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The Travel Career Connexxions Opportunities Newsletter
08/24/04 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:
New Casino Resorts Produce Growing Number of Jobs 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 8/24/04 there are 108 executive-level travel jobs published in the Travel Career Connexxions employment report. Positions include Vice President of Sales (8/23), Finance Director (8/19), Creative Director (8/23), VP of Operations (8/09), Vice President Field Sales & Marketing Support (8/06), 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 New Casino Resorts Produce Growing Number of Jobs Just how many jobs are being created by the booming casino gaming industry? New casino resorts seem to be opening almost every month these days, and each property generates hundreds, if not thousands of jobs. For example, the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon, Calif., which is scheduled to open in December 2004, has roughly 1,000 job openings. These posts aren't necessarily the top executive spots, although there are certainly a few of those open, but nearly 3,000 people reportedly applied for jobs within the first two days of the casino's job fair, held August 16, 17 and 21. Two hundred people were offered positions on the spot and up to 150 people will be offered positions within the coming weeks. Merrick Dresnin, director of human resources at the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, emphasizes that there are still many positions left. Morongo says it offers industry competitive salaries with benefits packages that include 100 percent coverage of individual health, vision and dental care. Morongo has planned a second job fair on Sept. 13-14. Marriott, Worldspan Top List of Travel Companies in IT So you're an information technology professional interested in getting a top job at one of the best travel companies for your field. According to CIO Magazine, you can do no better than Marriott International and Worldspan. CIO magazine just named Marriott to its CIO 100 list for a fifth time. Washington, D.C.-based Marriott is the only lodging company on this year's list. The CIO award recognizes organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology. In fact, in the last year Marriott has been honored by several leading publications for its innovative use of technology to create business value and a positive work environment for its IT professionals. It has been recognized by Computerworld as a top 100 "Best Place to Work in Information Technology" and named in InformationWeek's Top 500 list. Separately, Atlanta-based Worldspan was chosen by CIO Magazine, as another winner of the CIO 100 Award. Worldspan is a leader in travel technology services for travel suppliers, travel agencies, e-commerce sites and corporations worldwide. Utilizing some of the fastest, most flexible and efficient networks and computing technologies, Worldspan provides comprehensive electronic data services linking approximately 800 travel suppliers around the world to a global customer base. It also offers industry-leading fares and pricing technology, such as Worldspan e-Pricing, hosting solutions and customized travel products. Alaska Air Set to Eliminate 9% of Management Posts If you're looking for a top airline job, Alaska Airlines might not be the best place right now. The airline last week began offering a voluntary severance package to management employees as a precursor to a reorganization that will eliminate about nine percent of its management positions between now and spring 2005. Alaska said it anticipates a reduction of up to 150 employees, resulting in permanent annual savings ranging between $5 and $10 million. "The reasons for the reorganization are to speed decision-making and to improve communication and accountability," said CEO Bill Ayer in a memo to all management employees. Ayer said the aim is to improve execution by eliminating some of the layers of management that served the airline well in a different era, but now must meet a tougher standard in view of the changes and challenges facing the industry. Ayer said an outline of the overall management restructuring has been mapped out. It will be adjusted in September prior to implementation depending upon how many management employees voluntarily choose to leave. "We recognize the key role that employees have played over the years and, for those who leave, we want to make the transition as smooth as possible," Ayer said. "So we've crafted a generous severance package, one that compares favorably to any offered since 9/11 triggered 100,000 layoffs at other airlines." The voluntary program is being offered to all management personnel. Acceptance of applications, as well as the timing of the departure of personnel, will be based upon the needs of the company's operations. The program features two weeks of pay for each year of service; a bonus of between $3,000 and $15,000 depending on length of service; one year of healthcare coverage; and travel benefits for the employee and eligible dependents. Blackstone Group Buys Prime Hospitality for $790 Million Changes in top jobs could be afoot at Prime Hospitality Corp., after the company signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by affiliates of The Blackstone Group for a total value of more than $790 million. Prime controls three hotel brands--AmeriSuites, Wellesley Inns & Suites and Prime Hotels and Resorts--operating and franchising 256 hotels with 33,605 rooms. Of these hotels; it also owns 112 hotels comprising 14,183 rooms. Then again, Blackstone Group is a private investment firm, so it could very well leave the current management team intact. Starwood Hotels May Tap Coke's Steven Heyer for CEO Post It's the job nearly everyone in the hotel industry is curious about. Press reports last week said Coca-Cola Co.'s president and chief operating officer, Steven Heyer, may be heading to Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide to become CEO. Heyer will leave Coke on Sept. 1 after missing out on the top chairman and CEO job in May. He reportedly has held talks with White Plains, N.Y.