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The Travel Career Connexxions Opportunities Newsletter
09/14/04 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:
The Travel Institute Unveils New Educational Programs 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 9/08/04 there are 101 executive-level travel jobs published in the Travel Career Connexxions employment report. Positions include Corporate Sales Director (9/13), Assistant Vice President of Corporate Communications (9/07), Director of Sales (9/02), Director Security Operations (9/08), Director Regional Sales (9/13), 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! The Travel Institute Unveils New Educational Programs The Travel Institute, the premier venue for travel professional education in the industry, just unveiled updated educational programs, pending revisions to its Certified Travel Counselor and Certified Travel Associate programs and a new Corporate Travel Industry Executive program. David Preece, The Travel Institute's president and CEO, said in the past year the Institute has changed its name (from the Institute for Certified Travel Agents), re-engaged the industry with a new platform, defined a new business strategy, repositioned its role, unveiled new educational products, and expanded its reach and relevancy by opening up to membership to the entire travel industry. By the end of this month the Institute also will unveil a new Certified Travel Industry Executive designation for industry professionals who are not travel agents. Candidates for the CTIE will need to have 10 years business experience, with at least five years in travel. The focus of the CTIE will be on planning, thinking, leadership, management and ethics, and a white paper will be required for the certification, as well as subsequent papers every three years for recertification. Revisions to the CTC and CTA programs will be implemented by the first quarter of 2005, including new curriculums and testing options. Finally, the Institute has unveiled or is in the process of introducing a number of new Destination and Lifestyle Specialist programs, including ones focused on Mexico, different European regions, Gay & Lesbian travel, and Spa Travel, among others. For more information, visit www.thetravelinstitute.com. Travelers' Internet Use Grows--But at Slower Pace The Web Internet continues to be one of the hottest growth areas in the travel industry. In its annual survey, the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) reported that travelers' use of the Internet to plan and book their trips continues to grow, though at a slower pace. Nearly 64 million online travelers--30 percent of the U.S. adult population--used the Internet in the past year to get travel and destination information. Of that group, 44.6 million actually booked at least one travel service or product online in the past year. The number of Americans using the Internet for travel planning remains stable at 63.8 million, reflecting slower growth in general Internet use among the traveling population. But the number of travelers who actually book airline tickets, hotel rooms and other travel services online continues to grow. TIA's new report shows that nearly 45 million people--nearly three-quarters of all online travel planners--booked travel over the Internet in the past year, up nearly 6 percent from one year ago. The number of online bookers doing all of their travel booking online continues to grow, with 40 percent now doing so, versus 29 percent a year ago. Airline tickets continued to be the most frequently purchased travel products online, reported by 82 percent of all online travel bookers, up from 75 percent in 2003. This was followed by accommodations at 67 percent and rental cars/RVs at 40 percent. Compared to a year ago, there was also growth in online travel bookers purchasing travel packages (16 percent vs. 12 percent) and tickets for tours or excursions (11 percent vs. 4 percent). Online travel bookers spent an average of $2,700 in online travel purchases in the past year, up from $2,600 the previous year. Delta to Lower Management Overhead Costs by 15% A weak employment picture for the nation's airlines just got a whole lot weaker. Delta Air Lines outlined key elements of a transformation plan intended to target more than $5 billion in annual cash savings by 2006. The plan would effectively downsize Delta's hub in Dallas and result in work force reduction of roughly 7,000 employees. The plan calls for lowering management overhead costs by 15 percent, and reducing pay and benefits; and creating an Employee Reward Program to include equity, profit sharing and performance-based incentive payouts. In addition, Delta's plan redesigns Delta's primary hub at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to add more flights than any airline has ever flown from any one city, while at the same time reducing congestion; growing Delta's Cincinnati and Salt Lake hubs by re-deploying aircraft currently used at Dallas/Ft. Worth; and adding 31 new