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The Travel Career Connexxions Opportunities Newsletter
08/31/04 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 Announces New Agreement 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 8/31/04 there are 105 executive-level travel jobs published in the Travel Career Connexxions employment report. Positions include Vice President of Sales (8/23), Director Financial Services (8/30), Director of Sales (8/30), Reg. Director of Operations (8/19), Director of Flight Operations (8/17), 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 Signs with The Travel Institute Travel Career Connexxions, Inc., the travel industry's first executive-centric travel jobs and career development site, and publisher of this newsletter, announced an agreement with The Travel Institute, the premier provider of travel industry education and professional certifications. The reciprocal agreement provides The Travel Institute with an automated travel jobs listing system for travel job openings and career opportunities. "This is an alliance that really makes sense, and will enhance the growth of both organizations," said Matt Garton, president of Travel Career Connexxions. "The Travel Institute provides opportunities for travel industry professionals to assess their current level of knowledge and skill, and meet their career goals through valuable course work, testing and certification. This industry is rapidly changing and many of our executives are looking for opportunities in other segments and disciplines within the travel industry. By providing them the opportunity to augment their experience with meaningful education, they are able to more easily make the career change they desire." In the very near future, Travel Career Connexxions will provide online coursework from The Travel Institute at www.travelexecutive.com to help travel managers and executives better understand and ultimately land the travel job of their dreams. "I'm encouraging each of our members to take advantage of this important resource," said Garton. This information will be available for download and purchase from the Travel Career Connexxions web site, www.travelexecutive.com. In addition, The Travel Institute now offers the Travel Career Connexxions automated travel jobs listing service on its web site at www.thetravelinstitute.com. This service allows web site visitors to view industry position openings free of charge and provides them with 20 percent off Travel Career Connexxions subscriptions. "Our relationship with Travel Career Connexxions underscores our dedication to travel career development and reinforces our role as standard-bearer for professional education," said David Preece, president and CEO of The Travel Institute. Earlier this month, Travel Career Connexxions also signed a reciprocal agreement with the Association of Travel Marketing Executives (ATME) that provides an automated job listing system for travel job openings and career opportunities on ATME's web site at www.atme.org and newsletter. Cruise Industry's Economic Impact Topped $25 Billion in 2003 The cruise industry is having an increasingly important effect on the nation's economy, as well as job creation. A new survey commissioned by the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL), has found that, despite a war in Iraq and a weak economy at home, the North American cruise industry continued to be a growing business in 2003, generating a total U.S. economic impact of $25.4 billion and more than 295,000 jobs. According to the annual study by Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA), the cruise industry increased its total economic impact on the U.S. economy by 11.4 percent over 2002, while making significant contributions to the economies of individual states. Since 2000, North American cruise lines have added more than 20 ships and over 50,000 lower berths to their fleets. Passenger traffic increased over that period by 1.8 million to 9.8 million global passengers, while industry and passenger spending in the United States rose from $10.3 billion in 2000 to $12.9 billion in 2003, a 25 percent gain. Cruise line growth in smaller markets also spurred increased economic growth. Cruise lines now offer more cruises in ports in major coastal cities close to large population centers, known as "drive-to" markets. Ports such as Galveston, New Orleans and Seattle experienced significant growth, becoming major homeports and among the nation's top ten cruise ports. Cruise line and passenger direct spending totaled $12.9 billion in 2003, a 25 percent increase over 2000. Economic benefits of direct spending arose from spending by cruise passengers and crew for goods and services, including travel and pre- and post-cruise vacation spending; employment of shore-side staff by cruise lines for headquarters, marketing and