-based Starwood, but no agreement has been finalized. Starwood's current chairman and CEO, Barry Sternlicht, said earlier this year that he is seeking to relinquish the CEO job and step back from day-to-day operations. Starwood has been actively seeking a person to fill the post. Cunard's Move to California Impacts Executive Slots Earlier this summer Cunard Line, a unit of Carnival Corp., announced it would move from Miami to Santa Clarita, Calif., moving in with another Carnival unit, Princess Cruises. So how has that impending move affected Cunard's executive team and its employment picture? Christine Steinberg, Cunard's CFO and vice president-shoreside operations, has been put in charge of move, but intends to leave Cunard and reportedly move to Chicago, according to P&O Princess CEO Peter Ratcliffe, who will now oversee Cunard as well as Princess. Steinberg had been commuting to Miami from her Chicago home. Other senior executives who have chosen not to move to California are Helen Panagos, vice president-shoreside services and Larry Rapp, vice president-hotel operations. Meanwhile, Cunard President Pamela Conover, who also will not make the move, is taking on a new corporate role at Carnival Corp. in Miami, which means that Cunard is effectively without a president. Ratcliffe says he will fill the role for the time being, but he doesn't close the door on eventually seeking a new president. Meanwhile, Lee Robinson, vice president-sales of Cunard, is transferring to California to head sales and customer service, along with David Gevanthor, vice president of marketing and yield management. The reservations department will report to Robinson. More reservations staff will be hired. Overall some 70 Cunard positions are being offered in Santa Clarita, but Ratcliffe expects to recruit a significant percentage of the jobs locally. Cunard's Miami staff numbered 320. Palace Resorts Continues Expansion Plans in Mexico Palace Resorts just may be the biggest all-inclusive brand you've never heard of--and last week it unveiled plans to grow even bigger. Three of Palace Resorts' recently purchased resorts in Mexico have been renamed and will undergo extensive refurbishments and renovations to open on Christmas Eve. The new hotels are Playacar Palace, previously Hotel Continental Plaza Playacar; Cozumel Palace, formerly Hotel Plaza Las Glorias Cozumel; and Vallarta Palace, the former Hotel Sierra Nuevo Vallarta. Playacar Palace and Cozumel Palace close for renovations on Aug. 29 and will reopen on Dec. 24, 2004; Vallarta Palace will remain open during its renovation period. For more information, visit www.palaceresorts.com. Four Seasons Keeps Growing--This Time on the Nile You've seen reports of the incredible growth of luxury hotels and resorts in this space before. Nearly every week we run an item about the growth of the high-end lodging sector. This week is no different. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has opened the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza. The contemporary 366-room hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the city's elite Garden City district. The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, S.C., Officially Opens There's growth even in luxury resorts that aren't part of a larger chain. The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island officially opened its doors on 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 3,100-square-foot Presidential Suite. Ninety percent of the rooms have ocean views. For more information, visit www.thesanctuary.com. Best Western Adds 148 Hotels in First Half of 2004 Interested in a more mass-market chain that just keeps growing? Best Western International, the world's largest hotel company in terms of number of branded properties, said it added 148 hotels to its system globally in the first two quarters of 2004. At the close of the company's second fiscal quarter ending May 31, Best Western had 4,097 hotels and 309,293 rooms in 80 countries and territories. The company is on track to meet its development projections of adding a total of 300 hotels worldwide by the end of the year. In North America, the chain added 55 new properties and 4,062 rooms. Internationally, Best Western added 93 hotels with 5,463 rooms during the same time period. The brand also welcomed 31 new members in Australia. In Asia, Best Western added 12 new properties, including four in Thailand, three in China, two in Korea and one hotel each in India, Oman and the Philippines. France led the expansion efforts in Europe with 11 new hotels followed by Germany with eight hotels. San Remo Las Vegas Set to Rebrand as First Hooters Casino What exactly was Las Vegas lacking? Well, the answer is a Hooters casino resort. The venerable restaurant chain, which also has an airline, will open a new hotel in Las Vegas on the Strip in 2005. The world's first Hooters Casino Hotel will debut next year, following the recent sale and