest and most luxurious guestrooms in America, including a spectacular 3,100-square-foot Presidential Suite. Ninety percent of the rooms have ocean views. The Sanctuary has two oceanfront restaurants: the Ocean Room, featuring New American cuisine, and Jasmine Porch, which serves regional favorites. For more information, visit www.thesanctuary.com. New Hotel: Renaissance Opens Tampa International Plaza Renaissance Hotels & Resorts, an upscale, full-service brand of Marriott International, Inc., has opened the Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza. The hotel is situated next to International Plaza and Bay Street, a top shopping destination. The 293-room, eight-story hotel is owned by CNL Hotels & Resorts, Inc. The hotel offers 12,500 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate a variety of events, from small group meetings and functions to elaborate banquets with seating for 600. New Resort: Marriott Opens First Resort in China Marriott International Inc., continuing a rapid international expansion, has opened the Sanya Marriott Resort, the first Marriott managed resort to open in China. The 465-room resort operates under a management agreement with Sanya Jahwa Resort Development Company, Ltd.. Sanya is the only tropical island in China. The city is served by the Phoenix International Airport, which offers flights to all major domestic Chinese cities as well as to such international destinations as Seoul and Hong Kong. The resort features meeting facilities designed to accommodate any type of special event, including an 830-square meter Grand Ballroom. In addition, the resort will offer five 70-square meter meeting rooms and a boardroom. All meeting space is equipped with high speed broadband internet and audio visual services. Pan Pacific Selected to Operate Seattle Boutique Hotel Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts has been selected by development partners Milliken Urban Limited Partnership and Vulcan Inc. to operate a 160-room boutique hotel that will be the focal point of the 2200 Westlake project in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood. With construction in process, the hotel is scheduled to open in summer 2006. The hotel also will also feature "High-Style" Hirsch Bedner designer guest rooms; a sleek and modern "library" lounge offering cocktails and light snacks; full-service fitness center; 5,405 square feet of function space, including seven conference rooms. New Theme Park: Wannado City Opens in Fort Lauderdale The newest Florida theme park, Wannado City, opened Aug. 13 at the Sawgrass Mills mall 10 miles west of Fort Lauderdale. The park is a miniature city in which children ages 4 to 14 can play out adult roles as doctors, actors, lawyers, reporters, archaeologists, or any of a number of other professions. Like a massive board game, the indoor theme park doles out play currency, which the players have to budget through their bank account, and which can be used for the entertainment options in the model city. For information, visit www.wannadocity.com. Network with Top Hospitality Sales & Marketing Pros! Want to find out more about hospitality sales and marketing or network with to professionals in the business? Throughout 2004 and 2005, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is offering a comprehensive line-up of industry events and programs, delivering educational sessions and strategy conferences as well as business-to-business forums for buyers and suppliers of hospitality, travel and tourism. HSMAI events are invaluable for sales and marketing professionals looking to hone their skills, network with customers and stay abreast of industry changes. Following is a portion of the current schedule of events for the remainder of the year and into 2005: HSMAI/NYU Strategy Conference, Sept. 23, 2004, 11:30 am-4:30 pm, Marriott Marquis, New York City, which is themed "The Morphing of the Business and Leisure Traveler: An Insight into Changing Attitudes and Behavior"; HSMAI/DMA Direct Marketing Conference for Travel Professionals Oct. 16-17, 2004, New Orleans Convention Center, New Orleans, where you can join senior marketing executives from Continental Airlines, Hilton Grand Vacations, Expedia, Travelocity, AAA, Harrah's New Orleans and many others for a weekend of information-filled sessions and networking with fellow travel direct marketers; HSMAI Hotel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference, Dec. 7, 2004, Millennium Biltmore, Los Angeles, a half-day program that summarizes the issues and challenges that Internet marketers face, addresses the implications, and provides solutions and strategies; HSMAI Adrian Awards Show, Jan. 24, 2005, Marriott Marquis, New York City, where HSMAI celebrates winners of its Adrian Awards for advertising, public relations and web marketing at a black-tie dinner attended by the top sales and marketing professionals in the business. For more information, call HSMAI at 703-610-9024 or visit www.hsmai.org. OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS! AIRLINES: Continental Airlines said its board of directors has elected Executive Vice President Jeffery Smisek to be president when Larry Kellner assumes the post of chairman and chief executive officer at the end of the year. As previously announced, Kellner, now president and chief operating officer, is succeeding Gordon Bethune, who is retiring at year end. Smisek, like Kellner, has been a member of Continental's senior management team for nearly 10 years. He will assume the additional responsibilities of sales and marketing, and global real estate, in addition to his current oversight of human resources and labor