tour operations; cruise line expenditures for goods and services such as food and beverages, fuel, hotel supplies and equipment, navigation and communications equipment, etc.; cruise line expenditures for services at U.S. ports of embarkation and ports of call; cruise line expenditures for maintenance and repair of vessels, and capital spending for passenger terminals, office facilities and equipment. Cruise lines directly employed more than 29,000 U.S. residents and paid wages of $850 million. Including the indirect economic impacts, the spending of the cruise lines and their crew and passengers was responsible for the generation of 295,077 full and part-time jobs throughout the country, paying a total of $11.6 billion in wages and salaries. The cruise industry's economic impact extended to all 50 states. However, 80 percent of the total U.S. impacts were concentrated in 10 states, including Florida, California, New York, Alaska, Texas and Washington. For more information, visit www.iccl.org. AAA's Labor Day Forecast Shows Travel's Back Big Time A summer that brought record-high gas prices, as well as travel approaching pre-9/11 levels, will end with potentially record-high Labor Day holiday travel. AAA estimates that 34.1 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 2.2 percent increase from last year's 33.4 million travelers. Approximately 28.7 million travelers (84 percent of all holiday travelers) expect to go by motor vehicle, a 2 percent increase from the 28.1 million who drove a year ago. Another 3.9 million (11 percent) plan to travel by airplane, up 4.0 percent from the 3.7 million that flew last Labor Day. A projected 1.5 million vacationers (5 percent) will go by train, bus or other mode of transportation, about even with 2003's holiday weekend. The greatest number of Labor Day auto travelers will originate in the West with 7 million; followed by the Southeast, 6.8 million; Midwest, 5.5 million; Northeast, 4.9 million; and the Great Lakes, 4.5 million. The West is expected to produce the largest number of air travelers with 1.5 million; followed by the Southeast with 1.2 million; Northeast, 500,000; Great Lakes, 400,000; and Midwest, 300,000. Oceans and beaches top the list of preferred destinations this holiday with 26 percent of travel volume. Small towns and rural areas took a close second with 21 percent, followed by cities, 16 percent. Outdoor attractions rate high with lakes, 12 percent; mountains, 10 percent; and state/national parks, 4 percent. Theme/amusement parks at 3 percent rounded out the list, while another 5 percent responded with other and 3 percent said they didn't know. Hotel occupancy rates should remain high, as 40 percent of Labor Day travelers expect to stay at a hotel/motel. The other top choice is friends or relatives (33 percent) followed by camper/trailer/RV/tent (13 percent), cabin/condo (7 percent), bed and breakfast (1 percent), other (1 percent), no overnight stay (2 percent), and didn't know (3 percent). The Search Is On for New Hilton International CEO London-based Hilton Group reportedly has appointed new headhunters to find a new chief executive for its Hilton International hotel division. The post has been vacant for the past 18 months after the death of Anthony Harris, the former chief executive. Since then David Michels, the group's chief executive, has been running the hotel division on a temporary basis. The news is being reported as fresh evidence of the continuing recovery in hotel profits following three poor years for the industry. Michels had previously indicated he would appoint a new hotel boss only once the business improved. Hilton last week reported interim pre-tax profits of about £172 million, up from £110.5 million a year ago, thanks to strong performances from both parts of the company. Ladbrokes, the company's gambling arm, is expected to deliver a record result. On the other hand, while the hotel business has improved, the picture is more mixed, according to press reports, with healthy growth in the U.K. and the Middle East but sluggishness in the rest of Europe, in particular France and Sweden. Orlando Forecasts 6.7 Percent Boost in 2004 Visitation Want more evidence that the travel industry is back? Just take a look at the visitor numbers from one of America's largest playgrounds. The rebound in visitation to Orlando continues to gain momentum in 2004, with the number of visitors expected to hit 48 million by year's end, according the newly updated destination forecast commissioned by the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau. Combined domestic and international arrivals are expected to increase 6.7 percent in 2004 to 48 million visitors, 5.4 percent in 2005 to 50.6 million visitors and another 4.8 percent to 53 million visitors in 2006. International visitation is expected to increase 7.1 percent in 2004 to 2.5 million