nonstop flights to 19 additional destinations from the airline's focus cities of Boston; New York-JFK; Columbus, Ohio; and Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa, Florida. Delta CEO Gerald Grinstein said the further restructuring of Delta's employment costs is a "necessary but painful" part of the company's long-term viability and growth equation. The airline's employment costs continue to be higher than those of network and low cost carriers. Delta has called for approximately $1 billion in annual savings from its pilots, and the company and the pilots' union continue to meet in an effort to find mutually acceptable solutions. US Airways Files For Bankruptcy Protection The employment picture is no better at troubled US Airways. As predicted by some analysts, the airline filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday, Sept. 12. The move comes after the airline failed to win $800 million in concessions from its unions as part of a major cost-cutting effort. US Airways had filed for bankruptcy protection two years, ago, emerging late last year. The airline also received a $900 million guaranteed loan from the Air Transportation Stabilization Board (ATSB) two years ago. This time around, however, some airline analysts say US Airways may not be able to emerge intact from Chapter 11 a second time. They say the airline may eventually have to file for Chapter 7 liquidation. Other analysts say US Airways' bankruptcy protection filing puts it in much stronger position with its unions, which may be forced to succumb to the airline's cost-cutting demands. Either way, US Airways move is sure to affect employment prospects negatively, both for unionized workers and management. Alaska Airlines Set to Cut up to 900 Jobs Delta and US Airways aren't the only airlines with employment woes. Alaska Airlines last week said it will chop nearly 900 jobs and close its Oakland, Calif., maintenance facility as part of efforts to become more competitive against low-cost carriers and save up to $35 million annually. Alaska, which employs more than 11,000, last month cut 150 management positions. On Sept. 9, it announced plans to shed another 750 jobs. The cuts mark airline's first major layoffs since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Alaska Airlines CEO Bill Ayer attributed the cuts to competitive threats from low-cost airlines, high fuel prices and customer demand for cheap tickets. The cuts include 340 jobs at the Oakland maintenance base, which closed Sept. 9. Alaska also will close some maintenance and ground support operations, resulting in another 60 job cuts. The airline also is cutting 273 jobs in Seattle and various cities in Alaska because it will begin using contractors to clean airplanes between flights in those cities. Classic Custom Vacations Looks for a CEO Discount travel site Hotwire.com announced that Bob Hohman, currently president of IAC Travel's Classic Custom Vacations (CCV) business, will join the company as president, effective Oct. 1, 2004. Hotwire President and CEO Karl Peterson will continue in his current leadership role until Hohman joins the company in October, and will then assume an advisory role to the Hotwire executive management team. That means CCV is now on the hunt for a new president. Ron Letterman will continue in his role as CCV chairman and will assist in management of the company in the interim. Hohman will join Hotwire after serving as president of CCV, a full-service travel company that specializes in tailoring luxury vacation experiences. Hohman also spent seven years at Expedia, Inc., most recently as vice president of its Hotels & Packages Division. The Top Job in T&E Just Opened Up Looking for what is widely considered the top job in the travel and entertainment business? Walt Disney Company just might have opening for you. Last week Michael Eisner, Walt Disney Company's chief executive officer, said he would step down from his post when his contract ends in September 2006. In a letter to the board made public on Sept. 10, Eisner, now 62, announced his intention to step down after nearly two decades as chief executive of the entertainment and travel. Over the past year Eisner has been under intense pressure to resign from a group of Disney shareholders, including Roy Disney Jr., who were not satisfied with the company's performance or Eisner's succession plans. Disney also was faced with a hostile takeover bid by Comcast Corp. Under pressure, Disney's board in March had stripped Eisner of his chairman's post, giving the job to board member George Mitchell, and making Eisner chief executive. Last week Eisner also reportedly said he would favor being succeeded by long-time Disney number two Robert Eiger, president and chief operating officer. But you may have some other competition for the post. Entertainment industry analysts reportedly have named several other contenders for the post, including News Corp. Chief Operating Officer Peter Chernin; former Viacom Inc. President Mel Karmazin; Jeff Bewkes, chairman of Time Warner Inc.'s