planned renovation of the 711-room Hotel San Remo on Tropicana Avenue just off the Strip. With a total project cost of $120 million, the renovated property will be positioned to compete across the demographic spectrum of visitors to Las Vegas. OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS! AIRLINES: Midwest Air Group, Inc. named Curtis Sawyer as senior vice president and chief financial officer effective Sept. 7. Sawyer will be responsible for business analysis, treasury, investor relations, tax, regulatory reporting, information technology, purchasing and other financial-related functions for Midwest Airlines and its Skyway Airlines subsidiary. He replaces Robert Bahlman, who has served as chief financial officer since 1996, and has announced his intention to resign as chief financial officer for family reasons. Sawyer is currently vice president and chief financial officer of Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines, operating as Northwest Airlink, a position he has held since 1997. He also served as director of aircraft transactions for Northwest Airlines from 1996 to 1997. Prior to joining Northwest, he was senior vice president, chief financial officer and controller for Lend Lease Trucks in Minneapolis, from 1993 to 1995; served as vice president of finance for Renaissance Cruises in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., from 1991 to 1993; and held a series of financial posts for Ryder System in Miami, from 1978 to 1991, and Xerox Corporation, in Rochester, N.Y., from 1975 to 1978...America West Airlines said Jim Walsh has been named senior vice president and general counsel. Walsh will oversee all legal affairs for the airline and will report directly to America West Chairman and CEO Doug Parker. Walsh, 56, has served as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for San Antonio-based Fairchild Dornier Corporation since 1991. From 1979 through 1991, he held a variety of positions with Dallas/Fort Worth-based American Airlines, including vice president, purchasing and inventory control and vice president-law. He was a member of the business law department at Bond, Schoeneck & King in Syracuse, N.Y., from 1973 through 1979...Alaska Airlines appointed Shannon Alberts as managing director-board and shareholder services, where she will be responsible for investor relations, corporate governance and the Alaska Air Group board of directors. A 19-year employee of the airline, Alberts was previously director of corporate affairs and assistant corporate secretary. Prior to joining Alaska Airlines, Alberts worked for Miller Electric, Inc. of Seattle and for the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle. HOTELS & RESORTS: Gaylord Entertainment Co. has appointed Colin Reed, president and chief executive officer, to the additional role of chairman of the board, effective at the next annual meeting to be held in May 2005. Reed will succeed Michael Rose, the current chairman of Gaylord, who will become chairman of the board's executive committee. Gaylord further announced that it has extended employment agreements for Reed and Rose through May 2008 and May 2009, respectively. Reed has been CEO of Gaylord since April 2001, and is largely credited with successfully re-directing and re-engaging Gaylord's business focus. During his tenure, the company has opened the Gaylord Palms in Orlando and the Gaylord Texan in Dallas, reoriented its service culture, recruited a top-tier management team, restructured its balance sheet and through the acquisition of ResortQuest, created a platform for growth and earnings. Rose has had a distinguished career in the hospitality business, having served as chairman and CEO for Promus Hotel Corporation, Harrah's Entertainment Inc. and Holiday Corporation. Gaylord Entertainment owns and operates three industry-leading brands--Gaylord Hotels, a network of upscale, meetings-focused resorts; ResortQuest International, the nation's largest vacation rental property management company; and the Grand Ole Opry, the weekly showcase of country music's finest performers for 78 consecutive years...Kerzner International Limited, a leading international developer and operator of destination resorts, casinos and luxury hotel properties, including Atlantis-Paradise Island in the Bahamas, promoted Alan Leibman to chief executive officer for the company's recently announced destination resort casino development, Mazagan, in El Jadida, Morocco. Nan Palmer will succeed Leibman as chief operating officer at Atlantis-Paradise Island. These promotions will become effective on Oct. 1, 2004. Leibman, who has an established background in the hotel and resort business, has been with Kerzner since 1995, and has served as chief operating officer of Atlantis-Paradise Island since June 1997. He was previously with Ritz Carlton, where he served as director of operations of the Ritz Carlton Group, Australia. Leibman will report directly to Kerzner International CEO Butch Kerzner, and will be responsible for working closely with the development team as the company plans the Mazagan resort, an estimated $230 million project that is expected to consist of a 600-room hotel, an 18-hole golf course, convention space, restaurants and a casino. Palmer was previously senior vice president of process re-engineering, responsible for improving the quality of service and customer satisfaction levels at Atlantis-Paradise Island. In her new role, she will report to Paul O'Neil, chief executive officer of Kerzner International Bahamas. Her experience includes more