visitors, 7.4 percent in 2005 to 2.6 million visitors and 6.5 percent in 2006 to 2.8 million visitors. The projection for 2004 marks the first increase in international visitation since 2000. Orlando also welcomed nearly 45 million visitors in 2003--a 4.7 percent increase from 2002, setting an overall record for number of visitors to the Orlando area. Domestic visitors accounted for 42.68 million visitors, or 95 percent of total visitation. International visits totaled 2.3 million. Among domestic travelers, leisure visitation increased 4.8 percent to 33.1 million and visits from business travelers rose 6.5 percent to 9.6 million. The number of visitors in town to attend meetings and conventions remained unchanged at 3.5 million. California May Be on Track to Become Gaming Capital The gaming industry is booming. That's a given. But just where are those gaming jobs being created? The answer is that it isn't just in Las Vegas. In fact, California, a state that reportedly was once skeptical of the industry is in the midst of a gaming boom that could double casino revenue in the next few years. And that means the number of gaming related jobs in the state could also increase exponentially. According to gaming industry executives and analysts, California will almost surely pass Nevada as the nation's biggest gambling venue, which is ironic since for nearly 50 years- from 1933 through the mid-1980s--gaming remained limited in California. But that began changing in the 1980s, when a number of California cities approved card rooms in an effort to replace lost property tax revenue after the passing of Proposition 13. Ballot propositions in 1998 and 2000 successfully pitched Indian gaming as a road toward economic independence for Native American tribes. California now has more than 60,000 slot machines, the most lucrative game for any casino owner, and tribal casinos generate roughly $5 billion to $6 billion annually. In contrast, Nevada casinos have 220,000 slots and generates more than $9 billion in annual revenue. Moreover, Indian casinos, which are sprinkled throughout the state, are not likely ever to be concentrated in one area that would rival the Las Vegas Strip as a tourist attraction or gambling center. Still, the growth in California gambling is sure to continue. For example, Steve Wynn, who built the Mirage and Bellagio in Las Vegas, is a potential investor in a proposed Indian-owned casino in Garden Grove near Disneyland. Meanwhile, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is seeking new money to boost the state's treasury, already has opened the way for substantial casino expansion. Schwarzenegger has scrapped a limit imposed by his predecessor, Gov. Gray Davis that held Indian casinos to 2,000 slot machines or fewer. Currently, 16 tribes have casinos with 2,000 slots. Schwarzenegger has been authorizing tribes to add as many slots as the market will bear, so long as they promise to pay the state up to 25 percent of the profit. No one really knows how much the market will bear, but economists who have studied the matter, and gambling companies that want to invest money, agree that California is nowhere close to saturated. And unlike Nevada, which relies primarily on tourists from other states, California has a huge population of its own for casinos to serve. Already, Nevada casinos, particularly those in Reno, have been losing customers to California. Last week California gambling took another step, when Schwarzenegger signed agreements with five tribes, four of which currently have no casinos in the state, allowing them to begin gaming activities. Once those tribes open their casinos, the state will have 58, up from 54. Other projects being planned include new development for the area around Thunder Valley. In its first year of operation, Thunder Valley, in the town of Lincoln, 30 miles east of Sacramento, had 1,900 slot machines and earned more than $340 million, more than any casino in the state. Station Casinos, which operates Thunder Valley, also has contracts to help three other tribes open casinos outside Fresno, near the college town of Chico and in the Sonoma County wine region north of San Francisco. So if you're looking for an up-and-coming job market, California's casino gaming industry may hold all the chips. Former Orbitz Exec Launches a New GDS Company For years, industry wags claimed no one had the resources to fully develop another central reservations system (CRS), what is now known as a GDS (or global distribution system). The big four-now known as Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre and Worldspan-seemed to have a lock on the market. But when the U.S. Department of Transportation declined to renew the so-called CRS Rule, a regulatory measure that determined how the market would function, and produced barriers to entry, all bets were off. Chicago-based G2 SwitchWorks