relations, technology, security, corporate communications, federal affairs, and state and civic affairs. Smisek's prior positions at the company include executive vice president-corporate, executive vice president and general counsel, and senior vice president and general counsel. Effective immediately, three members of Continental's executive team have been named executive vice presidents: Jim Compton, currently senior vice president marketing, becomes executive vice president marketing. Compton will continue to oversee the company's domestic and international sales, corporate development and alliances, marketing, reservations, network, pricing and revenue management, scheduling and distribution; Jeff Misner, currently senior vice president and chief financial officer, becomes executive vice president and chief financial officer. Misner will continue to be responsible for the airline's overall financial operations including corporate finance, treasury, financial planning, tax, accounting, investor relations, fleet, fuel purchasing, internal audit and risk management; Mark Moran, currently senior vice president of technical operations and purchasing, becomes executive vice president operations, responsible for the airline's operations including field services, aircraft maintenance, purchasing, flight operations, inflight, technical services, planning and training. The realignment also calls for four other Continental executives to be promoted to the senior vice president: Bill Brunger, currently vice president-network, becomes senior vice president-network; Dave Hilfman, currently vice president-sales and reservations, becomes senior vice president-sales; Bill Meehan, currently vice president-Houston hub, becomes senior vice president airport services; Holden Shannon, currently vice president-corporate real estate and environmental affairs, becomes senior vice president-global real estate and security. Brunger and Hilfman will report to Jim Compton, executive vice president of marketing. Meehan will report to Mark Moran, executive vice president operations. Shannon will report to Jeff Smisek. In addition, Dante Marzetta, currently senior vice president airport services, becomes senior vice president technical operations and purchasing, reporting to Moran. Continental also announced two new roles in the technology area. Ron Anderson-Lehman, currently staff vice president systems development, becomes vice president and chief information officer. Mike Natale, currently staff vice president systems architecture, becomes staff vice president and chief technology officer. In addition to the above changes, Deborah Larza, currently staff vice president airport services, replaces Meehan as vice president-Houston hub. Jon Roitman, senior director-Cleveland hub, becomes staff vice president-Cleveland hub. Jay Ellzey becomes staff vice president-safety and flight training. Continental also said that David Grizzle, senior vice president-marketing strategy and corporate development, will be taking a leave of absence to enter public service. His responsibilities will be assumed by long-time Continental executive Mark Erwin. Grizzle, with nearly 20 years at Continental, will be taking a position with the U.S. State Department as senior transportation and infrastructure advisor for the Afghanistan Reconstruction Group, based in Kabul. Erwin will assume the role of senior vice president-Asia/Pacific and corporate development. This position includes Erwin's current responsibilities in the Asia/Pacific region along with Grizzle's duties related to building and maintaining strategic alliances and code-share activities with other airlines. Erwin also will retain his position as president and chief executive officer of Continental Micronesia, Inc....Mesa Air Group, Inc. promoted Sharon Goddin to vice president of inflight. Goddin joined Mesa in November 2003 as senior director-corporate communications, employee relations and recruitment. Prior to joining Mesa, she spent 14 years in management with US Airways, Inc., most recently as the director of in-flight services and human resources for the airline's Mid-Atlantic Division. Goddin replaces Kristen Brookshire, who has resigned to pursue other opportunities. Mesa currently operates 179 aircraft with over 1,000 daily system departures to over 179 cities, 42 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas. It operates in the West and Midwest as America West Express; the Midwest and East as US Airways Express; in Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles as United Express; in Kansas City with Midwest Express and in New Mexico and Texas as Mesa Airlines... Sentient Jet, a leader in private jet membership, has named technology veteran David Holeman as vice president of information technology. Holeman will work to enhance Sentient's technology, which allows the company to conduct real-time aircraft tracking and flight mapping, advanced aircraft location search and trip scenario creation; real-time integration into ARG/US's safety check; customer relationship management and full call center integration. He previously owned a consulting practice that specialized in providing IT leadership to startup companies prior to coming to Sentient Jet. Before starting his own consultancy, he was the chief information officer for the Monitor Group, based in Cambridge, Mass., a global professional services firm...Republic Airways Holdings Inc. named Beth Taylor as vice president and corporate controller, responsible for all accounting functions for the company and its subsidiaries. She will continue to report to Hal Cooper, executive vice president and chief financial