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This week in Opportunities:

October Arrivals to Hawaii Rise Beyond 2005 Levels
New Orleans' Tourism Industry Thriving in Fourth Quarter 2006
Opportunities Watch!
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

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OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS

October Arrivals to Hawaii Rise Beyond 2005 Levels

Travel from the mainland United States to the Hawaiian Islands returned to normal just one day after the October 15 earthquake and remains on pace for another excellent year. The latest figures released by the Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) show that domestic passenger arrivals statewide were up 2.6 percent on the Monday following the earthquake, 9.7 percent on Tuesday, and 13.2 percent on Wednesday as compared to the same period last year. Overall, month-to-date arrivals for October are at 320,364, up nearly one percent over 2005. Some flights to the islands were cancelled on October 15 and a portion of the increase in passengers may be attributed to people who rebooked. Wienert's office has been collaborating with the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) and the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) in getting out news of Hawaii's speedy recovery to consumers across the United States. John Monahan, HVCB's president and CEO, commented, "We've been communicating with travel trade professionals and the media that there is relatively little damage that in any way affects our tourism plant and the enjoyment of visitors." "Of Hawaii's 72,000 guest rooms for visitors, only about 100 or so are out of commission," said Monahan. Big Island hotels are all open and busy. The town of Kona is bustling and this weekend will host one of the premiere sporting events of the year -- the Ironman World Championship. Thousands of competitors from 49 countries and 50 states have made the pilgrimage to the Big Island for the October 21 race. It is the defining event of the Ironman series and considered one of the toughest challenges with its 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run. Hawaii's Governor Linda Lingle has supported the tourism industry in its recovery and took the precautionary step of signing an emergency declaration that would allow the state the ability to deal with the unknown affects of the earthquake and the ability to seek federal assistance. President Bush responded with a declaration that provides for the removal of debris and opens the door for financial assistance to repair damage that may have occurred to homes, businesses, schools and roads pending field investigations by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

New Orleans' Tourism Industry Thriving in Fourth Quarter 2006

When the New Orleans Saints kicked off against the Atlanta Falcons before a nationwide audience on Sept. 25, the moment signaled more than just the re-opening of the iconic Louisiana Superdome and the largest audience in ESPN history. It was a jumpstart to the city's critical hospitality industry for the fall of 2006, featuring a full convention calendar, the return of cruise ships, three major sporting events, and a 30,000-person convention, the largest New Orleans has seen in two years. The Monday night game was the biggest audience of the night among all TV networks and pumped an estimated $20 million into the city's economy. The hospitality industry is responsible for approximately one-third of the city's operating budget, $210 million supporting police, EMS, infrastructure, sanitation and education, and is the area's largest employer with 85,000 jobs. Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, perhaps the most important manufacturing plant in the state, reopened June 19 after a $60 million renovation in time for the American Library Association, first citywide meeting to return to New Orleans. Three collegiate football contests that traditionally draw large crowds to the city are returning as well: The Bayou Classic, Southern University vs. Grambling University, November 25, 2006; The New Orleans Bowl ESPN telecast game on December 22, 2006; and The All-State Sugar Bowl Classic, January 3, 2007. New Orleans also will host the 57th NBA All-Star Game in February 2008. The National Association of Realtors, holding its annual meeting in November, is reporting record pre-registration levels, and is expected to bring to New Orleans between 25,000 and 30,000 visitors. Pre- registration is 32 percent ahead of their 2002 convention in New Orleans and three percent ahead of last year's San Francisco meeting, which was a record breaker. A full convention calendar for October and November, including the American College of Emergency Physicians (6,000 delegates), the American Society of Exploration Geophysicists (7,000), American Society of Human Genetics (5,200), American Society for Reproductive Medicine (6,000), and Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology (5,500). Other good news this October includes the return of the cruise ship industry to the Port of New Orleans, including the Norwegian Cruise Lines (Norwegian Sun) and Carnival Cruise Lines (Carnival Fantasy). RiverBarge Excursion Lines returns this fall and Royal Caribbean International (Grandeur of the Seas) returns in December. According to the Port of New Orleans, cruise business generates $219 million in direct and indirect sales annually among New Orleans area business. Cruise passenger embarkations and disembarkations grew 818 percent in the last 11 years before Katrina, from approx. 80,000 in 1993 to 753,000 in 2004.

OPPORTUNITIES WATCH!

Interstate Hotels & Resorts Acquires Hilton Hotel in Arlington, Texas

Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the nation's largest independent hotel management company, today announced that it has acquired the 308-room Hilton hotel in Arlington, Texas from Alcor Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of The Blackstone Group (Blackstone) for $36.3 million, or $118,000 per key. It is the company's fourth wholly owned hotel acquisition since early 2005. Following completion of the acquisition, Interstate plans to invest $2.3 million of renovation capital over the next one to two years at the property, which will include the refurbishment of two-and-a-half guestroom floors not completed during a recent renovation program by prior ownership. In conjunction with the acquisition, Interstate closed on a $24.7 million, non-recourse mortgage loan with UBS Real Estate Securities, Inc. The variable rate loan has an interest rate of LIBOR plus 135 basis points and has an initial term of three years, with two, one-year extensions.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

AIRLINES: Hawaiian Airlines, Inc., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. has announced the appointment of Donald Sealey as vice president of corporate audit. A Certified Public Accountant with 24 years of diversified, private industry financial experience -- featuring a decade in accounting and auditing for airlines -- Sealey will be responsible for leading Hawaiian's internal audit function, including direct oversight of the company's compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley act. Sealey most recently served as director of recruiting for Resources Global Professionals in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before that, he accrued 10 years of senior airline accounting experience at ATA Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, all of which involved duties and projects that provides him with a solid foundation for his new responsibilities at Hawaiian. Sealey graduated with highest honors from the University of Oklahoma in 1981, receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting. He earned a CPA license in 1985. His professional membership affiliations include the American Institute of Certified Professional Accountants, the Institute of Internal Auditors (Indianapolis Board of Governors), and the Air Transport Association Audit Panel (as past chairman).