Corp., a new company founded by Alex Zoghlin, former chief technology office of Orbitz, just signed letters of intent with seven airlines, including Alaska Air, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways, to develop a new travel distribution network called TRUEconnect. The new network is aimed at lowering industry distribution costs while enabling travel agencies to streamline their workflows and reap significant cost savings. These airlines represent approximately 80 percent of total third party or agency sales volume. TRUEconnect will enable participating airlines to distribute content to key travel sellers at a price point that is a fraction of the cost of existing GDSs. G2 is focused on introducing new technologies to service agencies and travel sellers. TRUEconnect offers comprehensive and unbiased shopping capabilities for over 450 airlines, using robust availability and pricing technology from ITA Software, the world's leading airfare search engine; industry leading public content, sophisticated private faring capabilities and complete reservation services for partner airlines; fully automated electronic ticketing, interline e-ticketing and paper ticketing capabilities that retain an agency's ARC identity and allow full and complete customer servicing support; complete integration into agency mid-office and back office systems. G2 offers no-cost integration services to high-volume partner agencies and travel sellers, providing a completely integrated end-to-end solution. It will also provide support technology such as transaction switching, called TRUEswitch, and "Super PNR" logic, if needed, to agency customers. TRUEswitch and Super PNR functionality allow travel sellers to take control of their content and decide where travel transactions should be routed based upon their business logic. So if your expertise is in travel technology, you just might want to have a talk with Alex Zoghlin. For more information, visit www.g2switchworks.com. Online Veterans Join Kayak to Launch Travel Search Engine Top travel technology experts never leave the industry; they just start new travel software firms. That seems to be the case for Kayak Software, based in Norwalk, Conn., which reportedly plans to launch a new air, car and hotel search engine, described as "Google meets Amazon," this fall. Its management team reportedly includes Terry Jones, founder of Travelocity, as chairman; Steve Hafner, Kayak's chief executive officer, who been executive vice president of consumer travel at Orbitz; and Greg Slyngstad, a director of the company, who was senior vice president of destinations and lodging at Expedia.com. Drew Patterson, who heads up Kayak's business development, was director of pricing, distribution, and e-commerce for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where he oversaw the formation of Travelweb. Kayak's search engine is said to be more comprehensive than other contenders in the field. Search results will show any given flight only once, but customers who choose a specific flight can decide where they want to buy it. If they are loyal to a certain online site, such as Orbitz, they can buy it there. If they want frequent flyer miles, they can buy it on an airline's site. Kayak intends to add special content and personalization components over time. For more information and a preview of the product, register at www.kayak.com. Starwood Expands With First Asian W Hotel in Korea Every week in this space, Starwood seems to be opening another W Hotel. Indeed, the W chain is one of the hottest brands around these days. Last week W officially entered the Asian market with the opening of the W Seoul-Walkerhill. Located on the slopes of Mount Acha in the resort district of Walkerhill, this 19th W property is the first to offer customized guestrooms by color and scent, three distinctive restaurants and one of the most extensive spa facilities in Asia. W Seoul-Walkerhill in South Korea is W's third location outside of the United States, following Sydney, Australia and Mexico City. Starwood operates more than 90 hotels in Asia Pacific. Foxwoods Resort Connecticut Just Keeps Expanding California may be a booming market for Native American gaming (see item above), but that doesn't mean one of the first successful Indian gaming resort is standing still. Foxwoods Resort Casino, as part of a $300 million expansion, has opened the newly expanded Rainmaker Casino and Hard Rock Cafe, one of the world's most recognizable brands known for dining, rock music, memorabilia and entertainment. The renovated Foxwoods features a new seven-story, 2,100-space parking garage with direct access to the new Rainmaker Casino. That casino has 750 new slot machines, bringing Foxwoods' total to more than 7,400 slot machines on property. The Foxwoods expansion also features new food & beverage and retail options, including