entertainment and networks group; eBay Inc. CEO Meg Whitman; Gap Inc. CEO Paul Pressler, who previously served as president of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts; Tom Freston, co-president of Viacom; Yahoo Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Terry Semel; and even Steve Jobs, chief executive of Pixar Animation Studios Inc. and Apple Computer. Travel Corporation Expands With Uniworld Buy Quick, what's the quickest growing tour operator company in the business? The answer might surprise you The Travel Corporation just purchased Uniworld, one of the largest river cruise operators, for an undisclosed sum. Based in Encino, Calif., Uniworld features cruises on the rivers of Europe, China, Russia, Australia and New Zealand, South America and the Adriatic. Travel Corporation's other brands include Trafalgar Tours, Insight Vacations and Contiki Holidays. Last year the company purchased a number former Far & Wide brands, including Swain Tours and African Travel. Uniworld, like all brands within the group, will continue to operate as an independent and autonomous company. Serba Ilich, who founded Uniworld in 1976, said purchase will allow Uniworld to continue to expand its operations. Ilich will remain with Uniworld as non-executive chairman, enabling him to pursue personal opportunities. Brian Stevenson, currently chief operating officer, will now take on the role of Uniworld president and chief executive officer, with responsibilities for day-to-day operations. Jon Baxter will be chief financial officer. Royal Caribbean Options Second Ultra Voyager The big just keep getting bigger. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. exercised its option to build a second Ultra Voyager ship at the Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Finland. Scheduled for delivery in the spring of 2007, the ship will be operated by the Royal Caribbean International brand. Like its prototype, which is due for delivery in the spring of 2006, the second Ultra Voyager will be roughly 15 percent larger than its Voyager-class counterpart. At 100 percent capacity, she will carry 3,600 guests and 1,400 crew.. Halekulani Hires a Real Mover & Shaker No, it may not really a top travel executive post in the classic sense, but it might be a whole lot more fun. Halekulani, Honolulu's luxury resort, has named master mixologist Dale DeGroff to the newly established role of director of beverage arts in residence. In his new position, DeGroff will oversee all aspects of beverage programs and service at Halekulani's three restaurants and lounge, and will introduce a new menu of unique signature cocktails and beverages created exclusively for Halekulani. Universally acknowledged as the world's premier mixologist, DeGroff developed his techniques and talent for over 20 years tending bar at some of the world's great establishments. The most notable of his positions was at New York City's Rainbow Room, where he pioneered a gourmet approach to recreating the great classic cocktails and invented over 400 of his own unique libations. Often referred to as the "King of Cocktails," DeGroff creates award-winning cocktail menus, develops innovative beverage programs, and has established himself as the leading authority and a much sought after expert in the beverage industry. He was recently named "Beverage Professional of the Year" by Bon Appetit Magazine. OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS! AIRLINES: United Airlines said that the two United Express groups--operational and business management--will be combined into a single organization, effective immediately. Sean Donohue will head the organization as vice president-United Express and Ted, United's low-cost subsidiary. Greg Kaldahl, director-United Express, and Cindy Szadokierski, managing director-United Express, will report to Donohue...Sun Country Airlines announced a new line-up in its marketing department today. Minneapolis marketing executive Wendy Williams Blackshaw has been named director of marketing for the airline. Williams Blackshaw will be responsible for all aspects of the airline's marketing activities. This will include all strategic oversight, advertising, public relations, corporate partnerships, events and web site initiatives. Prior to her appointment at Sun Country, Williams Blackshaw operated her own marketing consulting company. In addition to Sun Country Airlines, her clients included Simon Property Group, Skatewave, MN State High School League, University of Minnesota, Harley Davidson and Malt-o-Meal. Prior to that, she was director of marketing for Mall of America, where she spent more than six years developing one of the first retail sponsorship programs in the country as well as celebrity ad campaigns using stars such as model Rachel Hunter, Hall of Famer Paul Molitor and Minnesota natives Louis Andersen and Lonnie Anderson. Before working with the Mall of America, Williams Blackshaw held marketing positions with the Minnesota North Stars and Rollerblade. In another move, the airline promoted