DESTINATIONS: Ruth's Chris Steak House Inc. has announced that Florida's Governor, Jeb Bush, has appointed the restaurant company's Chief Executive Officer Craig S. Miller to the Florida Tourism Commission. Miller began his 40-plus year restaurant career at the Neptune Seafood Restaurant in Rockledge, Florida in 1963. He has been involved with operating restaurants within the state for over 25 years. Miller is a member of the board of directors for the National Restaurant Association and is the immediate past Chairman. Mr. Miller also serves on the Board of Trustees of the UCF Foundation. Miller joined Ruth's Chris Steak House as CEO in 2004.

HOTELS & RESORTS: Brad Korzen, CEO and founder of the Los Angeles-based hotel, real estate development and management firm The Kor Group, has announced the appointment of Pat Priest as the new Chief Financial Officer for the rapidly expanding company. In her capacity as CFO, Priest will manage Kor’s continued growth through strategic financial planning and controls. Priest began her career with KPMG in Dallas, Texas. In 1982, her career found new focus when she joined Rosewood Property Company at its formation as Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration. Over the course of her ten years with the company, she helped it grow into an internationally recognized real estate development and management company specializing in luxury hotels, office, retail and residential ventures. Her responsibilities have included all areas of finance and administration, including corporate and project financing, treasury, controllership, human resources, and corporate communications functions. Priest joins The Kor Group with 33 years as a finance professional, serving in senior leadership positions with top global companies in the real estate industry. Most recently she was Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer for the multinational Beck Group, where, during her eight-year tenure there, she oversaw the capital structuring of the company’s multi-tiered partnership entities in the US and Mexico, developed enterprisewide software systems and project controls, and led the merger with an architectural firm to integrate the company’s design and construction activities. Priest holds a Master’s Degree in Finance from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from North Texas State University. She also served on the faculty at the University of Arkansas Sam M Walton College of Business. In addition to her professional work, she has been actively involved in civic and community affairs over the course of her career. She is a member of the Board of Directors for The Real Estate Council and the City of Dallas’ Design District TIF, is a member of the Finance Committee for the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and sits on the Advisory Board for the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. She has also served on the Boards of the Dallas Opera, YMCA, International Women’s Foundation and Executive Women’s Roundtable... Travel executive Lois Shore will join Outrigger Enterprises Group in the newly created position of Vice President of Distribution effective January 2007, announced Rob Solomon, Outrigger's Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing. In her new role, Shore will spearhead efforts to further improve Outrigger's wide-ranging presence in travel industry distribution channels. Shore will relocate to Hawaii from her current position as senior vice president of sales, marketing and public relations for the New York based Ensemble Travel Group, an organization of 1,100 professional travel agencies across the United States and Canada. During her three years with Ensemble Travel Group, Ms. Shore has successfully streamlined membership while increasing preferred supplier sales volume, expanded cooperative marketing funds and developed new exclusive products. Shore previously served in a variety of senior sales, marketing and communications roles including five years as vice president of marketing with upscale travel wholesale company Classic Vacations where she directed all marketing, brand and Internet programs. From 1997 to 1998, Shore was vice president of marketing for GetThere.com, the Internet start-up company that created the first online travel booking engines for consumers and corporate travel departments. The company successfully went public and was purchased by Sabre in 2000. Shore also spent seven years with Visa USA as director of travel & entertainment marketing as well as director of travel industry services. Shore received her bachelor's degree in Humanities from the University of Colorado. She is a Certified Travel Counselor, a designation conferred by the Institute of Certified Travel Agents, and has been named one of the Most Powerful Women in Travel four times by Travel Agent Magazine... John Williams has been named Executive VP for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in Europe, Africa and The Middle East. Williams will be responsible for the performance of the existing hotels in the region, including hotels in Scotland, London, Monaco and Dubai, as well as the positioning of the properties under development in the region. As Fairmont continues to grow as a global luxury hotel group, Williams's responsibilities will include developing a divisional structure to support the growth of the region, and assisting the company's development team in its ongoing pursuit to expand the Fairmont portfolio. Williams began his career with Fairmont in 1995 as regional vice president, British Columbia Region and general manager of The Fairmont Empress. He most recently served as executive vice president operations for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Williams also has the distinction of having managed three Five-Diamond hotels throughout his career. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has also announced the appointment of Jeff Doane to the freshly minted position of vice president, hotel sales. Doane joins Fairmont's Corporate ranks from The Fairmont San Francisco where he most recently held the position of regional director, sales & marketing for the company's California region. In response to new business realities and as a result of Fairmont's continuing growth, Doane, in his new position, will be responsible for revenue generation and for overseeing the succession and career planning of Fairmont's entire North American sales force. Adding to these duties, Doane will also focus his efforts on all sales and marketing activity directly related to owner relations and on leveraging the corporate sales and marketing resources to maximize revenues. A hotelier at heart, Doane first joined Fairmont in 1994 as a sales manager at the stately Fairmont San Francisco. Following this, he held several progressive positions within Fairmont before being named the hotel's director, sales & marketing in 2001. Doane holds his degree in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

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