the Carnegie Deli and Nathan's. New shops with name brand items include Kenneth Cole, Burberry, Dior, Gucci, Movado, TAG Heuer, Maxx NY, Reebok and Sony. The 36-hole Lake of Isles golf course, designed by Rees Jones and including a 50,000-square-foot clubhouse, will be ready next spring. So if you want to join a resort company that just seems to keep growing-and one that just reorganized its executive team (see item below), think Foxwoods. Find a Weekly Summary of Top Travel News in The Travel Pulse Want a weekly online summary of the top news from the entire travel industry? Try The Travel Pulse, at www.thetravelpulse.com. This Web site and e-mail newsletter scans news in all the industry segments every week, then e-mails a newsletter to subscribers every Monday. The electronic publication features top stories and trends, news and products, plus a weekly column of commentary by James Shillinglaw, CTC, winner of ASTA's travel journalist of the year in 2003. There's a summary of top news from the cruise industry, hotels and resorts, tours & packages, travel agents, travel technology, airlines, destinations and more. There are also top offers from all supplier segments. In addition, there are direct links on nearly every news item to the companies making the news, in case you want even more information. To get an e-mailed copy of The Travel Pulse each week, visit www.thetravelpulse.com and fill out the subscriber form. Best of all, it's free--at least for now--so get your copy now! OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS! CAR RENTALS: Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. (DTG) said Peter Guptill, executive vice president-international, intends to retire on Sept. 13, following more than 10 years of service to the company. Yves Boyer, who has been serving as executive vice president for DTG's Canadian operations, will succeed Guptill. Guptill, 62, joined the company in 1993 as president of Dollar Rent A Car's Florida operations. In January 1995 he was also named general manager of Dollar's International Division in addition to his other responsibilities. Before joining Dollar, he had a distinguished career in the automotive industry, including serving as group vice president-sales and marketing for American Motors, where he was instrumental in developing the strength of the Jeep brand. In addition, Guptill was senior vice president of Motors Management Corporation, a multi-dealership organization, and executive vice president, general operations manager of Southeast Toyota Distributors, Inc. Guptill is a member of the State of Florida Commission on Tourism and a member of the board of directors of the Travel Industry Association of America. CRUISE LINES: Richard Vogel resigned as vice president-marketing and sales at Seetours, the German branch of Carnival Corp. and plc, effective immediately. Seetours President Michael Thamm confirmed the news last week to German media. A replacement will be hired by year's end. No reason was given for Vogel's resignation, but Seatrade's online newsletter speculates the move could be related to an effort to increase efficiencies by concentrating Seetours operations in the Rostock head office. The marketing and sales department is located in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt. Vogel has led the company's marketing effort since 1996, and has been the main initiator of the AIDA Club cruise concept, establishing what has emerged as the leading product on the German market, with approximately 500,000 passengers sailing on the AIDA fleet during the last nine years. HOTELS & RESORTS: The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA), operator of the gaming and entertainment complex located near Uncasville, Conn., known as Mohegan Sun, has reorganized the top management of its Mohegan Sun casino operation. William Velardo, currently CEO under the Authority, will continue in that position, but will be ceding ongoing management of Mohegan Sun to Mitchell Grossinger Etess, who will become president and CEO of Mohegan Sun. Etess has been serving as Mohegan Sun's executive vice president of marketing since 2000. Jeffrey Hartmann, currently executive vice president and chief financial officer of the Authority, will become executive vice president and chief operating officer of Mohegan Sun. Leo Chupaska, currently chief financial officer for the Mohegan Tribe, has been named to replace Hartmann as CFO of the Authority. The Authority is also increasing its management capability to oversee its growing investments and operations outside Connecticut. Paul Brody, currently director of corporate development for the Authority, has been named vice president of corporate development, and that department will be expanded. In the past year, the Mohegan Tribe and the Authority announced partnerships to develop two proposed casinos outside Connecticut, one