Molly Wolfgram to marketing manager. Wolfgram, a 10-year Sun Country employee, had been marketing assistant for the department. Wolfgram began her career at Sun Country in 1995 as a flight attendant. She moved into the marketing department in 2001 as an intern and in 2002 she was hired as a marketing assistant with responsibility for events and promotions. HOTELS & RESORTS: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide named Alisa Rosenberg as vice president-investor relations. Rosenberg will be responsible for developing and executing all aspects of Starwood's investor relations program targeted to shareholders, analysts and the investment community. She will report to Dan Gibson, the company's senior vice president of corporate affairs. Rosenberg brings to her new role 12 years of financial and risk related experience. Rosenberg has been with Starwood for six years and most recently served as the company's director of risk management in Phoenix, Ariz. Prior to joining Starwood in October 1998, Rosenberg worked in financial analysis roles at Pilgrim America Capital Corporation and Agency Services, Inc. Prior to those posts, she was with Ernst and Young LLP, where she began her career in 1992...Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts has hired Robert Green of MSS Marketing to help lead the sales and marketing efforts for Pan Pacific in North America. Green will be responsible for directing all sales and marketing activities including the reorganization of the current regional sales offices and the development of the Pan Pacific America brand. With over 20 years of hospitality marketing experience, Green is currently the owner of MSS Marketing, a firm specializing in marketing for the Hospitality Industry. His previous experience includes over 16 years with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, where he was director of sales and marketing for two of the companies AAA Five Diamond properties, in San Francisco and Half Moon Bay. Green also worked with Hyatt Hotels Corporation in sales and marketing positions at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale and Hyatt Hotels Palo Alto. Pan Pacific currently has 24 hotels (17 managed properties and 7 marketing affiliates) in 11 countries in Asia, the Pacific and North America...The Choctaw Resort Development Enterprise (CRDE), a business enterprise of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, which markets itself as the Pearl River Resort, announced a series of management changes with the departure of Jay Dorris from the Enterprise and the appointment of Sheila Martin as acting president and Kerry Smith as interim chief operating officer of gaming. Dorris was released from his employment contract on Sept. 3. Martin was promoted to acting president from her post as chief operating officer of gaming for Pearl River Resort. Smith was elevated to interim chief operating officer of gaming operations. The company is conducting a nationwide search for a new executive as soon as possible. Martin began her gaming career when gaming became legal in Indian Country. She worked at Lake of the Torches Bingo Hall as a floorwalker, but quickly moved up, serving as a bingo caller supervisor from 1993-94, promoted to hotel front desk supervisor then table games supervisor. She was then promoted to facility administrator for Lake of The Torches casino gaming operations, eventually becoming assistant general manager for the Lake of the Torches resort. She joined Pearl River Resort in 2001. Smith, a 24-year veteran of the casino industry, joined Pearl River Resort overseeing all slot operations after serving in a similar capacity overseeing slot departments at all three Trump Casinos Atlantic City properties. He has worked as a gaming consultant in Nevada and Oregon and was hired to direct the start up operations for casinos in Louisiana, Southern California and Colorado. He also served as senior vice president of casino operations for the resorts casino hotel, and vice president of design development for the Trump Organization. He also served as vice president of slot operations at Trumps Plaza/Worlds Fair Hotel Casino and director of slot operations for Circus Circus in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nev.... Victoria Dolan will join Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI), the vacation ownership division of Marriott International, Inc., as senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective mid-September. Dolan joins MVCI from her current role as senior vice president of finance for Marriott's international lodging division, a post she has held for the past four years. Prior to joining Marriott, she spent nine years at The Coca-Cola Company in numerous leadership positions that include chief financial officer and executive vice president for the Japan division and division finance director for the Central America and Caribbean division... Secured Diversified Investment, Ltd., a diversified real estate holding and financial services company, said that Louis