officer. Taylor previously worked for Rolls Royce and Deloitte & Touche prior to joining Chautauqua Airlines in 1999 as controller. Republic Airways Holdings, based in Indianapolis, is an airline holding company whose principal operating subsidiary is Chautauqua Airlines, a regional carrier. CRUISE LINES: Viking River Cruises promoted Senior Director-Marketing, Lisa Juarez to vice president of marketing communications. In her new role, Juarez will oversee all aspects of North American market communications and global branding for the company. Juarez has over 20 years' experience in corporate identity, branding and messaging, working for blue chip clients and Princess Cruises. Over the past three years, she has been instrumental in positioning Viking River Cruises as the leading river cruise brand. Viking also appointed Pete Levine as vice president of direct marketing. Levine will be responsible for the company's marketing analysis and client database. He previously held key marketing management roles at Vantage Deluxe World Travel and Grand Circle Corporation. Viking River Cruises offers river cruises in Europe, Russia and China, using a fleet of 25 vessels. HOTELS & RESORTS: Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) named Robert Radomski as vice president-brand management for Staybridge Suites. Reporting to Tom Seddon, senior vice president, Americas Brand Performance, IHG, Radomski is responsible for overall strategic direction of Staybridge Suites, including the development of brand communication strategies, tactical marketing promotions, revenue management and new product development. Prior to this post, Radomski served as the director of field marketing for Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, another IHG brand. In this position, he was responsible for the design and implementation of marketing initiatives for five regional co-op organizations across the U.S., along with Canada and Mexico. Radomski started with IHG in 1989 as a market analyst, where he performed a number of key studies that helped launch the Holiday Inn Express brand, and led to the development of the company's guest satisfaction tracking study, which is still in use today. After two years in database marketing and Holiday Inn brand marketing roles, he joined Crowne Plaza in 1993, eventually becoming its director of marketing...Marriott International Inc. named Bridget Bilinski as the first female general manager of the Anaheim Marriott in California and area general manager for North Orange County. Bilinski began her career with Marriott in 1979 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott where she held a number of positions in housekeeping, catering, and sales. Later, under the Courtyard by Marriott brand, she opened three hotels while maintaining her post as general manager of the Phoenix Metrocenter Courtyard. During this time, she was one of the first general managers on the West Coast and the first female area managers in the country. In 1994, she served as general manager of the Scottsdale Marriott Suites, which received the highest customer satisfaction scores and was the first hotel to receive Motorola's Service Excellence Award. In 1996, she was awarded Marriott's Regional Manager Leadership Award for overseeing 45 Courtyard by Marriott hotels in four states as regional manager. Two years later at Marriott's corporate headquarters in Washington, D.C., she was named the first female vice president of franchising. As the primary liaison between franchisees and Marriott internal teams, Bilinski opened more than 100 Courtyard by Marriott hotels in the U.S. and Canada...Adam Burke has been named senior vice president and managing director-Hilton HHonors Worldwide, effective immediately. Previously, Burke served as vice president-marketing, North America, for Hilton HHonors Worldwide (HHW), a position he has held since June 2001. HHW, jointly owned by Hilton Hotels Corporation and Hilton Group, PLC, operates the Hilton HHonors guest loyalty program. In his new role, Burke will be responsible for the worldwide marketing and operations of the HHonors program. Reporting to the HHW Management Committee, he heads up the HHW Executive Committee, and is a member of the Hilton Hotels Corporation Brand Integration and Distribution Strategy Councils. Burke assumed his new role after Jeffrey Diskin was named senior vice president-Hilton brand management for Hilton Hotels Corporation. Previously, Diskin headed up HHW, a position he held since 1997. Robert Dirks, who served as senior vice president of the Hilton brand for Hilton Hotels Corporation since 2000, now serves as senior vice president-sales strategy and development for Hilton Sales Worldwide. Burke began his professional career in 1988 as a research associate with Deloitte & Touche. In 1992, he joined Hilton in marketing systems, where he managed the company's guest history database. Later that year, he moved to marketing planning and administration as a marketing analyst and, in 1993, was promoted to manager-target marketing. From 1994 to 1995, he served as manager-leisure and resort marketing, joining HHW as manager-member acquisition in August 1995. Subsequent positions held for HHW include assistant director-business programs; director-business programs; and senior director of marketing-North America...The Madison in Washington, D.C., named Axel Suray as general manager of the 353-room property as it approaches its one year reopening date, after undergoing a 10-month, $40 million restoration. Suray comes to The Madison with more than 30 years' experience in the hospitality industry. He has served as general manager of a number of luxury