than 20 years in the hotel and resort industry, with posts at ITT Sheraton Hotels, including oversight throughout North America and management of the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz.... CSM Corporation, a diversified real estate development and acquisition company, said Jim Callaghan has joined CSM Lodging as regional vice president of hotel operations-Eastern Region, effective immediately. Callaghan previously served as general manager of Radisson's flagship property, the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, with additional responsibilities for Minnesuing Acres, an executive retreat owned by Carlson Companies, a position he held since 1997. In his new role with CSM, Callaghan will be responsible for the profitability, operations and food and beverage of sixteen hotels located in various markets from Minneapolis to Boston. Callaghan began his professional career in 1981 as a restaurant manager for Marriott International at the Marriott Twin Bridges Hotel. He also held food and beverage director positions with Holiday Inns and Registry Hotels. In 1985, he joined Radisson and served in various capacities including food and beverage director, corporate director of food and beverage, general manager and his most recent position as general manager of the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Minneapolis and Minnesuing Acres in Wisconsin. CSM Lodging is a division of CSM Corporation, which owns and operates 34 hotels nationwide under franchise agreements with Marriott, Hilton and Carlson... Busch Entertainment Corp. (BEC), the family entertainment subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., named new general managers for two of its three SeaWorld parks. Andrew Fichthorn, 43, executive vice president and general manager of SeaWorld San Antonio, will assume the same position at BEC's SeaWorld park in San Diego. Daniel Decker, 39, corporate director of operations and executive assistant to BEC President and Chairman Keith Kasen, will replace Fichthorn as executive vice-president and general manager at SeaWorld San Antonio. J. Dennis Burks, executive vice president and general manager of SeaWorld San Diego, is retiring after 30 years of service to BEC. Burks was corporate vice president of culinary operations before accepting the general manager position in San Diego in 2001. He started his BEC career in 1974 as vice president of food services at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fla. Fichthorn was previously BEC's corporate vice president of planning and development until moving to San Antonio in December 2002. Prior to joining BEC in 1996 he held a variety of finance positions with Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. Decker rejoined BEC in September 2002 after serving for almost 10 years as general manager of Grant's Farm, a family entertainment and zoological park in St. Louis operated by Anheuser-Busch. Prior to that, he held positions in human resources, park operations and food service at SeaWorld in San Diego. BEC operates nine U.S. theme parks: SeaWorld parks in Orlando, Fla., San Diego, Calif. and San Antonio Texas; Busch Gardens parks in Tampa, Fla. and Williamsburg, Va.; Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pa., near Philadelphia; Discovery Cove in Orlando; Adventure Island in Tampa and Water Country USA in Williamsburg. CAR RENTALS: Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. said Executive Vice President Yves Boyer has shifted responsibilities from heading up the company's Canadian operations to leadership of its International division. He replaces Peter Guptill, who retired after over 10 years of service at Dollar Thrifty. Boyer has been with the company since 1996, and will report to Scott Anderson, senior executive vice president-global marketing and franchise operations. The Canadian management team will now report directly to Jay Foley, senior executive vice president-corporate operations. Boyer has more than 25 years experience in the automotive industry, previously serving as executive vice president and general manager of Nissan Canada Inc., before joining Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group. DESTINATIONS: VisitBritain, the national tourist office for England, Scotland and Wales, named Rupert Peters as executive vice president, The Americas. Peters, based in New York City, will be responsible for VisitBritain's operations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and United States. He also will spearhead VisitBritain's business travel, consumer marketing and travel trade campaigns. Peters previously held several international managerial positions during his 18 years with VisitBritain. Most recently he served as regional manager in Sydney for the Australia and New Zealand markets. He also held positions in the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Finland...The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (CVC) has hired Lia Moore as director of national accounts, and Julie Henneberry and Kelly Hill as its new executive sales managers. As director of national accounts, Moore's primary focus is to develop business within the South/Southeast-based association groups and minority association clients. Henneberry and Hill will be responsible for developing new business by targeting the association, corporate and SMERF markets. Henneberry will focus on the mid-Atlantic region and Hill's territory consists of the West, Southwest, lower Midwest and Southeast regions.
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