Leon, formerly of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, has been appointed chief executive officer of the company. Leon has extensive experience with public corporations in the area of acquisition, financing, operations and management of hospitality properties. Before joining Secured Diversified Investment, he was the CFO of Starwood's St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Orange County, Calif. Leon was previously chief financial officer of Nakamichi America Corporation and Nakamichi Europe Ltd., subsidiaries of Nakamichi Corporation, Japan. Prior to his appointment at Nakamichi, he was the vice president of finance of the hotel division (Sutton Place Grande Hotels Group) with corporate offices located in Newport Beach, Calif. Sutton Place owns a group of four and five star luxury hotels located in Vancouver, Toronto, Chicago and Newport Beach, Calif. Secured Diversified Investment is a diversified real estate holding and financial services company that acquires, owns and manages office buildings, shopping centers, hotels, apartment buildings and self storage buildings...Accor Asia Pacific has announced four general manager appointments in China. Michel Molliet has been named general manager of Sofitel Xian. Molliet will also play a key role in Accor's extensive expansion in China. He has been with Accor for more than 17 years, working in a number of different countries including the Middle East, Asia and Pacific. He was previously general manager of the Sofitel Reef Casino in Cairns and area manager, Far North Queensland. Robert Atlee is the new general manager of Sofitel Silver Plaza Jinan. Atlee was general manager of the (former) Novotel Century Kuala Lumpur Hotel. Prior to that, he worked for Accor and Century International Hotels since 1994 in a number of countries including Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia. Gerhard Zimmer has been appointed general manager of Sofitel Jin Jiang Oriental Pudong in Shanghai. Zimmer has worked with Accor since 1992 when he was pre-opening general manager of Sofitel Hyland Shanghai. After working in the Philippines, he relocated back to China and assisted in the opening of several of Accor hotels there, most recently as general manager of Sofitel Boao Hotel on Hainan. Ole Nielsen has taken over as the new general manager of Sofitel Boao on Hainan Island. Nielsen has been with Accor for more than nine years, starting with the Novotel Brisbane and later moving on to The Philippines. Most recently he was general manager of Sofitel Raja Orchid Khon Kaen in Thailand....Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands named Sandra Grisham-Clothier as general manager. Grisham-Clothier replaces Jeff Humes, who moves to Peter Island's sister property, the Meridian Club in the Turks & Caicos. Grisham-Clothier formerly was resort manager at Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands. TRAVEL AGENCIES: Chris Mottershead, the head of U.K. business for German travel conglomerate TUI, reportedly resigned unexpectedly on Sept. 7 only eight weeks after company, which owns Thomson and Lunn Poly, had quelled speculation that he would be leaving the group. TUI, a former engineering conglomerate, is listed in Germany and is Europe's largest tour operator by sales. It had denied in July that Mottershead would be leaving after he announced plans for a seven-week sabbatical during its peak summer booking season. On Sept. 7, however, the group said that Mottershead had decided to resign upon returning from his sabbatical. Mottershead, a former executive with MyTravel, will be replaced by Peter Rothwell, head of TUI's northern Europe business. Rothwell will combine the two roles. TUI U.K. is the largest division in the group's northern European tourism business, operating Thomson and Lunn Poly, two of the biggest travel companies in the U.K. The division employs 10,000 people and accounts for about 80 percent of TUI's sales in northern Europe. Mottershead had replaced Charles Gurassa, now chairman of Virgin Mobile, as head of TUI U.K. in 2003. TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY: StarCite, Inc., a leading provider of innovative Web-based technologies and services for the $300 billion global meetings and events industry, has hired Mel Yarbrough as senior vice president of sales and marketing. Yarbrough previously served as president of telecommunications start-up Amplified Networks, Dallas. Yarbrough brings to StarCite more than a decade of success developing effective sales and marketing strategies in the software and telecom industries. Previously, Yarbrough was vice president of sales for Handango wireless and handheld software publisher; executive vice president of sales and marketing for Loislaw, an Aspen Publishers Company; and major account manager for the telecommunications division of Platinum Technology. StarCite provides a comprehensive suite of applications and services to the $300 billion meeting and events industry.
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