with the Menominee Indian Tribe in Kenosha, Wis., and more recently with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe of southwest Washington state. In Wisconsin, the Mohegan Tribe will serve as lender to the development company and be a member of the development board directing the Menominee casino project. In Clark County, Washington, the Authority has entered into a joint venture which is currently negotiating for the rights to develop and/or manage a new casino that will be owned and operated by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Velardo brings 28 years of experience in the gaming industry to his post as CEO of MTGA. Velardo was hired by the Authority in October 1995 as executive vice president and general manager to plan for the opening of Mohegan Sun in 1996, and was promoted to CEO in January 2000. Grossinger Etess joined the Authority as a member of the casino's pre-opening team in 1996 and was responsible for marketing, food and beverage, entertainment and hotel operations. Prior to his position at the Authority, he served as vice president of marketing at Players Island Resort/Casino/Spa in Nevada. From 1988 to 1994, he was employed at Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, rising through the ranks from public relations manager to senior vice president of marketing. Hartmann, currently executive vice president of finance and CFO of the Authority, has been with the Authority since December 1996. In his current position, he is responsible for day-to-day accounting, financial reporting to the Securities Exchange Commission, and bondholder and banking relations. In addition, he oversees Mohegan Sun's information systems, as well as its table games, slots, keno and Race Book. Hartmann has 13 years of experience in the casino and hotel industry. Prior to joining the Authority, he served as vice president of finance for Foxwoods Management Company from August 1991 to December 1996. Chupaska, chief financial officer for the Mohegan Tribe, has been with the Tribe since September 1996. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of financial operations at the Tribe, as well as all financial reporting, information systems management, purchasing and asset management, and bondholder and banking relations. He is also a member of the Financial Advisory Group of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority's Audit Committee. Prior to joining the Mohegan Tribe, he served as director of financial services for Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London, Conn. The Authority is an instrumentality of the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, a federally recognized Indian tribe with an approximately 405-acre reservation situated in southeastern Connecticut, adjacent to Uncasville, Conn. The Authority has been granted the exclusive power to conduct and regulate gaming activities on the existing reservation of the Tribe, including the operation of Mohegan Sun...Hawthorn Suites, the extended stay all-suites chain, named a new development team dedicated solely to providing a solid foundation for the brand to strengthen its network and add a significant number of new hotels over the next few years. US Franchise Systems, Inc. (USFS) is the parent company of the franchisor of the Hawthorn Suites brand. Since USFS acquired the brand in 1998, it has grown to 114 hotels open or under construction, as of June 30, 2004. Hawthorn Suites hopes to at least double that number over the next five years, and is seeking qualified developers who possess the knowledge and capability to build and operate in the upper tier of extended stay. In order to maximize efforts, the new sales team has organized into one division dedicated to selling Hawthorn Suites and to complementing the brand's operations, training, national sales and direct sales departments. The development team initially consists of four seasoned sales professionals. Over the next six months, two more members will be added. Bill Bradford, a 16-year hotel industry veteran, has spent the past eight years with USFS, primarily focusing on Hawthorn Suites franchise sales. Formerly, he held positions with Choice Hotels International, Days Inns of America and Holiday Inn Worldwide. Michael Brown, an eight-year veteran of the hospitality industry, was formerly vice president of franchise sales and development for Value Place Hotel Company. He has held senior franchise sales positions with Candlewood Hotel Company and Cendant Corporation. Robin Eberhart joined USFS in 2001 and has extensive experience in the hospitality and real estate industries. Her 15-plus years of experience includes development and financial positions with such prominent hotel franchising companies as Days Inns of America, Choice Hotels International and Promus Hotel Corp. Matt Lohlein, with 10 years of hotel development