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This week in Opportunities:

Survey Explores the DNA of Today's Business Traveler
Study Shows No Let-Up in Business Travel
Opportunities Watch!
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

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OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS

Survey Explores the DNA of Today's Business Traveler

Egencia, an Expedia, Inc. company, has announced the results of its most comprehensive research study into business travel and travelers to date. With more than 2,400 respondents across France, Germany, the UK, the U.S. and Canada, the survey compares psychographic and demographic groups to provide an unprecedented view of today's business traveler. More than two out of three surveyed enjoy business trips and 85 percent state that traveling is a key reason why they like their current job. However, priorities for business travelers are very different and the research identified six key demographic or psychographic groups or 'tribes' that unite corporate travelers globally.

The largest group, made up of 39 percent of those surveyed, is the 'experience-hungry' travelers. These people try to balance business travel with personal interests, scheduling in as much free time as possible so they can explore new destinations. In their briefcase, the experience-hungry traveler is most likely to carry a camera, a city map and, most importantly, a shopping list. This group was well represented by all countries surveyed, peaking with 44 percent of French business travelers, it also illustrates that corporate travel now often incorporates personal priorities as well as business. In terms of position in the company, there are interesting differences: 41 percent of employees are experience-hungry, but this drops to 29 percent when it comes to top management.

The 'hyper-connected' tribe comprises of 23 percent of corporate travelers. This group is most often married and although they don't necessarily enjoy traveling for work, they like the opportunity to develop business networks. Top managers are more likely to fall into this tribe than employees (30 percent of top management vs. 19 percent of employees). Not surprisingly this 'hyper-connected' tribe tends to carry a BlackBerry and a WiFi-ready laptop, and they are very focused on their business objectives. At the highest, more than one in four (28 percent) of U.S. corporate travelers belong to this tribe. In other countries the rate declines with the lowest being Canada (19 percent).

The third largest group is the 'cost-conscious' travelers. Making up 14 percent of travelers, this group is most likely to work for a company with less than 50 employees and they make sure that value for money is the key priority in every business trip. 17 percent of UK corporate travelers belong to this tribe; more than in any other country. The least cost conscious being the French, with only 9 percent in this tribe.

In the remaining 24 percent of travelers, three smaller tribes have been identified. Seven percent make up the home-focused group who enjoy traveling the least. 36 to 45 year-old corporate travelers are more likely to be in this tribe than any other age group. People with young children are also more likely to find themselves in this tribe. Seasoned travelers (6 percent) are the most frequent travelers, making around 25 business trips a year. For these people, travel is a core part of their work routine and half of them have assistants to help them organize trips. Finally, the smallest, yet potentially the fastest growing tribe is the green travelers. At just 4 percent of those surveyed, this group only travel by plane if there is no other option and have frequently considered investing in projects to reduce CO2 emissions to offset their travel.

Most (76 percent) American respondents to the survey mention that they enjoy traveling for business more than those in other countries (66 percent) on average, even though 39 percent think that a day of business travel is much more tiring than a day of normal work. In addition, Americans are more sensitive to jetlag but deal better with the weariness of travel as compared to respondents in other countries. This is due in part to the multiple time zones within the U.S. itself. When asked which cities they most enjoyed traveling to, American travelers mentioned London (67 percent) and Paris (46 percent) while other cities averaged 20 percent. While on the road, Americans are the leading hyper-connected tribe. Seventy eight percent of American respondents want to stay at a functional hotel with WiFi rather than a charming one without. The top three items that Americans carry with them are a WiFi ready laptop (78 percent), books (63 percent) and a Blackberry (58 percent).

The vast majority of people enjoy their business travel experience, however, it is clear that needs are changing rapidly as corporate travelers take a more holistic view on what they expect from working away from home. In short, corporate travelers are curious and eager not just to go through the places they visit but actually enjoy them as much as business needs would allow. The industry as a whole must keep ahead of this behavioral curve to provide the service customers are now looking for.

Study Shows No Let-Up in Business Travel

Rising travel costs have caused many travelers to get resourceful when planning vacations, and growing numbers of business travelers are finding business trips to be an opportune time to add a little time off. Nearly three-fourths (72%) of those surveyed this month by Orbitz for Business and Business Traveler Magazine say they've extended a business trip with a leisure component in the last year. Additionally, 81% plan to, or are considering extending a work trip in the next six months by adding vacation time with family or friends. As the usual business travel destinations don't always lend themselves to an appealing getaway, more than one-third (35%) say they've coordinated a business trip to a location where they'd like to vacation, in an effort to combine the two. These are among the key findings of the second Orbitz for Business/Business Traveler Magazine Quarterly Trend Report, which examines the most prevalent issues affecting business travelers and the corporate travel industry today. Another notable trend shows that almost half (43%) of respondents recently had a spouse, significant other or friend accompany them on a business trip, without staying extra days but simply sharing a room with their guest and seeing them during free time. When asked what business city makes it easiest to extend business trips with leisure, New York City topped the list. Travelers also ranked San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando and Washington, D.C. among the best cities to combine the two. For international travel, London and Paris were most frequently noted as good places to add leisure time to a business trip.