hotels, including the Westins in Denver, Singapore, Pittsburgh, as well as The Williamsburg Inn in Williamsburg, Va. Most recently he was general manager of Interstate Hotels & Resorts in San Jose, Calif., where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of The Wyndham and the Crowne Plaza hotels...Julie Brandon has been named area director of sales and marketing for Hilton Hotels in Boston. Brandon most recently served as regional director of business travel sales for Hilton and Doubletree hotels of Boston. She will be responsible for developing and executing a sales and marketing strategy for the Hilton Boston Back Bay and the Hilton Boston Logan Airport, and will also continue to supervise the business travel sales team for the area's Hilton and Doubletree hotels. Her hospitality career includes more than 12 years of experience in hotel sales, marketing, and operations. She began her career as a rooms division assistant with the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston, where she coordinated celebrity guest functions and special projects. She later joined the Guest Quarters Suite Hotel Boston, where she became the sales and marketing associate. In August 1994, she became the assistant manager of banquets and restaurant at the Drumlins Country Club in Dewitt, N.Y., and in 1996 joined the Westin Hotel Waltham-Boston in Waltham, Mass., as the corporate sales manager, where she managed corporate and consortia accounts. She moved on to become the senior manager of business travel sales for the Omni Parker House in Boston in 1997, where she was responsible for the worldwide transient account base. She joined Hilton in April 2000, when she was hired as the director of business travel sales for both the Hilton Boston Back Bay and the Hilton Boston Logan Airport... Hotel Sari Pan Pacific Jakarta named Christo Diamandopoulos as the general manager replacing E.J Mac Ewan III, who has been relocated to Pan Pacific Kuala Lumpur. Diamandopoulos was most recently the general manager of Pan Pacific Kuala Lumpur for six years and held similar position in Pan Pacific Resort Pangkor Island (currently known as Pangkor Island Beach Resort). With 30 years experience in the hospitality industry, he served as general manager of the Kooralbyn Hotel Resort in Queensland, Australia...The Millennium Broadway Hotel, New York, has boosted its operations, sales and conference staff with the addition of Ted McCallum as executive director overseeing management of the hotel's conference center, and Thomas Scudero as director of property operations, responsible for day-to-day maintenance of the hotel's engineering department and controlling maintenance and service contracts. McCallum is a 30-year veteran of the hospitality industry with experience in restaurant, hotel, and conference center management. Prior to joining the Millennium Broadway, McCallum was managing director for the Shaner Hotel Group, where he was responsible for developing and implementing business plans for the group's conference centers. He also has served as general manager with Dolce International and Harrison Conference Centers. Scudero previously was director of engineering for the Regent Wall Street, which closed earlier this year, where he oversaw the daily operations of the engineering department and maintenance and service contracts. He also served as director of engineering for the New York Palace Hotel and watch engineer for the Roosevelt Hotel in New York....Sun International Hotels, Southern Africa's premier luxury hotel company, which owns the Palace of the Lost City at Sun City, promoted Rhys Thomas to regional sales manager-East Coast U.S.A. In his new role, Thomas will be responsible for marketing Sun International's properties, managing existing business relationships and building new accounts on the East Coast, as well as Mexico and Central America. Thomas joined Sun International in 1998 and was quickly promoted to account executive the following year. During this time, he became an integral part of the company's sales and marketing team and gained invaluable experience working with both the leisure travel market and meetings and incentives groupsÖThe Kamalame Cay, an exclusive private island in the Bahamas off the coast of Andros, and Point Management, the company that manages Compass Point in Nassau, have appointed Lori Gedon as director of sales. Gedon has more than two decades of experience in Bahamian and Caribbean hotel sales and marketing, and was previously director of sales for Sans Souci Resort & Spa in Jamaica. TRAVEL AGENCIES: Cruise Holidays named cruise-industry veteran Dan Chappelle as director of operations and franchise Relations. Chappelle, whose 15-year industry career includes cruise agency ownership and management, will be responsible for Cruise Holidays' store retention, CHIStores.com extranet site, technology and business development services. He will also serve as the primary liaison between Cruise Holidays store owners and the management team. For several years, Chappelle owned and operated The Cruise Shoppe of Austin, Texas, developing the organization from the ground up into one of the larger independent cruise sales organizations in the U.S. In addition to serving as the agency's president, he developed training programs and oversaw marketing, sales and business development. Cruise Holidays, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2004, is one of North America's largest cruise-specialty travel agency chains. Founded in 1984, the company was acquired in 2001 by Carlson Travel Group, Inc., one of the world's largest travel franchisers.
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