experience, recently rejoined USFS and has held franchise development positions with Cendant Corporation and Super 8 Motels... Mandarin Oriental has appointed Michael Ziemer as general manager of the luxury hotel group's Mandarin Oriental, Munich. Ziemer assumes his new position from his previous post as resident manager of the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong. Beginning his hotel career in 1984, he brings more than 19 years experience to the Group, which includes senior management positions in hotels in Saudi Arabia, Germany, Australia and Hong Kong. Prior to joining Mandarin Oriental in 2003, Ziemer was hotel manager of the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong. Ziemer replaces Christoph Mares, who has been appointed general manager of Mandarin Oriental's Paris property, Hotel Royal Monceau...Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. appointed Gerald Barrack as general manager for the Hilton Hotel Parsippany, N.J. Barrack, a native of New Zealand who has 20 years of hospitality and management experience, previously worked with Crestline Hotels & Resorts in Wichita, Kan. Barrack re-joins Crestline from Hyatt Hotels, where he was the general manager of the Hyatt Regency, Wichita since 1999. Prior to that position, he was the resident manager at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott in Norfolk, Va., a former Crestline-managed hotel. He began his hospitality industry career in his native New Zealand as a management trainee at the Regent of Auckland. He also worked in Hawaii and Australia, as well as various other positions with leading hotels on the mainland U.S....Crestline Hotels & Resorts also promoted Craig Hillyard to general manager for the Crowne Plaza Ravinia in Atlanta. Hillyard is a senior executive with over 20 years of hospitality experience and expertise in profit improvement, operations, asset management, strategic planning, revenue management and team development. He has a proven track record with Crestline at the Atlanta Marriott Gwinnett Place, where he was general manager since 2000. Hillyard has been with Crestline since 2000 as general manager of the Atlanta Marriott Gwinnett Place. Prior to the Marriott, he was general manager for Starwood Hotels & Resorts at the Westin Atlanta North and the Sheraton Colony Square Hotel, both located in Atlanta. Prior to moving to Atlanta, he was a general manager with Interstate Hotels Corporation at the Valley Forge Marriott Suites in Pennsylvania. Hillyard began his hospitality career with ITT-Sheraton Corporation in 1982. TRAVEL AGENCIES: Robin Schleien, president of Carlson Wagonlit Travel in North America, is leaving the company in October. Hubert Joly, president and CEO of CWT Worldwide, and Jack O'Neill, chief operating officer of CWT in North America, will assume Schleien's duties. O'Neill joined CWT's management team in May, when CWT purchased Maritz Corporate Travel, a St. Louis-based agency. O'Neill had been president of corporate travel at Maritz. Joly replaced Herve Gourio, who retired as head of CWT Worldwide in July. Schleien joined CWT in 1992 and was appointed president of North America in 2000. TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY: SideStep, a traveler's search engine (www.sidestep.com), said Jim Price has joined the company as vice president-ground transportation. In his new role, Price will focus on expanding and deepening global relationships with companies within the rental car, ground transportation services and rail sectors. Prior to SideStep, Price served as vice president of business development for the Western Region of Carlson Wagonlit Travel. He also spent more than 10 years in sales management, product management and global business development at National Car Rental System, Inc. In his most recent role as global director of accounts, he managed a group of 110 sales representatives and increased the value of his territory by 28 percent. SideStep was named Silicon Valley's third fastest growing private company in October 2003 by PricewaterhouseCoopers and The Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal...Amadeus, in order to optimize the Amadeus Airline IT (AltÈa) offering of customer management systems for airlines, has made the following appointments: Hans Jorgensen, currently vice president-airline business group, has been appointed to a new position as vice president-strategic airline and partner programs. FrÈdÈric Spagnou, currently vice president-marketing, will replace Jorgensen, as vice president-airline business group. Ian Wheeler, currently managing director of e-travel, the e-commerce business unit of Amadeus, will replace Spagnou, as vice president-marketing and will also continue to manage e-travel until a successor is appointed. These changes will be effective as Sept. 1.
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