The report also found:

• 50% are now exploring ways to extend business trips with leisure more frequently
• 88% have stayed at the same hotel when they extended a business trip with leisure
• 69% are willing to travel by car from a business city to a leisure destination; 47% are willing to travel 1-3 hours and 22% are willing to travel less than one hour

For the second consecutive quarter, the Trend Report found that 79% of those surveyed are feeling some degree of pressure to cut costs. And further evidence that business travelers are traveling differently -- despite the need to curb spending, 61% say they are traveling as much if not more this year than they did in 2007 -- a 1% increase over what the report found in June.

OPPORTUNITIES WATCH!

Gaylord Entertainment Plans Resort and Convention Hotel in Mesa, AZ

DMB Associates, Inc. and Gaylord Entertainment have announced an agreement to create a destination resort and convention center that could bring billions of dollars in private investments and thousands of new jobs to Mesa, Ariz. and the Southeast Valley or Arizona over the next several decades. DMB also announced its agreement for a Tom Fazio 18-hole championship golf course and the continued regional alliance with Westcor for future retail planning. The agreement with Gaylord Entertainment will bring a destination resort and convention center to Mesa Proving Grounds, a 3,200-acre portion of land used currently by General Motors as its desert testing facility, laying the foundation for substantial ongoing private investment and development. Although all of the precise details of the size, theme and character of the resort and convention center have yet to be finalized, the Gaylord name ensures that the facility will celebrate the geographical heritage of the Southwest, introducing regional themes and attractions designed specifically for this project. Once built, the hotel will likely be the largest in the state of Arizona.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

HOTELS & RESORTS: Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino (“IMGRC”), a business enterprise of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, announced today that Daniel A. McCue entered into an agreement whereby IMGRC hired McCue as the Chief Financial Officer of IMGRC effective September 1, 2008. McCue has more than 15 years’ experience in financial accounting. From July 1999 to the present Mr. McCue served as the Director of Finance & Administration at Seven Feathers Hotel & Casino Resort (“Feathers Resort”), Canyonville, Oregon, directing all financial activities of Feathers Resort with direct reports from Accounting, Purchasing, Warehouse, Count Team, and Cashier Cage. McCue supervised an accounting staff of 12, a cage staff of 73, and a Warehouse/Purchasing staff of 11. As Director of Finance & Administration McCue had the following duties and responsibilities: budgeting; forecasting; developing and maintaining internal control standards; reporting to Feathers Resort’s Board of Directors, Cow Creek Tribal officials and certain other regulatory bodies; coordinating and preparing for independent audits; developing and maintaining statistical reports and other financial reports in a more efficient manner than previously utilized; preparation and recording of general ledger entries; analyzing continuing financial information; and compiling financial information for a bond offering. From October 1992 to June 1999 McCue served as the Assurance Manager at Grant Thornton LLP, Colorado Springs, Colorado. As Assurance Manager, McCue acted as the lead auditor and manager in audit engagements with various types of entities requiring financial and compliance audits, with an emphasis on casino audit engagements in Colorado limited stakes gaming establishments, and certain commercial, governmental and non-profit clients. McCue received a Bachelor of Science in Business, Accounting Option from Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana (1992)... Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the appointment of Mike Tiedy as Senior Vice President, Brand Design & Innovation. Tiedy will oversee all creative and design resources worldwide for Starwood’s nine renowned brands including Le Meridien, Westin, Sheraton, W, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft and Element. In this newly created role, Tiedy’s responsibilities include graphic design, interior design, environmental design and events. He reports to Phil McAveety, Starwood’s Chief Brand Officer. Tiedy brings to Starwood more than 20 years of design and brand-building experience. Most recently, Tiedy was Vice President, Creative Design for Nordstrom. In this position, he was responsible for all creative expressions of the brand including advertising, collateral, copy, events, online and visual merchandising standards. Before joining Nordstrom, Tiedy spent 17 years in Brand Design at Nike in a variety of roles. Joining Nike in 1988 as a Graphic Designer, Tiedy rose through the ranks and ultimately served as Creative Director in Nike’s U.S. and European Headquarters. Highlights from his tenure at Nike include designing and executing Nikepark at the Atlanta Olympics and the Nike Athlete Centre at the Sydney Olympics as well as high profile consumer experiences at the New York Marathon and the Tiger Woods Challenge in Toyko. In addition, Tiedy oversaw the design and execution of Nike retail outlets including flagships such as Niketown Chicago and the Nike store on the Champs-Elysee in Paris as well as many stores throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Tiedy earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Lewis and Clark College. He will be based in Starwood’s company headquarters in White Plains, NY... Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. has announced the appointment of Tim Bailey as General Manager for the 236 guestroom upscale Westin Virginia Beach Town Center hotel. The hotel, which opened this past November, is the focal point of the Town Center of Virginia Beach, a mixed-use "main street" style development located at the core of the city's Central Business District and the home of its cultural, business and retail activities. Bailey rejoins Crestline Hotels & Resorts from Marriott Vacation Club International where he was General Manager of the Timber Lodge and Grand Residence Club in Lake Tahoe, CA. Prior to that he was with Crestline Hotels & Resorts where he served as the General Manager for the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel & Conference Center, Portsmouth, VA. He also worked with Crestline as the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Marriott Bay Point Resort, Panama City, FL. Bailey brings more than 20 years of hospitality management experience to his new position. Bailey holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management from James Madison University.

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